Resistance Experiments on Sliding Seat Racing Shells - Part 1: Constant Speed Experiments

The purpose of this report is to present the results of a series of experiments carried out on a 4-man and an 8-man sliding seat rowing shells. The results are compared with the results of experiments carried out previously on 6-man fixed seat rowing shells. The shells were ballasted to conditions which simulated actual rowing conditions. Resistance experiments in calm water were carried out in the Clearwater Towing Tank of the Institute for Marine Dynamics. These experiments covered the range of normal operating speeds for the rowing shells. A prediction of effective power and an estimate of time on course are made for both shells and for twelve other geometrically-similar hulls. An assessment of the stability of the shells, geosims and existing Regatta shells relative to the 8-man shell is made. On the basis of the experiments, a geoisms of the 4-man design is recommended as an alternative design and the performance improvement is estimated.NRC publication: Ye