THE VETERAN FOURS HEAD 2007

Safety and Marshalling Instructions
FOR CAPTAINS, COXSWAINS AND STEERS

To be rowed on Sunday 4 November 2007 starting at 1130 hours from Chiswick Bridge to the University Stone at Putney .

SAFETY

SAFETY IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ALL. A crew that is unaware of these instructions or simply ignores them is a danger to itself and all other crews. A crew that is considered dangerous may be prevented from rowing or, if acting dangerously, risks being disqualified or given a time penalty .
It is the responsibility of Captains to ensure all their Coxes and Steers (a) are competent to be ‘masters' of the vessel (b) have read and know the relevant parts of the Tideway Code (c) as well as having read these instructions also understands them.
All crews must comply with the regulations laid down in the ARA Rules of Racing and Water Safety Code .
It is the responsibility of Captains and crews to ensure that there is a competence within crews to row in the conditions prevailing on the day (irrespective of any decision by the organizers to run all or some of the events in the competition) including health and fitness to do so; Competitors are expected to carry out their own risk assessment on the day of the race taking into account their personal circumstances and fitness.
It is your responsibility to ensure your equipment fully meets the requirements of the ARA Water Safety Code. Including issues of buoyancy, the integrity of closed compartments, bow balls, heel restraints and steering gear. The Chief Umpire will decide appropriate penalties for crews found failing to comply with the code; these will include disqualification for serious breaches.
All boats must carry compliant boat ID, all non compliant boats may be disqualified or otherwise penalized.
Safety launches will be in position along the course. Refer to the attached map of the course for details of location. Anyone in need of assistance should notify a Marshal or Observer who will be able to summon help on his radio.
It is advised that in the interests of spectator and bystander safety, supporters and coaches following the race on bicycles take due care.
If a member of the crew should fall out of the boat, the crew must stop and help. Shout loudly to any crew behind to warn them. Following crews must take avoiding action and alert rescue craft.
Ambulances and First Aid facilities will be available at:
Chiswick Bridge (Middlesex)–Tideway Scullers' School Boathouse (ambulance & first aid)
Hammersmith (Middlesex)–Auriol Kensington RC Boathouse (doctor)
Putney (Surrey)–Embankment (ambulance & first aid).
The river is closed to other river users from 10.30 hours and until the last crew finishes. Prior to and post the river closure normal navigational rules apply and must be known and obeyed. During the race follow the race rules, but this does not absolve a crew from its responsibility to navigate a safe course at all times.
Normal Tideway navigation rules must be obeyed (see Notice to Mariners No. U12 of 2007) except where specified by these instructions during the river closure. Crews seeking further clarification should consult the PLA or TRRC Web sites or ask club or regional water safety advisers.

2. MARSHALLING INSTRUCTIONS

2.1 General

An Empacher number plate must be fixed to the bow of the boat.
One linen number must be securely fastened at least at each corner, but preferably with six pins to the back of the bowperson (i.e. on racing kit) so as to be visible when the crew is racing.
The second linen number should be fixed to the back of the bowperson (i.e. on warm up kit) so as to visible in transit and when marshalling prior to the race . Crews must not boat unless their equipment is in full working order.
Numbers can be collected at Tideway Scullers Boat House, just below Chiswick Bridge from 7am on the day of the race. Empacher number plates that are not returned undamaged within seven days of the race or lost by whatever means will be charged at the rate of £5 per plate to the Club concerned .
Crews are advised to boat in good time so as to reach the marshalling points in time .

2.2 Before the race – getting to your marshalling position

Crews boating below Tideway Scullers' School should approach Chiswick on the Middlesex side of the river. Those in Division One should continue on Middlesex to their marshalling position, taking care to avoid crews boating immediately above and below Chiswick Bridge. Crews in Division Two should cross at the Chiswick Bridge Crossing, which means REACHING the Surrey bank before or opposite The Ship Public House (see map below).
Crews boating from Tideway Scullers' School should use the Middlesex arch of Chiswick Bridge and cross, if necessary, at Chiswick Quay Marina taking care to give way to downstream traffic which has priority.
Crews boating from Quintin BC and Mortlake Anglian & Alpha BC should also cross at Chiswick Quay Marina if in Division Two .
Crews must be in their marshalling positions by 11.15 at the latest. Crews arriving late at the start will be held below Chiswick Bridge on Middlesex and started at the end of a division .
Marshalling positions can be approximated from the map below .

Crews will assemble in two divisions:

Division One (crew numbers 1 to 60) will marshal on Middlesex between Chiswick Quay Marina and the University of London Boathouse with bows pointing upstream and blades in contact with the bank (if safe) [Tideway Code page 23 Section 2.6 BP No 3] . Crew number 1 will be just upstream of Chiswick Quay Marina.

Division Two (crew numbers 61 and above) will marshal off the Surrey shore between Mortlake Steps and 100 m downriver of Kew Railway Bridge (just outside the Restricted Zone) with bows pointing upstream and blades in contact with the bank (if safe) [Tideway Code page 23 Section 2.6 BP No 3]. Crew number 61 will be just upstream of Mortlake Steps.

Crews marshalling near Chiswick and Kew bridges are to remember the 100m exclusion zones, on either side of the bridges, whilst the River is not closed .

MAP OF MARSHALLING POSITIONS

Once established in their marshalling positions, crews must keep in single file in line astern with their bows pointing upstream and keep as close to the bank as possible. Boats must maintain their position against the tide and neither allow themselves to become bunched together or allow gaps to develop between adjacent crews.
Crews must not row at or above race pressure between Chiswick and Kew bridges after 1400 hours unless specifically directed by a Marshal or Observer.
After 11.15 hours late crews wait below Chiswick Bridge on Middlesex until called up by a marshal. Late crews will be started at the end of a division, at the discretion of the Chief Marshal .

