Four Sweep Rowers and a Coxswain

In sweep-oar rowing, each rower has only one oar and holds it with both hands. Your action when rowing is similar to sweeping a broom. Sweep boats have an even number of rowers.

In sweep boats each rower is referred to either as port or starboard which refers to whether his/her oar extends to the port (rower's right) or starboard (rower's left) side of the boat.

A coxswain, who faces in the direction of travel, will often direct the rowers and communicate with the coach and race officials by radio.

In the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, North Ireland and Wales) the port rowers are referred to as strokeside, if the boat is port-rigged, and the starboard rowers in a port-rigged boat are referred to as bowside.