Race Instructions
THE SCHOOLS' HEAD OF THE RIVER RACE 2008
Tuesday 4 th March at 13.30 [long start 14.00]
Instructions - MASTERS AND COACHES IN CHARGE ARE TO ENSURE THEIR CREWS ARE WHOLLY FAMILIAR WITH THE CONTENTS BY PROVISION AND VERIFICATION
These instructions must be read by all coaches/masters in charge. You will also find enclosed
A course map to comply with ARA Rule of Racing 2.2.3
A summary of the safety instructions for the race and, on the reverse, a diagram of the finish for your coxes.
Before the race, please photocopy the map and the safety instructions/finish diagram and give copies to each of your coxes, preferably encapsulated to be water-proof .
Coaches must brief coxes carefully, and check their understanding, particularly on:
The normal navigation laws to apply before 12.45 and after 15.45 hours
Marshalling positions, how to reach them safely and by when crews must be in position
The procedure at the finish and on the way back to their boathouse.
- Parking in Putney
- Numbers
- The Assembly
- Marshalling Positions (to be read in conjunction with the Marshalling circulation plan)
Any crew arriving late at its marshalling position will be held to the end of its Division and may incur time penalties.
All crews should ensure that they do not drift downstream of their marshalling position. See the advice in the Tideway Code, Section 2.6 page 23, for stopping in the Inshore Zone. Coaches should emphasise this point when briefing their crews. The tide will be running strongly and there may also be problems with the wind. Crews may find that they need to paddle, particularly on the ‘away from the bank' side. Note the advice in the crew's instructions.
DIVISION 2-Short Course
ALL CREWS IN DIVISION 2 MUST BE IN POSITION BY 13.15
Nos. 201-273 assemble on the Surrey bank with 201 at the upstream end of Harrods Wall and 273 opposite Barn Elms Boathouse.
Crews 201-273 boating upriver of their marshalling positions must proceed in the Fairway downstream past their eventual marshalling position and turning upstream only after having cleared the downriver end of the Division.
DIVISION 1-Long Course
ALL CREWS IN DIVISION 1 MUST BE ABOVE BARNES BRIDGE BY 13.30 AND IN POSITION BY 13.45
Nos. 1-32 assemble on the Surrey shore, crew 1 a hundred metres above Mortlake Steps (see circulation Marshalling plan), 32 just below Kew Railway Bridge
Nos. 33-52 on the Surrey shore between Kew Rail Bridge and Kew Pier.
Nos. 53-86 assemble on the Middlesex bank with 53 just above M.A.&A B.C.[Quintin] and 86 at Univ. London Boat Club.
Odd Nos. 87-179 assemble on the Surrey bank with 179 above the ‘White Hart' above Barnes Bridge and 87 just below Chiswick Bridge. This section will, on instructions from marshals, move up through Chiswick Bridge before being instructed to turn and race after no. 86 has started.
Even Nos. 88-178 assemble on the Middlesex bank with crew 178 opposite The White Hart above Barnes Bridge outside TTRC and 88 outside Tideway Scullers Boat Club. This section will, on instructions from marshals, move up through Chiswick Bridge before being instructed to turn and race after no. 87 has started.
- Turning Round
- The Start
- The Racing Course
- Accidents
- The Finish
- Scratchings
- Results and Presentation of Prizes
- Following crews
As in previous years, a one-way system will be in operation at Putney with severely restricted parking .
Trailers should be parked as far upriver as possible or in trailer bays on the Boathouse side of the river. No vehicles should be left on the embankment. No large buses or coaches will be allowed on the embankment at Putney.
Numbers can be collected from Ranelagh Sailing Club on the Embankment (See Plan). Coaches will be given three numbers for their crews all of which must be used . It is the crew's responsibility to make sure that their numbers are firmly attached and clearly displayed. Numbers for crews registered as boating from St.Paul's or Emanuel will be delivered to those boat houses and may be returned there.
All bibs and Empacher slots must be returned to WSBC, St.Paul's BC or Emanuel boathouse.
One number will be an Empacher slot number .
The second will be a paper number, to be pinned to the coxswain's back with six fixings.
The third will be a numbered lycra bib, to be worn by bow on top of his/her racing kit .
Bibs will be charged for at the full replacement cost of £20 each if they are not returned. They should remain firmly attached to their wearers, so there is no excuse for non-return. If lost, Empacher slot numbers will also be charged for at the replacement cost of £15.
