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Improving the efficiency of racing shell oars

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2016

Maurice N. Brearley  and
Neville J. de Mestre
Maurice N. Brearley
Affiliation:
85 Dandarriga Drive, Clifton Springs, Victoria, 3222, Australia
Neville J. de Mestre
Affiliation:
School of Information Technology, Bond University, Queensland, 4229, Australia
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Extract

By analysing the forces acting on an oar during the power stroke it is possible to estimate the mean velocity given to a racing shell. Use is made of oarlock force data, obtained experimentally by the Australian Institute of Sport, to obtain accurate predictions in the case of a racing pair. Similar conclusions would hold for boats with any number of oars. The effect of altering the angle between oar shaft and blade is investigated, leading to a suggestion for a design change to improve oar efficiency. Predictions are made of the resulting improvement in boat position in a 2000-metre race.

Type
Articles
Information
The Mathematical Gazette , Volume 84 , Issue 501 , November 2000 , pp. 405 - 414
Copyright
Copyright © The Mathematical Association 2000

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References

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