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Message board > Members' Opinion Polls > Members' poll: Favourite Seat? 
  

Favourite Seat?
Bow  13%
Two  11%
Three  5%
Four  3%
Five  5%
Six  16%
Seven  24%
Stroke  13%
Cox  5%
Launch  3%
Toledo  3%
Total: 38 members' votes
by Have signed the membership book - Mon 31st May 2004, 7:27am
Can't really decide! Where's the "they all have good bits - where does the captain want me to go?" option?
by jpd - Mon 31st May 2004, 1:46pm
I sit on Nathaniel, who sits on a spike, you insensitive clod. Two spikes would be an extravagance.
The 30 most recent of the 30 remaining posts in this thread are shown below
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by Dubya - Mon 31st May 2004, 1:53pm
Have signed the membership book said: Can't really decide! Where's the "they all have good bits - where does the captain want me to go?" option?
You know your favorite seat, Will... tchk, tchk ... BOING!
by RTT - Tue 1st Jun 2004, 9:26am
Slightly OT, but I'm a little worried about the suggested poll about how well we're going to do in the bumps. Surely this indicator of confidence should be kept under wraps in the continuing quest for bumpsdaq dominance?
by mjb - Tue 1st Jun 2004, 9:30am
Rose the Twat said: Favourite Seat?
Toledo: 4%
Surely the Ibiza is a far better Seat option ?
by Sarah - Tue 1st Jun 2004, 9:44am
currently carrying a suspected rib stress fracture (which may somewhat disappointingly turn out to be a mere muscle strain) - I'd have to say the cox rules, because I've never been in quite so much demand - I got 3 offers of a seat for HRR this weekend....
by Simon - Tue 1st Jun 2004, 11:19am
RTT said: Slightly OT, but I'm a little worried about the suggested poll about how well we're going to do in the bumps. Surely this indicator of confidence should be kept under wraps in the continuing quest for bumpsdaq dominance?
Yeah, but then compare the poll predictions with reality last term...
by Simon - Tue 1st Jun 2004, 12:26pm
Simon said: Yeah, but then compare the poll predictions with reality last term...
Having just done this I'll now shut up - we appear to have got it right at the time.
If you haven't voted on a poll in its inital week, do you still have the chance to vote on it later? Have been sad enough to vote visit this site on a weekly basis since the polls started so do not know what happens if you miss a week...
by RTT - Fri 4th Jun 2004, 2:42pm
Looks like noone likes rowing in the middle of the boat, or indeed coxing, or being in the launch.

If that isn't an endorsement for banksteererless pairs I don't know what is!
by jmg - Sat 5th Jun 2004, 4:13pm
If that isn't an endorsement for banksteererless pairs I don't know what is!
..except given almost 50% goes to 5,6 or 7, maybe it means nobody likes rowing in anything smaller than an eight!
by Dubya - Sat 5th Jun 2004, 4:38pm
jmg said: ..except given almost 50% goes to 5,6 or 7, maybe it means nobody likes rowing in anything smaller than an eight!
But really when people say they like 7 they mean 'the seat behind stroke'.. the fact that less than a third like middle four is a pretty strong indictment of eights!!
by 5-Seat Rules - Sat 5th Jun 2004, 4:48pm
Dubya said: But really when people say they like 7 they mean 'the seat behind stroke'.. the fact that less than a third like middle four is a pretty strong indictment of eights!!
ok, I wasn't trying to be serious - I guess people either like the splendid isolation of the pretty-boys in the bows or the feeling of control in the blunt end - middle four just have to pull hard all the time!
by unlikely ever to row at 4 - Sat 5th Jun 2004, 6:10pm
just so 4 doesn't feel unwanted, I have cast my vote
by Dubya - Sun 6th Jun 2004, 11:22am
unlikely ever to row at 4 said: just so 4 doesn't feel unwanted, I have cast my vote
Four is a seat we could really do without. I vote we remove it and its rigger from all our boats
by Ingers - Sun 6th Jun 2004, 3:24pm
Just 2 coxes out of 38 votes. Same old problem. Why does no one want to cox?
by wet, cold, tired, pissed off, shouted at... - Sun 6th Jun 2004, 5:01pm
Ingers said: Just 2 coxes out of 38 votes. Same old problem. Why does no one want to cox?
take a guess
by occasional cox - Sun 6th Jun 2004, 5:19pm
wet, cold, tired, pissed off, shouted at... said: take a guess
I'm still guessing. Everyone knows that the rowers get cold, wet, knackered and shouted at whereas the cox gets to wear suitably protective clothing, doesn;t have to do anything tiring, does all the shouting and still shares in the glory. Sounds pretty good to me...
by appalled cox - Sun 6th Jun 2004, 11:07pm
don't know about you, but glancing up to notice half your crew pissing over the side of the boat isn't an enticement to return for more, but then again, coxing an attractive crew can have its advantages......
by Andy - Mon 7th Jun 2004, 8:28am
Ingers said: Just 2 coxes out of 38 votes.
Of course, it might be that the coxes haven't bothered to vote. Still, it's a good reason to bring back triremes.
by Woken up too early by a fire alram - Mon 7th Jun 2004, 8:32am
It's perceived as a bit like being a goalkeeper, see? You're unlikely to win the race, but you can most definitely lose it. And you have to watch your weight (although I've given up this term :-)
by still injured.... - Mon 7th Jun 2004, 9:01am
how warm and cosy do you really think it is when you get waves breaking over riggers into your lap, (or over your head in a bowloader)

you have to sit in a fixed postion (in some of the most uncomfortable seats known to man) so you don't upset the boat. All the kit in the world doesn't keep you that warm when you can't move for an hour.