When boating, the bows must face into the stream. If your crew boats with the stern into the stream, they will be carried rapidly downstream as soon as they push off. Until the river closure is in effect, boats must observe the new Tideway Code: boats going with the stream keep to starboard side of the Fairway, boats going against the stream in the Inshore Zones keep as close to the bank as is safe and practicable in accordance with the Notice to Mariners U15 2006. After the river closure takes effect, the Inshore Zone rules still apply but crews on the ebb may take the centre line either side of the Fairway. When crews arrive at the marshalling area they should move into their correct positions facing upstream and, with blades in contact with the bank as cited in the Tideway Code (see the map enclosed & instructions below). Boats arriving from upstream of their marshalling positions should turn 90 degrees from the centre of the river and cross the Fairway perpendicular to the bank , before doing another 90 degrees turn to end up close to the bank and facing upstream. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SPIN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RIVER AND HEAD UP STREAM AT AN ACUTE ANGLE TO THE BANK. Numbered stakes will be placed at intervals along the bank and coxes should position their boats with reference to these. Crews coming upstream to a Middlesex marshalling position may cross only at the official crossing points (see the map).
When stopped, coxes must constantly check that they have enough water under the boat. Boulders just below the surface of the water at the edge of the river can easily damage boats.
Crews must not row full pressure or sprint in the marshalling area between Kew and Barnes.
All crews must be equipped with waterproofs and warm clothing, as they may have to wait up to 30 minutes in the marshalling area . An average crew in Division 2 should allow 30 minutes to reach their marshalling position from Putney. Crews in Division 1, particularly if they are inexperienced, may take a good deal longer.
ALL CREWS BOATING FROM PUTNEY MUST BE AFLOAT BY 1300
AND ALL Division 1 CREWS MUST BE ABOVE HAMMERSMITH BRIDGE BY 1320
Just prior to racing crews will be told by marshals to remove additional clothing ready for racing. They should comply quickly and be ready to turn when instructed by a marshal.
After turning, coxes should aim to keep half a length of clear water between boats, easying if necessary. Crews should proceed to the start following the deep water line in the Fairway and should obey any instructions given by marshals. Failure to obey marshals' instructions will incur time penalties.
The starter will say "Number X ... GO!" and drop a red flag as the cox passes him. Timing will not begin until several strokes later.
Crews must pass to the Surrey side of every green buoy and to the Middlesex side of every red buoy and the yellow buoy before Hammersmith Bridge.
Coxes should follow the deep water line, mid river, which is their proper course. BOATS BEING OVERTAKEN MUST MOVE OUT OF THE WAY OF THE OVERTAKING CREW. ANY CREW IMPEDING AN OVERTAKING CREW WILL BE LIABLE TO TIME PENALTIES OR TO DISQUALIFICATION.
All crews must race on the (coxes left) Middlesex i.e., Fulham side of the line of moored boats at Putney , steering well away from the moorings. Be warned half way down the line of boats the line juts out and this is a serious hazard. Crews taking a dangerous line and disregarding the marshals` warnings risk disqualification.
IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ALL SCHOOLS TO VERIFY BY CHECKING THAT MEMBERS OF THEIR CREWS ARE COMPETENT SWIMMERS such as to be able to swim several hundred metres in the Tideway if required in extremis. (Crews must always stay with the boat and only swim if the boat sinks but try to take a blade as buoyancy). THIS IS A CONDITION OF ENTRY.
The Port of London Authority will close the river for a limited time, but neither they nor the Committee can be held responsible for any accidents (unless found so in a Court). If a crew member falls out of his boat, it is essential that his own crew stop and help him. To this end crews are expected to have practiced emergency halts and man overboard drills. If this happens crew members must warn following crews by shouting loudly. Following crews must take avoiding action.
The finish is across the river from Westminster School boathouse, and is indicated by a banner marked FINISH on the wall on the Middlesex side of the river. At the finish, crews must keep paddling until well clear of following crews and turn following Marshals' instructions. Detailed instructions and a plan of the finish are to be found on the Cox's Safety instructions. Coaches must check and verify that ALL COXES ARE FAMILIAR WITH THESE INSTRUCTIONS.
Under no circumstances should boats turning onto Surrey cut through the line of moored boats to get to the Putney shore.
Crews returning upstream should do so on Surrey. They must keep well in to the bank in single file and well away from other crews still racing. There must be no overtaking other than boats stopped and in contact with the bank. Tracksuits must only be put on above Barn Elms in a safe location such as a bay. Any returning crew impeding a racing crew will be disqualified . Crews returning to points above Hammersmith may be held downriver of the area nest to the Restricted Zone at Hammersmith Bridge and must obey any instructions given by marshals.
Please inform Westminster School Boat Club of any scratchings on the day as early as possible Fax: 0208-788-0669 , or at Ranelagh Sailing club when you collect your numbers.
Because of the late start to the race this year, Presentation of prizes WILL NOT take place on the day but will be posted out after the race. Crews will not be able to take away trophies. If clubs wish to borrow trophies for photographs later in the year, they should apply to the Secretary.
Results will be e-mailed to schools in the evening after the race and be available on Tuesday evening on the internet on the Schools'Head site: www.wsbc.org.uk/shorr
Coaches and supporters are reminded that radio communications with crews is strictly forbidden in Tideway races and please to take very great care if cycling on the towpath. Always give right of way to pedestrians.