Charles River Traffic Patterns

Newton Yacht Club Channel Upstream: stay to the right side (Watertown) of all buoys; be careful Note: of the shallows close to the river’s Very shallow edge Downstream: Use the channel between the buoys; stay clear of the MDC Boat Launch Ramp

Upstream Community Rowing

NEWTON YACHT CLUB CHANNEL Charles River Traffic Patterns Upstream: Keep right of all buoys (Watertown)—very shallow Downstream: Stay between the buoys and keep clear of the boat ramp North Bridge traffic rules Bridge Traffic Beacon (looking upstream) North Beacon (View looking upstream) Street Bridge Normal Traffic SANDBAR Downstream: Arsenal Cross into upstream Use only if necessary traffic to avoid, but not excessively. Caution; see notes

Keep to the right side of the river-- Do not use Eliot especially on turns. Keep both boats and blades on the right third of Arsenal Bridge the river (as if it were a 3-lane Downstream: Upstream: Stay along shore Keep right. Watch highway). Stay right on turns, and (~12 feet) through for boats crossing Downstream: Stay along shore (~12 feet) the turn. to/from CBC. do not cut corners. through the turn. Northeastern Upstream: Keep right. Watch for boats crossing Pass on the left (port). Boats Boathouse to/from CBC. being overtaken shall yield to shore. Overtaking boats are responsible for Anderson General River Rules Head of the Charles avoiding a collision and must be Eliot Turn, Downstream: (HOCR) Finish Line Keep your starboard oars NO MORE prepared to slow down or stop to • Keep to the right side (1/3) of Upstream: than one oar length from shore (~12 Normal traffic avoid contact. Boats approaching in If needed, use center arch to feet) as you come around the turn. opposite directions shall pass port to the river—especially on turns avoid Weld Boathouse traffic Use only if necessary Cambridge Boat Club BB&N Use caution; see notes port. • Overtake on the left (port) Do not use Weeks Turn quickly. Do not angle across, • Turn quickly, only where visible Footbridge or stop perpendicular to traffic. Turn Eliot Bridge only in locations with good visibility; • Move to shore to stop or drill avoid turning near bridges and sharp Downstream: Harvard Newell Start your turn BEFORE turns. Boathouse you enter the bridge For full details, see the Charles River Traffic Stopping: Move to shore to stop or Patterns and Safety Rules HOCR 2 mi. drill, and avoid stopping in Anderson Bridge designated trouble spots (*). Western Harvard Weld Avenue Powerhouse Stretch: 1200m Start Boathouse 1200m No stopping (Downstream) Finish HOCR 1 mi. Downstream: Stay well to the outside Weeks River of the turn, along the Boston shore. Footbridge Street Riverside River Western Boathouse Street Avenue Rowing Club Powerhouse Stretch: Magazine Bridge Bridge Use center arch only if with coach; BU Bridge Beach NOTE: Center arch is upstream ONLY between 5am-1pm from Labor Day through Thanksgiving Downstream returning to MIT: BU Boathouse Continue along the HOCR start Boston shore until just past the Storrow Drive footbridge or the Hyatt Launching from MIT: Hotel before crossing 2K Finish Stay along shore, watch out for over into the MIT lane. upstream crews on the 2K race MIT Lane course and downstream crews Caution: Stay clear of returning to MIT. upstream crews on the 2K race course. BU Bridge V L 1500m MIT Pierce Boathouse

Shallow! Harvard (Mass Ave.) 1000m BOSTON CAMBRIDGE

Harvard Bridge MIT Sailing Pavillion

500m 5 4 3 2 1 0

Downstream: Union Lane 8 downstream arches total Racing Lanes Aim on the gold dome (Beacon Hill), then at (4 on each side of the lighted platform) White arch: Lanes 3-4 the Boston corner of the 2K Start Longfellow Bridge. (Upstream) Union Lane Longfellow

Harvard Bridge, Upstream (2K Union Boathouse race course): Lanes 3-4: wide painted arch Do not use Caution: crews on Lanes 2 and 5: narrow arches Longfellow Bridge center arch upstream side of bridge on either side North Downstream Lanes 0-1: the next wide arch

For full details, see the Charles River Traffic Patterns and Safety Rules http://www.unionboatclub.org/rowing/charles_traffic.html http://www.communityrowing.org/handbook/charlesriver.htm http://www.riversideboatclub.com/riverusers/rules.htm