This book is a masterpiece and is considered the classic of classics for the rowing world. In designing the content of the book Bourne seemed to harmonise the text with the execution of a single stroke cycle - simplicity is paramount. The main parts identify and represent the key component of rowing, i.e., the Theory of Rowing, the Art of Rowing, Oars and Boats, On Coaching, and On Muscular Action in Rowing. The careful layout of Bourne's master plan subtly recognises the scientific undergirding of the sport, the ballet or ideal movement patterns of the sport, the mechanics and tools used by the athlete, the importance of a skilled mentor, and the recognition of the internal mechanics of the athlete's body. This book is an excellent companion reading to current sport and rowing literature.
It was one of the Duke of Wellington's generals who, when importuned by a young officer for advice as to how he might best learn the duties of a soldier, answered: 'By fighting, Sir, and plenty of it.' Similarly, I would answer to the aspiring oarsman who asks how he may best learn the art of oarsmanship: 'By rowing, Sir, and plenty of it.' For of this much I am convinced, that oarsmanship, like many other things of greater or lesser importance that are taught at the present day, suffers from too much teaching, and would be improved by less learning and more practice.
An excellent reason why I should not do what I am setting out to do, to write a book on the theory and art of rowing. I can only plead, in extenuation of the offence of adding yet another to the already too numerous works on the subject, that I have been asked to do it and that, after going into the matter with much more thoroughness than seemed necessary at the outset, I am satisfied that so much false doctrine has found its way into print that there is room for an exposition of the true and only faith of oarsmanship.
No doubt about it there is a true doctrine, and wherever oarsmen are gathered together in this country they unite, with singular unanimity, in doing reverence to it. It is the traditional English style with its long body-swing, its quick 'catch at the beginning,' its rapid recovery of the oar with the wrists, followed by a prolonged and balanced swing forward. That is the right way, the only way: all oarsmen, young and old, are agreed upon it. But the differences of opinion begin to creep in. The older school of oarsmen who learned and practiced the art of rowing on fixed seats - their number, alas, is rapidly diminishing - refuse to recognize the traditional style in modern oarsmanship. The style of rowing they say, has changed and changed for the worse, nor is the change altogether attributable to the introduction of the sliding-seats
The first thing that must be clearly understood by anyone who wishes to gain a clear idea of the theory of oarsmanship is that the 'crew,' including hull, oars, coxswain, and oarsmen, is what is known in mechanics as a 'system,' the component parts of which change their relative positions during the stroke and the swing forward. Thus, the outboard elements of the oars move in the opposite direction to the hull during the stroke: in the same direction as the hull during the swing forward. The oarsmen move in the same direction as the hull during the swing forward: in the opposite direction during the swing forward. As the weight of the hull is at almost 300 lbs., the weight of the oars about 72 lbs., the weight of the coxswain some 120 lbs., and the weight of the eight oarsmen anything from 1,120 to 1,420 lbs., it is clear that the movements of the last named must be of considerable importance in shifting the centre of gravity of the whole system
The movements of the hull due to the disturbance of the centre of gravity of the system must be clearly distinguished from the movements imparted to the whole system by the action of the oars. The movements of the component parts of a rowing system within the system cannot make it move in any direction with regard to external objects. The system can only be moved by applying force to something external to it. In rowing, the muscular power of the oarsmen is applied by the oars to the water external to the system.
Let it be understood at the outset the motive power is the muscular strength of the crew. Oarsmen are told to use their weight, and it is very important that they should learn to do so with advantage. But weight, per se, is of no use; it may be an encumbrance. What is required to propel the boat is power, and power is mass (or weight) in motion. In order to set his weight in motion the oarsman must use muscular force, and if his weight is great, the muscular force required to move it at a given speed must be proportionately great. It is an error to suppose that a man's muscular power is proportional to his weight
