Quick Dips

Rowing Relief

Olympic interest has been expressed in the smooth starts rowers are getting at Ruataniwha, Twizel, thanks to a custom-built wave barrier. The barrier prevents the choppy waters often caused by waves rebounding off the vertical wall at the end of the course and reinforcing each other 100-150 metres along the lanes.

"In westerly winds coming down the lake, we'd get quite severe turbulence," says John Wiley, president of the Canterbury Rowing Association. Up to half a day was being lost while rowers waited for the waters to calm.

Assistance from Canterbury University engineers, Works Corp and Electricorp's South Island Hydro Group led to the production of a slanting wood and steel frame, which allows the waves to rebound without building up. The spacing between the barrier's wooden grids is the crucial factor in preventing wave reinforcement.

"It's like a big vacuum cleaner in that it sucks the turbulence off the water," notes Wiley. He's heard of many approaches to preventing turbulence, from hanging sacks in the water to using rafts of tyres. None have been particularly effective.

The International Rowing Body is interested in the wave barrier, hoping that it could be of use in the Olympic rowing course at Lake Banyoles, Spain.