In rowing, it is important to get your oar in the water before you add power. This task is called the catch. The catch sounds easy, just put the oar blade into the water. But the catch takes a lot of practice to master.
If power is applied before proficiency in the catch is achieved, the boat will move inefficiently and a spectacle to see. Here is an example of what can happen in a boat of eight people who have not mastered the catch.
One or two people will miss the water completely. Their oars will jet toward the stern of the boat over the water while other oars slowly make their way there. The boat will not go straight because power will be distributed unevenly.
Other oars may pop out of the water during the drive (when power is added) since they were not substantially planted in the water in the catch. The rest of the oars will make the full sweep from bow to stern but they will be at different depths in the water.
Some of these blades will be so deep in the water that the shaft of the oar will be submerged. And some blades will be shallowly planted with the top of the blades exposed. The result of this oar chaos will be an unstable boat and an unenjoyable experience for the rowers.
Technique before power is essential.