Zen and the Art of Innovation – Rule 29

Have you ever looked at the logo for World Rowing? It is the symbol of the Enso from Zen Buddhism and represents the search for perfection. There are two forms of the Enso circle, one open and the other closed. The closed Enso symbolises the highest ideal of perfection and the open Enso the continual search. It is not a blind search but entails a life of discipline and devotion within a particular art form. “Zen and the Art of Archery” was written by the German philosopher Eugen Herrigel and the first western book to explore the path of a Zen student. In the Zen tradition, the Archer draws back their bow with such precision that even in the dark they can hit the target. [click here] Much of the truths of this book can be applied directly to rowing and I believe that World Rowing has rightly chosen the open Enso for their logo. In rowing, it is not about the search for that one perfect stroke but the ability to achieve it again and again. Many have acknowledged that the Sinkovik brothers reached a level of Zen sculling perfection few have ever achieved. [click here] They seem to have a deep understanding of the fluid motions of water, are able to feel for the water, place their blades precisely and draw their oars with graceful motion and harmony. For a young rower, there is nothing like having a Zen moment on the water, but the goal is to produce those perfect strokes when you are in the last 100 metres of an Olympic final. We all accept this aspect of rowing and devote ourselves to a life of discipline and aiming for perfection … so we set our alarm early for tomorrow morning. 

Yet, when we consider our equipment it would appear that the Enso circle is closed. All modern sports have equipment rules which make competing fair and designers work within the rules to exploit loopholes and push boundaries. We can see that the sports of cycling, America’s Cup and F1 are classic examples of this, pushing the limits of design is part of the sporting culture. I have been wondering why rowing is so different? It is not uncommon to see World Rowing races where all crews are rowing in the same boats and all using the same oars. How many races have you watched recently where all the boats were white with a tiny blue Italian stripe? What would you think about cycling if all the teams were using the same bicycle? What would the consequences be for the bicycle industry? Why should rowing be any different? Rowing in exactly the same boat as your competitor represents nothing more than risk aversion – not risk-taking – playing it safe. Our top crews are all rowing in IBM’s and we know that nobody gets fired buying IBM.

Rule 29 [link here] states that any new equipment design needs to be submitted to the FISA Equipment Committee to determine if it conforms to the laws of rowing. The use of the word ‘innovation’ has a particular understanding within the FISA Rule Book. If the new design innovation conforms, it is considered NOT to challenge Rule 29 and is declared NOT to be an innovation. It would seem like FISA are against innovation but nothing could be further from the truth.  In 2018, I submitted an innovation to FISA and began an exciting journey of discovery. What I have come to realise is that FISA wants designers to push the limits and to innovate but keep to Rule 29. The equipment Committee is there to support the development of rowing equipment, including the review of new technology and its potential application to rowing. World Rowing wants to see and to encourage innovation and current FISA rules are broad, guidelines wide and there is much room for pushing the limits of current equipment. There is still so much to learn about our sport and current designs are yet to exploit the full potential of creative thinking, science, technologies and materials. 

There are many great people in rowing who are keen to push innovation and creativity. Many athletes, coaches and teams are looking for an edge, especially as winning margins are so small these days. You will meet extraordinary people and learn so much. So you are not alone. From an economic perspective, there are many advantages to working commercially in rowing. Our market is relatively small, so the initial investment is reasonable yet is historically strong and growing each year. Many existing rowing companies are lethargic, have no motivation to change and have trouble pivoting, so start-ups have a long head start time advantage. There are marginal gains to be made and low hanging fruit ready to be picked but we need to be open to new ideas and different perspectives.

Let me touch on just a few concepts and possibilities … 

• Oar shafts should be aerodynamic, not the round logs we currently use – even skinny logs are not aero. Light attachable aerodynamic fenders would improve the flow of air as oars move on the recovery in the direction of travel.
• Hulls are currently designed for generic broad-range speed applications and not specifically for top racing speeds.
• Decks and cockpit designs do not exploit aerodynamics and currently have nuts, bolts, posts and poles sticking out everywhere. Cockpit covers with sleek stretch fabrics could assist here.
• Oarlocks should provide a complete and solid connection between oar and boat. Currently oars rattle about and efficiency is lost at the catch when the working surfaces need to come together.
• Oarlocks should aerodynamically integrate with any rigging. 3D printing forms could assist here.
• Individually moulded ergonomic handles, grips and seats for comfort and performance.

So, what are you waiting for? Get your rowing friends together and create that startup company and help change the culture of rowing. Long live innovation and those who possess that spirit of enquiry to push the boundaries of design within Rowing. 

Remember, the Enso circle is open.

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Ian Randall

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