You have to wear a microphone so the crew can hear you breathing (sneezing, cursing), and let's face it they aren't the most flattering of accessories!

okay so you don't get large waves on the cam, but previous coxing jobs I have had include 'the ones at night on the Tees when I used to stave off hypothermia by carrying my hotwater bottle in the boat' 'several in Sims eights where my hips don't fit so I get numb feet after 5 mins' 'the ones in bowloaders where my feet don't reach the end so I slip down (invariably into a puddle of water from bow's wellies) and end up looking at the sky'

coxes just get cold, wet, moaned at about our weight and are expected to magically have spanners, tape etc at all times... and we don't get any of those nice exercise induced endorphins either...
by I like it really (just don't tell anyone) - Mon 7th Jun 2004, 9:05am
so you're asking why I do it?

those nice shiny pot things of course! and the feeling in a tight race that you DID win that for the crew by being inspirational....
by twice a week is enough - Mon 7th Jun 2004, 9:40am
I think it's because young people such as students like to be active and do sport, I certainly wouldn't want to spend 12 hours a week doing non-exercise, I'd get twitchy and have to get out at either end and go for a quick run.

I've only once been cold as a rower and that was an exceptional case of ineptitude, being knackered is part of the fun, there's no way you can compare that to sitting there with blue hands and numb legs for an hour every day.
by bitter and twisted - Mon 7th Jun 2004, 9:47am
occasional cox said: I'm still guessing. Everyone knows that the rowers get cold, wet, knackered and shouted at whereas the cox gets to wear suitably protective clothing, doesn;t have to do anything tiring, does all the shouting and still shares in the glory. Sounds pretty good to me...
that's why you're an occasional cox, chris.

particularly pleasant was the water going in my ears yesterday from the backsplash from both sides. or the seasickness in Cornwall. Or being appreciated so much that they forget to bring a lifejacket or cox box. or being spat on in races/urinated on in the wind. or your coach physically trying to wash your mouth out with soap. or coxing a club for the whole winter only to be binned in regatta season because there are no coxed events of any merit

on the upside, you do get to pull fit rowers :)
by dw229 - Mon 7th Jun 2004, 9:50am
Maybe we can somehow make coxing more physically-exerting? How about:
- Make the rudder strings out of elastic so that you have to pull harder to make the rudder turn
- Remove the back of the coxing pit so core muscles must be used for the entire outing
- Attach electrodes to the cox's leg muscles to make them twitch throughout the outing. Potentially include bicycle style pedals attached to a small propellor to help the boat go faster
- Ensure all coxes are massively underweight and make them wear lead waistcoats

Of course, back massages, lard, etc. would be compulsory for such poor coxes post outing.
by Dubya - Mon 7th Jun 2004, 11:54am
dw229 said: Maybe we can somehow make coxing more physically-exerting? How about:
- Make the rudder strings out of elastic so that you have to pull harder to make the rudder turn
- Remove the back of the coxing pit so core muscles must be used for the entire outing
- Attach electrodes to the cox's leg muscles to make them twitch throughout the outing. Potentially include bicycle style pedals attached to a small propellor to help the boat go faster
- Ensure all coxes are massively underweight and make them wear lead waistcoats

Of course, back massages, lard, etc. would be compulsory for such poor coxes post outing.
I think in Michaelmas and Lent terms for training, we should rig a special steerers boat towed by the VIII with room for a bike and a turbo trainer, with leads for the rudder controls so you can have them on the bike handlebars. I'd be keen on coxing then...

Would have the advantage that the cox would be sitting well high up and so be able to see everything around. Only disadvantage would be spinning could be difficult, you might have to disconnect the towed boat temporarily while spinning the VIII.
by Dubya - Mon 7th Jun 2004, 11:57am
Dubya said: Would have the advantage that the cox would be sitting well high up and so be able to see everything around.
Other advantages: it would be easy to see when the rowers were checking the boat a lot, the tow-line would go slack; additional resistance will make all the rowers stronger, it'll be like continuous power water work; better visibility to other crews as the cox will be sitting very high up

Other potential problems: railway bridge might be a bit low!
by Dubya - Mon 7th Jun 2004, 11:58am
Dubya said: Other advantages:
Just thought of another one! The cox gets thinner!
by still injured... - Mon 7th Jun 2004, 1:25pm
but probably puts on some muscle tone .... muscles weigh too much

(not that I'm bitter, having spent the whole winter doing weights to maintain 58KG so not to be 'too light' to row... only to get injured and now be on a diet to be a considered as a cox)
by bitter and twisted - Mon 7th Jun 2004, 2:39pm
bowloaders when you're 4ft nothing improve your core stability as theres nothing to stand on.

what about waterskiing? we should implement a RTT waterskiing division. quality on a day like today.

Oriel regatta have a coxes pairs divsion. maybe next year you could all enter that?

also, lard is not a very good offer to a cox. its rubbing in the fact that you are not doing any exercise and so can't eat.

incidently, i got approached by numerous people at my club yesterday asking if i was new there. i think it was not because of my rubbish coxing but mainly because i normally have to wander round in 55 layers wet and they didn't recognise me in normal clothes.
by Rupert - Mon 7th Jun 2004, 11:09pm
what about waterskiing? we should implement a RTT waterskiing division. quality on a day like today.
You may joke... All you need is a very light cox, and you need to do a very quick start, rowing at no more than half-slide.

It becomes a slight problem when you settle, because the rope slackens as you take the recovery and the little guy gets jerked around. Very funny, though!!
by should be revising - Tue 8th Jun 2004, 10:56am
the waterskiing at the Pond is like that. theres a cable round in a square so you get slack and nearly come to a standstill before being jerked back. i'm sure it would work (apparently it has been done)