GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

HEAD OF THE RIVER 2012

SATURDAY 17th March 2012 @ 11:00 hrs

RULES AND SAFETY

ALL coxswains and coaches (even those who are familiar with the ) are required to observe the Rules of the Race (see information page for link) whilst boating, marshalling, racing and returning to boathouses. Breach of the Rules may lead to a penalty being awarded, or, if appropriate, the crew being disqualified.

In addition to the specific Rules, all coxswains are required to ensure that they treat the safety of their and other crews as a priority. Coaches are to ensure that their coxswains are familiar both with the Rules of the Race and the River. The River will be closed between Putney and bridges from 10:00 on race day until the last boat has crossed the finish line. At all other times and all other sections of the river, all crews must comply with the navigation rules laid out in the TRRC Navigation on the Tideway document.

TAKE GREAT CARE AROUND ALL THE BRIDGES AND FIXED OBSTACLES

Random inspections will take place to assure compliance with the British Rowing Safety Code. Safety cover will extend from Kew Railway Bridge to approximately 200 yards below Fulham Railway Bridge

If you have an accident on the Tideway and your boat fills with water, it is advisable to stay together as a crew so that strong swimmers can look after the weaker members. If your boat still floats, you should make sure your crew hangs on to it until the rescue boat arrives, or you have pushed it ashore.

All boats must clearly display their boat ID in line with British Rowing requirements.

MARSHALLING

1. The ‘Marshalling Area’ extends from Kew Railway Bridge to the crossing upstream of Eyot.

2. Crews must not engage in warming up rowing in the Marshalling Area after 10.30 hrs. Warming up rowing includes rowing at full, firm or race pressure unless specifically directed to proceed at that pressure by a race marshal or umpire.

3. Shore based marshals are identified by yellow tabards. The Chief Marshal will be located on the upstream side of . Crews are to obey any instructions given by the Marshals.

3. Crews will await the start in 8 divisions, heading upstream in reverse order of starting. Division 1 should be approximately in line with the Surrey buttress of Chiswick Bridge Division 1 crews must leave a sufficient distance from the bank to permit Division 2 crews to marshal on their inside.

1 Surrey Side Middlesex Side (Linen numbers Black on White) (Linen numbers Black on Yellow)

Division 1 (centre) 1 - 50 Division 2 51 - 105 Division 3 106 - 155 Division 4 156 - 210 Division 5 211 - 260 Division 6 261 - 315 Division 7 316 - 365 Division 8 366 - 400

Please see the attached plan of the marshalling area and identify your position in relation to landmarks. When waiting, crews must maintain their position against the tide, leaving half a length between crews.

4. In the marshalling area, the middle of the river must be left for crews going with the tide, crews going against the tide must be on the side in which they are marshalling. By 10.50, all crews marshalling in divisions 1,2 & 3 must be upstream of Chiswick Bridge and in their Marshalling positions. By 10.50 Crews marshalling in divisions 4 - 8 must be downstream of Chiswick Bridge and on their marshalling side of the river. You may not cross the river in the marshalling area after this time. The last crossing place heading upstream after 15.50 is at Chiswick Eyot - below the marshalling area - and is patrolled by a marshal Crews in divisions 4 - 8 should be assembled by the following times: Div 4 & 5: by 10.50; Div 6 & 7: by 10.55; Div 8 by 11.00

5. Crews must abide by the boating arrangements of their host clubs.

6. Number plates and linen numbers on both bow and cox’n must be visible at all times

7. There will be a “5 minute Warning to the start” at 10.55 by the Marshals to the crews; At 10.59 Division 1 starts to turn on the instruction of the Marshals. Likewise Divisions 2 and 3 will turn on the instruction of the Marshals. On the instructions of a marshal, boats in the division due to turn will do so simultaneously, bows towards the middle of the river. Do not ‘spin turn’ close inshore. You must then proceed downstream through Chiswick Bridge and should close up until you are one boat length of clear water behind the crew in front. Keep closed up and do not easy unless told to do so by the Start Marshal above Chiswick Bridge.

7. Boats will be formally started from a launch just below Chiswick Bridge at approximately 10 second intervals with the instruction “No 1...... ROW” etc. The timing point is the University Stone about 75 metres downstream of the Start.

8. Divisions 4 - 8 waiting downstream of the start MUST obey instructions of marshals to close up and move towards their final turning position in the area between Chiswick and Kew Railway Bridges. Crews 260. and 365 (lead crews in divs 5, & 7) will lead their division up to the petrol pier upstream of University of , before turning. Crews 210. 315 and 400 will lead divisions 4, 6 & 8 up to just below the Railway Bridge, before turning. All crews will have to paddle hard to keep closed up, as instructed.

