Backing down in the boat: handles to the body, blade turned, drive while rolling forward, feathered while rolling back. Following the DRV command, with mistakes.
The honest answer up front: in backing down you reverse the order: the drive happens while rolling forward, the blade is feathered while rolling back into layback, and it all begins with "All backward – go!" That is how the excerpt "Rowing commands" from the German Rowing Federation (DRV) describes it: at the preparatory call the handles come to the body and the blades lie flat on the water. At execution, opposite to forward rowing, the blade is turned, the backward drive happens while rolling forward, then the blade is feathered while rolling back into layback [1]. In plain words: everything the other way round, in your head too.
What do you need it for? For example to go to a dock, to get around an obstacle or to prepare the turn. In the "turn via port (starboard)", the named side first rows backward, while the other oar is carried above the water on the roll forward [1]. Backing down is therefore a building block for further maneuvers.
Good to know (practice, no study): when backing down, the boat moves in the direction you look. That makes orientation easier, but only if you really look.
Typical for beginners: the head wants to go forward, the hands should go backward. That is normal. That is why you first practice the sequence on land or at the dock in the dry, with empty hands, before doing it in the boat.
How hard is it? You learn the sequence in one session. Until it runs automatically on command, it takes several training sessions, in experience terms. Sources on the technique of backing down are scarce; the DRV rowing commands are the main federation source, a club script supplements [2]. Everything else is practice standard.
At "All backward" the handles come to the body and the blades lie flat on the water [1]. You sit in layback, the blade position opposite to that in forward rowing [2]. Milestone: you find the position without looking.
At "go" the blade is turned, opposite to forward rowing [1]. The blade is now set so that it moves the boat backward.
The backward drive happens while rolling forward [1]. You use the full slide [2]. The movement is even and calm.
While rolling back into layback the blade is feathered [1]. That lets the blade glide back above the water without braking.
Repeat the sequence in a calm rhythm. On the command "Hold water" you stop at once [1]. Milestone: 10 strokes backward without an air stroke, with an even rhythm.
Practice backing down first at the dock or with a bow person in the boat, in steps: first only one stroke and "Hold water", then three strokes, then ten. Note how far the boat travels per stroke. With this number you plan docking: anyone who knows how far their boat runs backward brakes earlier and more safely.
With "All backward – go!": handles to the body, blade flat, then turn the blade, drive while rolling forward, feather while rolling back [1].
For docking, for avoiding and as part of the turn [1].
One-sided backing down occurs in the turn: the named side rows backward first, while the other oar is carried above the water [1].
No. The ergometer has no boat that moves backward. It is a pure on-water technique.
Coxing a Rowing Boat: Steer Gently, Decide Early, Give Commands Correctly