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The Nature of Rowing- Natural Drag Effect

When an oarsperson rows, the work they do is absorbed by the drag of the boat moving through the water. The more intensively they work, the more drag they overcome and the faster the boat will move.

This self paced effect allows the oarsperson to work at any intensity. The boat simply responds, moving at a speed which is equal to the intensity of work being done.

As boat speed and momentum increase, it does not get easier to row. As the speed increases, the drag acting on the boat also increases, requiring the oarsperson to work more intensively in order to maintain speed.

What you put in is what you get out.