Stalia seen from the side

Prèmer and Stalia

The stroke can be divided into two phases: the prèmer (push) in which the oarsman immerses the blade vertically and pushes on the shaft of the oar, and the stalìr (return stroke) in which the oar is moved to its starting point. While the push stroke is fairly intuitive, the return stroke is a complex movement in which the oar is kept underwater and is brought to its starting point keeping the forward edge of the blade inclined downawards. This 'rudder effect' is used to correct the direction of the boat.

To prevent water resistance from pushing the oar from its resting point - as is often the case with beginners -  the grip of the oar is pressed so as to push the oar onto the fórcola and keep it in place . In this way the mòrso (the pivot point for the oar) can be left open leaving just the nasèlo (the lower point) curved slightly upwards to block the oar.

Stalia seen from the bow

Stalia

Of course if the return stroke were the same as the push stroke, the boat would point in the right direction but would be more-or-less motionless. Therefore every possible technique is employed to reduce the 'braking' effect of the return stroke so as to gain the maximum forward motion. It is not surprising that single-oar regattas are considered the 'university' of Venetian rowing: they require strength and stamina, but also technique, style and experience.

The direction of the boat can also be corrected by having the boat lean to the right. This can be achieved by shifting the passengers, the load or the oarsmen to the right side of the boat or by creating boats that are 'bent', such as the gondola or the puparìn.

Rowing sotomòrso.

Starting

To give the initial 'push' to get the boat moving, the gondolier uses the base of the fórcola as a pivot for the oar using a series of rapid side-to-side movements of the oar - which is kept immersed - so as to keep the boat under control with the minimum aount of leeway. Once the boat is underway, the oar is placed on the mòrso for the normal rowing style described above.

Turning

A left turn - andàr premàndo - is simple and intuitive: it requires a good push on the oar; for a right turn - andàr stagàndo - the oar is moved in the same way as in the reutrn stroke  (stalìa), but with greater leverage so as to point the bow to the right.

Siada bassa

Stopping

To  stop the boat - siàda - the oar is brought onto the sanca with the blade of the oar more or less vertical depending on the urgency of the manouevre; if necessary, to avoid a collision, the oar is pulled frequently and forcefully to create greater water resistance.

There are two types of stopping manouevre: the siàda a bassa that causes the boat to turn to the right in which the oar is placed on the lower part of the fórcola; and the siàda alta that keeps the boat straight or turns it to the left in which the oar is placed in the upper part of the fórcola under the recia (the ear-like protrusion at the top of the fórcola).

Rowing backwards or indrio

Rowing backwards

To move backwards, the gondolier places the oar in the sànca in front of the fórcola, and steps back rowing with figure-of-eight movements that push the boat backwards while correcting any changes to the direction.

Rowing technique used in narrow canals

Rowing in narrow canals

In narrow canals, the gondolier moves forwards over the rear thwart or trastolìni (the transverse boards that conect the left and right sides of the boat) behind the passenger seats, and rows in sanca with the oar immersed, alternating left and right diagonal movements as in the voga a bratto (see photo).

Using the left foot to veer right

Using the left foot to veer right

Finally, there is a curious manouevre in which the gondolier uses his feet . It is carried out when the gondola is veered to the right in a very narrow canal where the gondola could hit the wall. In this case the gondolier stretches his left leg over the side of the boat and pushes against the wall to avoid contact.