10 . After the crew has turned on its signal, it is to paddle downstream through Chiswick Bridge towards the start in the middle of the river one length of clear water behind the next boat in front. Coxswains should not let large gaps open ahead of them regardless of whether they believe they are faster than the boat ahead. 2

COXES

11. Coxswains should carry with them in the boat a card showing the details that will affect them, in particular the marshalling details above that will apply to them. Coxes are reminded that if they arrive late to the start, they may be made to wait to the end of the division to be allowed to race, or not permitted to race at all.

10. Coxes are expected to ensure that the boat number, bow-ball, hatches and heel restraints are secure.

11. When marshalling, coxes are reminded to ensure that they are on the right side of the river – if the crew’s linen numbers are Black on White background, the crew’s station will be Surrey (south) side, if they are Black on Yellow Background, the crew will be on the Middlesex (north) side of the river. Coxes are not to approach their station on the wrong side of the river as they will not be permitted to cross at the last moment in the marshalling area. Crossing points downstream of the marshalling area are controlled by an umpire/marshal.

12. The linen numbers must be visible before and during the race. They are waterproof and should not be covered with polythene. The bowman must wear one number on his racing vest, the other on his covering top.

13. Coxes are reminded that the Tideway is subject to strong currents – when a crew is stopped on the water, it will still be moving at 3-4 mph. It is therefore extremely important that crews do not attempt to stop or turn close to stationary objects, such as bridges or moored boats. Whilst going against the tide, coxes are to keep clear of the middle of the river which is used by crews rowing with the tide.

.14. For crews boating away from Putney, both number plates and linen numbers will be delivered to your nominated host club: you do not collect them from Putney. Crews boating from Putney should collect them at Ranelagh Sailing Club on either Friday (16th) between 13:00 – 19:00 or Saturday (17th) between 7:30 to 10:30. There will be detailed instructions on the envelope with the numbers. Number plates should however be returned to Putney in the usual way after the race. Crews are responsible for returning their race numbers. Plates that are not returned within seven days of the race will be charged at the rate of £ 30 per plate to the club in question.

DURING THE RACE

REMEMBER – Coxswains must be familiar with the Rules of the Race. They also are reminded in particular that they must adhere to the rules in respect of marshaling set out above in order to avoid a penalty.

In order to maintain the fastest course and to save the crew valuable seconds, coxes are reminded to watch the HORR video. The fastest course is in the line of deepest water, shown as a dotted line on the enclosed chart. As the tide goes out and shoals appear (shaded on the chart) the best course is less likely to be midway between the shorelines.

16. Crews must give way to any overtaking crew. Do not wait until their bow is almost on the boat’s rudder before changing course: This is potentially dangerous and the crew will lose less time if they move gently a few metres across the stream rather than applying hard rudder to avoid a collision.

17. Overtaking crews should manoeuvre so as to overtake at a point where they will be as close as possible to their best course .

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18. Crews MUST pass the black buoy and line of moored boats at Putney on the Middlesex (north) side. Crews attempting to pass by the Surrey side of the black buoy will be automatically disqualified. Crews are reminded to line themselves up sufficiently early so as to not need to steer hard to avoid the black buoy.

19. Any crews causing serious interference to another crew may be disqualified or awarded a time penalty. This also applies for any crews who interfere with boats racing whilst they are proceeding to their disembarkation point after they have finished racing.

AFTER THE RACE

20. CREWS MUST PADDLE ON AFTER CROSSING THE FINISH LINE AND PASS THROUGH THE CENTRE ARCH OF BOTH PUTNEY BRIDGE AND FULHAM RAILWAY BRIDGE BEFORE TURNING RIGHT. ANY CREW TURNING BEFORE FULHAM RAILWAY BRIDGE MAY BE DISQUALIFIED or receive a time penalty. Be prepared to return outside Putney Pier, if the route under the Pier is obstructed or if a marshal directs you, before moving inside the line of moored boats by the boathouses.

All crews must turn right towards the Surrey (south) shore after going through the bridges and return home in accordance with rules 19 to 21. Crews returning to Barnes, , Chiswick and Kew, please note rule 21(d). Please remember that any returning crews that impeded a racing crew are likely to be subject to a penalty or disqualification.

A final reminder - STUDY THE RULES OF THE RACE AND THE CHART OF THE COURSE, BEFORE THE RACE.

Enjoy your racing.

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