Push Off!
A guide to Pushing off and Counting down for the Bumps

Pushing off and Counting down, a guide to being a good bank party for the bumps.

Written by John Whitney

Bank Party

Purpose:

1. Getting the boat into the best starting position with the least amount of stress to the crew.

2. It’s important that someone is obviously in charge and displaying confidence. If the cox or someone in the crew wants to insist on this role let them. This is no place for an argument.

3. By counting down the clock allowing them to anticipate the start.

4. After the start assisting where possible.

5. After a bump assisting in clearing the river.

Bank Parties:

Ideally you will have four; someone with the pole, someone on the watch, someone on bow’s blade and someone on seven’s blade. It’s possible with two, uncomfortably possible with one and boats have been known to go off without a bank party. Larger bank parties, six or more, get in the way. If you have three get the person on the watch to attend seven’s blade. If you are on your own get the four man in the boat to count you down or you can push and count on your own.

Before landing:

It is best to cycle ahead of the crew and find their station. Send the person on the watch ahead to the gun shed to set your watch. (The college bumps set their clocks to the BBC and this may happen someday to the town bumps)

1. Stretch the chain: Unless you are the first division on the night your chain will be in the water. Pull it out and stretch it to full length. Watch for kinks and knots, get the bung as dry as possible.

2. Placing the bung: Using the pole as a measure. Place one end on the anchoring point (where it is bolted into the ground) and the other end pointing upstream to where the end is just on the bank.

3. Place the bung one foot up stream from the end of the pole. This is a fairly safe, average position. More aggressive crews may wish to go upstream further and start closer to the bank or risk being tugged onto the end of the chain. If you have a cox who can’t leave well enough alone and insists on lots of paddling move it down stream. You may want to make adjustments on the second night based on what happened to the chain (too much or not enough slack) on the first night. It is far better to have some slack and give up a foot or two of advantage than be pointed in the wrong direction off the start.

4. Remove the pole and flake out the chain making sure it is not going to snag when pulled to full length.

5. When your boat arrives, position the cox next to the bung.

6. Have a good look at the pole. If necessary wash the end that goes on the boat. Five is going to be putting their feathering hand on it and won’t like a hand full of mud.

Pushing off:

So the crew has arrived with 6-7 minutes before the start. Usually people like to get out and stretch and have a chat or in the case of older gentlemen, visit the shrubbery. Let them do what they want. The rest of this explanation is based on the clock. Some of the instructions quoted will come from the boat or coach if not make sure it comes from the bank. What you are shooting for is taking the crew from light hearted to deadly focused.

1. The four-minute gun – If you have your watch set count it down – very impressive when you get it right. Get the crew in the boat without a rush.

2. Three and a half minutes - It is important that you start keeping people busy. Place the pole on the point where fives backstay joins the boat and have five put his hand over it – Not holding on to it but pressing down. Explain that if he grabs the pole he will drag you down the river, if he lets go you will poke him in the ribs. When five is comfortable with all this remove the pole.

3. Three minutes.

4. Two and a half

5. Two minutes – Tops off. Check footplates. Check gates. Make sure all clothing is clear of the slides. Have everyone look at the person in front for shirts not tucked in &c. Get cox or help him/her to clear the rudder.

6. One and a half. - Ask quite sternly for quiet on the bank. At this point, without rush you should give cox his line. This is done by having seven’s blade held and pushing the bow out if necessary. Hold this line/angle to the bank. If you are short handed do this earlier and have bow and seven hold it with the blades after you have pushed them into position.

7. 1 min. 15 – Place the pole, make sure cox has the bung. Get the crew to think through there start. Absolute quiet!

8. Count down the 1-minute gun. If bow and sevens blades are attended push the boat out to where seven’s blade is half way off the bank. This will give you a more gentle push with the pole and allow you to push off later. Counting off the watch should now come at 5 sec. intervals.

9. The push. When this happens is subject to a lot of discussion. I have only once pushed out late, <20sec, because of conditions. I have never pushed out prior to 35. If its blowing it is better to give cox a little more chain (move the bung downstream a couple of feet when positioning the boat) and give the cox more room to deal with it. The objective is to get the boat stationary in position on 15 sec. 20 sec. is better if there is not much wind. Push out gently watching to keep the cox’s line and just far enough where seven’s blade is about three feet from the bank – should be just beyond where you can comfortably reach with the pole.

10. Counting should be in 1 sec. intervals from 20 sec. (If your crew is not forward and square on 7 remind them) on until 5 sec. then shut up and on your bike.

Chasing:

It is a good idea to have at least one member of your bank party watching the two boats ahead. If they bump out and your boat needs to go around you should assist in getting the best line. It is very important that one person on the bank has as good a communications with cox as possible. Get his/her first name and use it. Others on the bank may shout things like “easy, (crew name)” when it may be inappropriate. Cox should be listening to one individual. Good contact with a marshal will also help.

Bumping or being bumped:

When it happens you have to clear the river as quickly as possible. You will more than likely have the best view of what’s going on and in the best position to direct cox as to the best place to hide. The crew being bumped should row on and find a safe place to pull into one of the banks. The crew doing the bumping should easy and hold it up until the boats separate and then go for a bank. Keep in mind the cox is not usually aware of what’s going on behind him/her and your directions can be invaluable.

If pulling in on the towpath side the rest of the bank party should dump there bikes in the bushes, NOT ON THE TOWPATH, and assisting getting the boat in and holding the riggers.

This guide is reproduced here with the kind permission of John Whitney

This guide was written by John Whitney - who, in my opinion, is the best outflow station pusher offer on the cam.