Randall Foil Test Plan

Hypothesis:  Randall Foils provide a measurable improvement in boat speed for an experienced Master sculler.

Equipment:

– My boat

– two pairs of oars

   –  existing smoothie2 soft shaft skinny oars

   –  new pair of matching oars, prepitched to deliver 0 degrees with 4 degree oarlocks
Instrumentation:
• Speedcoach GPS, with Empower oarlock and HRM
• Quiske pod

Preparation:
1.  Row at least 10 sessions with Foils oars to acclimate and adjust style
2.  Row 6 sessions alternating between foil and standard oars to acclimate to switching back and forth.

Experiment:
Test day #1 – sprint performance
• calm day
• lake quinsigamond, so I can do the lengths close to the dock
• 8 x 500m (all same direction), super long rests)
• What’s the best way to split the trials?
◦ 2/4/2
◦ 3/4/1
◦ 1/2/3/2

Test Day #2 – starts
• 4 x 5 starts (20 strokes each)
• 1/2/1

Test Day #3 – head race performance
• 4 x 2k
• 1/2/1

Analysis:
• segment elapsed time
• avg power
• end HR
• speed per watt
• blade flight path
• effective length
• peak power angle

* side video of all sessions, analyzed to overlay data