Rowing skiff and oars

This single rowing skiff was designed and made by Bob Rout of Kiwi International Rowing Skiffs Ltd, Cambridge, for New Zealand sculler Rob Waddell, who used it to win the gold medal in the single sculls at the Sydney Olympics 2000.

Design
The skiff was made heavier than usual to accommodate Rob's immense size and power output. At two metres in height and weighing just over 100 kilograms, Rob did not have the normal profile of a rower. So extra room was required in the cockpit, and the footplates were extended for the foot stretcher to fit his long legs. Extra reinforcing layers of carbon were provided throughout the skiff (in earlier models Rob had pushed right through the hull). The aluminium rigger was built for maximum rigidity to handle his power.

The materials are epoxy resin with carbon fibre laminate baked in an oven at eighty degrees Celsius for twelve hours. The weight of the skiff is 15.5 kilograms.

Innovation
The skiff was specifically designed to take into account the crosswind effect at Sydney's rowing course, and features round edges and a pod-shaped 'bum', which allow airflow to roll up over the edges and lessen wind resistance. It was the only skiff to feature an aerodynamic bow and stern at the Sydney Olympics.