So, there is a traditional signalling system with the whistles, one for 'you're a length away', two for 'half a length', three for 'a canvas', to let the cox and crew know how they're doing with respect to the boat in front. The guys (one per boat) on the bicycles with the whistles are an important part of the race.
I have heard that originally, instead of bicycles and whistles, it was horses and revolvers (which always have six shots in them, hence the one, two, three system).
Yea, looks like a downward trend indeed.
Re bumps week: and people call us unsophisticated, dangerous cowboys! Good lord!
So, there is a traditional signalling system with the whistles, one for 'you're a length away', two for 'half a length', three for 'a canvas', to let the cox and crew know how they're doing with respect to the boat in front. The guys (one per boat) on the bicycles with the whistles are an important part of the race.
I have heard that originally, instead of bicycles and whistles, it was horses and revolvers (which always have six shots in them, hence the one, two, three system).