Christ Church Regatta 2018 Safety Plan Opening Remarks Christ Church Regatta is a novice regatta, which takes place on the Isis. The dates for this year’s event are 21st-24th November 2018 (the traditional dates of Wednesday to Saturday of 7th week). Racing will be scheduled to take place from 12 pm to dusk on Wednesday to Friday, and 11 am to dusk on Saturday. The course to be rowed is from Longbridges (Hertford, Mansfield, St Catherine’s and St Hilda’s boathouse) to the Finish Stone (half way between Pembroke boat house and the Head of the River public house). The first round and repêchage will race over a short- ened course, from across Christ Church boat house to the Finish stone. As with all water-based events, safety is the regatta's primary concern. Conducting a safe Christ Church Regatta presents far fewer problems than an event such as Summer Eights or Torpids. There are fewer crews racing at any one time, the style of racing is different (i.e. side-by-side racing instead of “bumps” racing), the course is much shorter, and the number of bystanders is significantly less. This document provides a compre- hensive safety plan for the event, concerning the participants, organisers and spectators. The organisers are aware of the high profile of Oxford rowing safety at the moment, and are revising the safety plan every year based on previous experience in anticipation of making safer an event that has always taken safety very seriously. Responsibility for Safety Planning The regatta organiser, who is responsible for all aspects of risk assessment and safety plan implementation for Christ Church Regatta 2018, is Ms Anna Schmidtmann, with the help of Ms Ali Williams (Water Safety Advisor of Christ Church Boat Club), at least one of whom will be present at Christ Church Boat House (Race Desk) at all times. They will be equipped with a radio to contact both marshals and other important personnel, and mobile telephones for emergency use.at all times. A risk assessment has been conducted and is included as an appendix to this document. The duties of the “Safety Advisor” as defined in the BR rules of racing are contained within the duties of the Regatta organiser and the Water Safety Advisor of the club. Contact numbers: Ms Anna Schmidtmann 004917664711609 Ms Ali Williams 07920 246205 Safety Awareness Swim Tests It has been decided that all competitors (including coxswains) must have passed an OURCs swim test before being allowed to compete. Competitors who have failed to pass a swimming test will not be allowed to compete (the wearing of a lifejacket will not be accepted in lieu of a swim test: this is above and beyond guidance in the BR water safety code “RowSafe”). Coxswains It is compulsory for all coxswains to attend the Savills Christ Church Regatta safety briefing which will be held in conjunction with OURCs approximately a week before the event. The date will be circulated to all boat clubs as early as possible. In cases of illness or academic clashes, exemptions may be given by the OURC Captain of Coxes. Exemptions have to be requested via email no later than 11am on the day the briefing will take place. However, exemptions,if at all, can only be given to coxes who are X or S status and have coxed a regatta on the Isis for which they attended the briefing within the last year. Coxes who have been exempted from attending the briefing are responsible to review the relevant information, especially the circulation pattern, which will be made available on the regatta web page and circulated to all boat clubs via email. ALL coxswains are required to wear life jackets. First Aid A First Aid Unit will be present at all times during racing, and will have uninterrupted access to a dedicated safety launch. There shall be two first aid posts - one at the Boathouses and one in a dedicated safety launch, with access to all parts of the course, which will have complete priority over any racing crews. The Unit shall consist of at least two people dedicated to First Aid at the event and trained to at least the standard of Emergency medical technician. The first aiders shall be informed, through their agents, of the nature of the event, and will have the risk assessment made available to them. Furthermore, they will be required to hold liability insurance of their own or through their employer, and will be issued a copy of the schedule. First aid this year will be provided by TBD (presumably Epione Medical Services) Emergency Access In case of an emergency, the emergency services, in particular the ambulance service, shall be made aware of the regatta and all access points. In the event of a 999 call, emergency service access is through Christ Church Meadow, where the access barrier will be in the raised position and the rising bollard in the down position for the duration (on the regulation of the Proctors). Both of these are positioned at the entrance to the Meadows, in the north-west corner by Schools Quad of Christ Church. Permission for all access will be requested from Christ Church prior to the event. The Lodge Telephone No., should any incident arise needing their help, is 01865 276150. Other points of emergency access are from City of Oxford Rowing Club, Falcon Rowing and Canoe Club, and the Riverside Centre as emergency service access may be required upon either bank of the Isis. Access from Donnington Bridge is via the Public Highway. In case of an accident around Donnington Bridge, any casualties should be trans- ported to Falcon to allow them to be reached by an ambulance. In case they need to be contacted, the phone number for City of Oxford Rowing Club is 01865 242576, and the phone number for Falcon is TBC. Marshals Marshals will be culled from experienced rowers and coxes, especially for the first day of racing. All marshals have to attend the pre-regatta marshalling meeting a couple of days before the regatta (Monday evening, 19 November 2018, 7.30 pm, Michael Dummett Lecture Theatre, Christ Church) to be fully briefed on their duties, and a second marshalling briefing will occur on race days before each shift to practice mock river checks, radio and klaxon testing. The klaxon test has two functions: (1) to ensure all marshals know how to klaxon, and (2) that the klaxons work. Experienced marshals will be placed at critical points, such as the crossover. On race days, there are two marshalling shifts each day, with a second marshalling briefing before each shift, which will occur at Univ raft before the marshals will be send off to their stations (Boathouse Marshalls A and B and Meadows Marshal may catch a ride from Launch 2 to the other side of the river. Marshals with bicycles may be send to posts further away on county side to reach them in time for the change over). Marshals shall be equipped with: 1. a two-way radio 2. a high visibility bib 3. a klaxon 4. a clipboard, with a sheet of paper summarising their duties and the procedure in case of an emergency, including emergency phone numbers in case of radio failure; a list of blade colours. 5. crew list for identity checks (for boat house marshals); schedule (for marshals assisting crews to pair up) 6. a megaphone (for marshals at key positions) 7. their private mobile phone, whose number will be noted down at the briefing before their shift. There will always be a chief marshal with a mobile phone for emergency use. Emergency telephone numbers are to be displayed at the boathouse. Marshals will be present at the locations shown on the enclosed map to assist all crews. They will have radio contact with the Race Desk to report emergency situations. In addition to the Regatta Captain, there will be the following 18 marshals: 1. Chief Marshal: Responsible for running marshalling briefings and assigning marshalling positions on race days and being on hand to answer any question or assist in marshalling-related matters. 2. Donny Bridge Marshal*: [1st round/repêchage] Responsible for liaising with other river users, asking them to hold and await the end of the race in progress. [2nd round/finals] They are responsible for liaising with other river users, asking them to hold and await the end of the race in progress. Instructs crews where to spin, i.e. between City of Oxford boathouse and the turning post Ensures that crews are moving to the start in good time and are at the correct stations to ensure that no collisions occur in the gut. 3. Gut Marshal*: [1st round/repêchage – at mooring point B] Ensures that no crew goes into the gut, assists crews to spin and sends them down to pair up. Ask river traffic to tuck in at holding point B if necessary. [2nd round/finals – in the middle of the gut] To send paired crews down towards the start when it is clear, on the correct stations. To ensure there are no collisions in the gut. Ask river traffic to tuck in at holding point B if necessary. 4. Longbridges Marshal*: [1st round/repêchage] Advising crews in transit for landing at Univ. Performs “Boathouse marshal” tasks. [2nd round/finals]. Performs “Boathouse marshal” tasks. Liase with river users to show them holding point B. 5. Start Marshal*¹†: (Senior Umpire) Decides the stagger according to stream conditions on the day and gives the starting commands (“Attention! Go!”).