Abstract: A front-facing rowing arrangement for a boat includes a pair of oars of which includes a handle 1 and a blade 3 mounted for pivotal movement about spaced parallel axes on a supporting member 5 which is itself hingedly mounted for movement about a horizontal axis extending parallel to the direction of travel of the boat. The handle 1 and blade 3 of each oar are connected by a lever/linkage system which is such that the angular velocity of the blade relative to the angular velocity of the handle increases steadily throughout a typical power stroke.