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Safety & Safe Handling

Rowing is a great and fun sport but we must never forget that water is inherently dangerous and we all have a duty to keep each other safe, on and off the river.

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By observing a few simple rules and keeping the fleet in good shape we can all do our bit to keep things fun and safe for everyone.

Boat care

Booking and damage reporting

  • All boats must be booked out using the CCRC boat booking site (link tbc). This allows us to track usage and plan the maintenance and repair of the fleet.  If you change the usage then please delete the booking and/or replace it with a revised booking

  • All damage must be reported on the same day.  This should also include minor issues.

  • If a boat is damaged such that it is unrowable, then the Fleet manager should be contacted straightaway.

Boat care on land

  • Make sure boats are secured on trestles (or someone is holding them) while rigging/de-rigging or cleaning

  • When taking boats on or off racks, be conscious of the damage that riggers can cause to the hulls of boats (either your boat’s riggers or other boat’s riggers on your boat)

  • Secure all boats on any external racks outside and on the moving trolley racks inside

  • Carry blades correctly (spoon forward and low to the ground)​

Cleaning
Derigging and trailering

  • Top-nuts for backstays should be loosened before riggers are removed

  • Boats should normally be loaded with the bows facing the towbar.

  • The far end of a boat should not overhang the tailboard by more than 1m

  • A red flag / tape should be fixed to any load that overhangs the tailbar (and at night red lights) 

  • Boats should be tied on like this:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEKaRZk6ifM

  • Seats should be bungied in or removed

  • Once tied on boats should be checked by someone trying to wiggle each end.  If the boat moves it has not been tied on correctly.

  • The trailer has a tarpaulin that should be used to cover the base area.

  • People towing must do BR’s RowHow online course on towing.  https://www.rowhow.org/course/view.php?id=108

Safety

Safety checks before an outing

  • WATCH THIS VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jv294UHbj0s&t=3s 

  • Make sure there are no visible signs of damage to the hull, for example scrapes or cracks.

  • Check buoyancy compartments, seals, hatch covers, boat hull and ventilation bungs are secure and watertight. Buoyancy Bags have been installed if no under-seat buoyancy compartments are fitted.

  • Ensure a bow ball is in good condition and securely fixed.

  • Ensure fixing screws or bolts do not represent a hazard in the event of an accident. Any sharp protrusions should be covered or removed.

  • Ensure heel restraints are strong, secure and durable and the correct length (laces and cable ties are not appropriate). They must be properly adjusted (each heel shall be restrained to prevent it from rising higher than 7cm measured at right angles, from the footplate) and in working order.

  • Shoe fastenings such as laces or Velcro must be able to be released immediately by the rower with a single quick hand action of pulling on one easily accessible strap.

  • Ensure rudder lines, steering mechanisms and rudder (where fitted) and fin, are secure and in good working order.

  • Make sure outriggers, swivels, gates, seats, runners and stretchers are secure and operating correctly and show no signs of cracking or fatigue.

  • Blades should be undamaged and buttons are secure and properly set.

  • Ensure the boat is suitable for the situation in which it is to be used, for example maximum crew weight.

  • The cox must have a lifejacket. Coxes in bow- loader boats must wear a manual inflation lifejacket.  Coxes must not wear an inflatable lifejacket under any other garment.

On the water general rules

  • All crews should embark with a rigger jigger and electrical tape for repairs

  • When spinning, bow is responsible for the safety of the bows and stroke the safety of the stern.

  • Avoid getting river water on open cuts or on drinking spouts of water bottles as the water may carry diseases such as leptospirosis.  See: www.nhs.uk/conditions/leptospirosis/

  • Coxes, coaches and bank parties should be particularly aware of the following danger spots:

    • Green Dragon Bridge (crews may be on the wrong side when rowing downstream, boats may not make it round the corner going upstream)

    • Railway Bridge (coxless boats often drift to the middle of the river on the bit of river just upstream from the bridge)

    • Ditton Corner (boats may not make it round the corner going both ways, crews may be spinning/stationary at the end of the Long Reach)

    • Grassy Corner (crews going downstream often fail to make it round the last section of the corner, crews going upstream often drift to the centre of the river coming into Plough Reach

    • The Gut (the crossover point here is a common point of collisions)

    • 100m before First Post Corner (the river has a kink that means that crews rowing downstream often end up in the middle of the river)

  • Steerspeople in coxless boats should check behind them at least every 5 strokes and more often on corners or crowded parts of the river.  It is not enough for you to be on the right side of the river you need to check that other crews have not strayed onto your side.

Conditions

Ice and other debris

  • The Cam (and other rivers) sometimes freezes.  Crews should not try to break their way through the ice and should stick to water which is clear.

  • Similarly after flooding there can often be significant debris in a river.  Crews should not row if this is the case and river debris can damage the hull, rudder and fin or a boat.

Daytime rowing

  • Check the conditions before going out; only experienced crews may go out when the CUCBC flag is flying “yellow” or when the Captain announces restrictions eg due to flooding.

  • Club members should not do solo outings in single sculls unless they have competed in a race (this being an indicator of competence) and/or signed off by a club Captain.  Members doing solo outings at times when the river is empty should check out and in with a friend.

  • Spin at the normal spinning zones unless there is a very good reason to do otherwise.  If spinning outside the spinning zone check the river is clear.

  • Do not stop in the gut or part way down the Long Reach

  • BR L3 and below coxless crews should have bank party unless they have an experience steersperson in the boat.

Night time rowing

  • All crews going out in the dark need a white bow light and white and red stern lights.  Lights should not dazzle other crews.

  • All crews going out in the dark need a bank party.

  • For coxless boats, only scullers/steers people on the approved list (based on the level of experience) may go out in the dark. If you want to be on the list please contact the Captain.

  • At the Green Dragon Bridge, bank parties should remain on the bridge to check that the crew has safely made it to the P&E before cycling round to meet them. Crews must wait at the P&E for their bank party to re-join them.  When returning, crews should ensure that their bank party is on the Green Dragon Bridge before going round the corner.

  • Bank parties should be particularly cautious at First Post and Ditton corners and are advised to cycle ahead to actively tell their crew that the corner is clear (or warn them if it is not).

  • Bank parties should look out for stationary boats in unexpected places (e.g. half way down the reach) as it can sometime be hard to tell if another crew is moving or not and boats directly ahead may be in a cox’s blind spot.

  • Only spin in the normal spinning zones.

  • Night time rowing in windy conditions is prohibited unless approved by the President, Captain, or a Vice Captain; (as a guide if it is dark and the CUCBC yellow flag (https://www.cucbc.org/flag) is showing then less experienced crews should make other training plans.  If you are not sure then ask.)

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