Radcliffe lights: the crew that's biggest problem is finding another crew willing to race it. Dominated its entire schedule the sprints and the nationals last spring, claiming every race by open water.

Rude and Smooth: 1974-'75 Harvard heavyweight crew that won two national titles: So-called because of their rude behavior, shouting epithets at other boats as they put them away in the sprint at the end of the race, and smooth technique.

scull: to row with two blades. This is as opposed to sweeping, which is with one blade per person. Sculling can be an individual sport, a shell with just one sculler is called a single.

seat racing: the ultimate--and most brutal--test for an individual sweep. Two fours are lined up and raced, two rowers switch boats and the race is repeated. The stronger rower is determined by the relative results of the two races.

shell: the proper name for a thin boat, which holds one, two, four and eight rowers and perhaps a coxswain.

single: a shell with a single sculler.

sprint: the final portion of a race. When the crews pick up their stroke rate and go all out until the end. Many races are decided during this crucial stretch.

Sprints: events held each spring to determine Eastern champions. The men's sprints are held on Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester in May to determine the Eastern lightweight and heavyweight champion crews. The women's sprints are a week later on Lake Waramaug in New Preston, Conn. The most important regular event on the crew calender.

starboard: a port sweep rows with his or her right hand on the end of the oar handle.

stroke: the most important sweep in an eight. The stroke sits nearest the coxswain and sets the pace for the entire boat by determining the rate of of strokes per minute. Usually a shell will row around 36 strokes (28 for a head race) a minute but pick up the pace near the end of the race during the final 500

Andy Sudduth: the best American single sculler. Sudduth, who graduated from Harvard in 1985, stroked the Harvard eight that won Henley, won a silver medal at the 1984 Olympics as a member of the U.S. eight, and placed second in the world championships for single sculls this summer. He is the favorite to win the singles event at the Head.

sweep: to row with only one blade. This is as oppsoed to sculling, which is with two blades, one in each hand. A sweep has both hands on one blade.

tank: a shallow pool with a cement strip, slides and oarlocks set in the center. A tank allows a crew to practice as a unit in the winter.

tetanus shot: what you need to get after you get thrown or fall into the Charles.

Alison Townley: The finest Radcliffe rower. The junior will be stroking the Radcliffe heavies at the Head and was on the national team this summer.