2.3 The start of the race

The race will start on time and without reference to absentees.
Five minutes prior to the start, marshals will sound a pneumatic horn and issue a verbal notice to crews. Crews in Division 1 should remove non-racing clothing.
On instructions from marshals, crews will turn; taking their bows out into the centre of the river. Do not ‘spin turn' close into the shore.
Crews will then proceed downstream to the Start in numerical order leaving 1-2 lengths of clear water between crews.
Crews must pass through the centre span of Chiswick Bridge.
Crews will receive the instruction “Number ... Go!” from the Starter and timing will start a few strokes later, just downstream of Chiswick Bridge at Tideway Scullers' School.
Pneumatic horns will be sounded for a second time as a five-minute warning prior to the start of Division 2. Crews should remove non-racing clothing.

2.4 During the race

Coxswains and Steers should maintain that which they consider to be their best course but MUST NOT obstruct or impede a faster crew that is overtaking. Failure to observe this rule will lead to disqualification or a time penalty. ALL crews have a responsibility to avoid collision and may be penalised if judged to have contributed to the causes of a collision. Umpires and Observers will be posted along the course.

Crews must pass through the centre span of Barnes and Hammersmith bridges.

2.5 After the race – the finish area

To ensure a finish time is recorded and to avoid disqualification all crews must approach the finish on the Middlesex side of the moored boats at Putney, keeping a safe distance from the boats and from the Black Buoy. The second half of this set of boats is sticking out further than the first half and CARE MUST BE TAKEN TO KEEP A GOOD LOOK OUT at this stage of the race when tired and nearly finished.
Crews must not easy on the finish line but must paddle down through the central spans of Putney Bridge and Fulham Rail Bridge.
Crews must then turn towards the Surrey shore as shown below, ensuring that they do not interfere with crews still racing and proceed through the Surrey spans of Putney Bridge and Fulham Rail Bridge.
If the water depth allows, crews should pass under Putney Pier but may pass outside it at the direction of a marshal.
The instructions of marshals at the finish must be quickly and accurately adhered to.

2.6 After the race – returning to your boathouse

Crews should proceed on the Surrey side of the moored boats, paying due attention to crews disembarking at Putney.
Crews returning to boathouses above Putney should stay on the Surrey shore “as close as (safe and) practicable” to the bank [page 8 section 2.1 Tideway Code] and must not row two abreast at all, unless overtaking (NTMU12 2007). Crews returning to Hammersmith may cross above Hammersmith Bridge at the direction of a marshal/observer.
After the last racing crew has passed Chiswick Pier crews returning to boathouses above Chiswick Pier must cross to Middlesex at the Chiswick Steps Crossing. However, if crews are still racing, returning crews must remain on Surrey and cross at the direction of a marshal/observer.
Above all, crews returning to their boathouses must not impede crews racing and must accordingly give way to these crews.

CIRCULATION PATTERN AT THE FINISH

3. GENERAL INFORMATION

The Veteran Fours' Head is run for the benefit of the competitors. It endeavours to provide an enjoyable and fair race for all. Please obey marshals' instructions at all times, however this does not negate your responsibility as master of the craft for the safe navigation of your craft.
Any complaints about the behaviour of other crews during the course of the race must be made to the Chief Umpire at the Tideway Scullers School boathouse within 30 minutes of the last crew crossing the finish line. No complaints of this nature will be considered after the results have been announced.
For the purposes of the event's insurance, the event is deemed to commence at 1030 hours and ends at 1300 hours.
The Committee reserves the right to amalgamate categories where entries are insufficient (i.e. less than four entrants).

4. ABANDONMENT PLAN

In case the race has to be abandoned at any time whist crews are marshalling or racing the following procedure will apply and be strictly adhered to:

Crews, on hearing continuous short blasts on air horns will immediately STOP. They will wait to be instructed on how and where to proceed by a marshal. They must maintain a sharp lookout for other crews in the vicinity who may not have heard or seen the warnings and are continuing with marshalling or racing. If necessary they must move to avoid any collision with such a crew .

Marshals will wait for instructions from the Chief Marshal, who will be in constant communication with the Race Safety Advisor, and once the cause and location of the problem has been determined, he will proceed to put the abandonment plan into operation.

Depending on where crews have boated, whether or not the Race has started and the number of crews still being marshalled, they may be asked to either paddle lightly downstream under the direction of the marshals (if they have boated from downstream of the marshalling area), or turn on to one of the banks and wait to be sent upstream if they boated from one of the clubs at or above Chiswick Bridge.

A crew may be asked to proceed downstream of all marshalling crews before turning on to one of the banks.

If case of emergency the call sign “May Day, May Day” will be used, after which COMPLETE RADIO SILENCE must be maintained by all radio users except the person involved in the incident. They will communicate with Race Control who will, in turn, give instructions to all other marshals/umpires which instructions will relate to the severity and complexity of the incident.

Chief Marshal
10th October 2007

Enquiries: Tel: 020 7602 8858 or 07900 927802 Chris Harris

WINNING COMPETITORS WILL RECEIVE INDIVIDUAL MEDALS IN EVENTS OF 3 OR MORE ENTRIES

Event Secretary

KLF Grose: 9 Augustus Close, Brentford Dock, Brentford, Middlesex, TW8 8QE

E mail: kate@tigerhill.co.uk