COXSWAINation

The sun’s rays are still quite strong here in the Northern Hemisphere and while you may be tempted to shed those layers, make sure you’re protecting your skin and eyes. Wear sunglasses with UV protection (wraparounds are the best with all of those rays reflecting off the water). Polarized lenses provide a superior view, but the UV protection is what’s critical to actually protecting your eyes. Here’s some excellent information on sun protection from Paula Begoun, the “Cosmetics Cop” (includes info on UVA, UVB and altitude). Did you know that a sunburn continues to develop for 12-24 hours after the initial burn? Check it out: CosmeticsCop.com.

• Keys to Steering in Every Situation
• Winter Training: Time to Hone Your Skills
• Yaz’s Race Report Form
• Five Keys to Competitive Coxing
• Preparing to Cox the Head of the Charles (new)
• N-K’s Instruction Manuals and “Care & Repair” PDF’s (new)
• N-K’s Pictorial Instruction Card for Cox Box Maintenance Kit (new)
• Connecting Your Audio Recorder to Your CoxBox
• USRowing Rules of Rowing:
  http://usrowing.org/Events_Regattas/RulesofRowing/index.aspx
• Stake Boat Scenarios and Drills:
  http://usrowing.org/Coxswains/CoxswainFeatures/yazdrills.aspx

On race day, Yaz likes to travel light, but she still wants to ensure her crew has the tools and emergency items that might be needed in that critical time between shoving off the dock and pulling up to the start.  Every item that is listed below has bailed Yaz out at one time or another on race day.

Yaz’s Race Day Tool Bag is a Sealpak® Waterproof Bag.

• Short adjustable wrench that can open to 3/4-inch.
• Foot stretcher tool
• 7/16-inch wrench
• 1/2-inch wrench (doubles as a 13mm)
• 10mm wrench (when coxing a Euro boat)
• Roll of athletic tape
• Roll of electrical tape
• Phillips head screwdriver
• Flat head screwdriver
• Leatherman (has some good “tiny” tools for small parts)
• A couple of Band-aids
• A few extra rigger nuts and bolts.
• Extra oarlock/height spacers
• Digital audio recorder