coxwain

The commander of a racing shell. Usually under 5'5" and weighs no more than 100 pounds. May either sit at the bow or stern of the shell. Uses a microphone tool called a cox box or coxwains box. It is basically a headset microphone that is plugged into the shells speaker system with a guage for stroke rate on it. The coxwain or cox rarely uses the command stroke. Instead he/she uses these commands: 1.On the Ready! - command given to rowers telling them to prepare to row. 2.Ready...ROW! - command given for rowers to row. 3.Hold water/Hold - command given to pairs of rowers anywhere in the shell to stick the oar blade in the water and hold it there. 4.Power 10/20/30 etc. - command given to rowers to put full power into the number of strokes called. 5.Weigh Enough! - pronounced Way-nuff, command give to rowers to stop rowing. 6.oh...SHIT STOP, (insert port/starboard here) HOLD - command given when the very expensive racing shell is about to hit something.