If you’ve hung around here for more than five minutes you know that I’m a HUGE advocate of testing rigging numbers.
Why Testing Rigging Numbers Is Important
I get asked quite often, “Why is testing? Why should I do it?”
Fair enough, and I have two thoughts on that.
The first: test because you want to know, for sure, that the numbers you are using for your adjustments are the right ones for you.
The second: test because you might learn something new. Something interesting. Something important.
One time as we tested our numbers I learned one of our rowers was much more effective and comfortable on the starboard side. Yet for her first two years she rowed port. She switched to starboard on a whim, during one test. She never went back to the port side again.
There are too many variables and considerations not to test. And yes, I know, there are those who disagree.
How To Test Your Rigging Numbers
In this video, I show how I have tested the rigging numbers of an eight.
We did several short pieces, 30-strokes, came in to the dock, adjusted the rigging (spread), and tested again.
The final outcome was we determined our rigging was too light, and we brought the pin in toward the center of the boat about .5cm and left it there for the rest of the season.
The video and audio are not stellar, by any means. Regardless, I wanted to get the content posted.
What do you think? How would you do things differently?
