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These instructions have been updated for 2010. They are intended to be supplementary to the Rules on the website and should be read by all coxes in conjunction with the Rules and the Bumps Safety Code. Your Club will have its own customs on pushing-off and signals during racing. Loud hailers and air horns are not permitted.
1. Things to know
a) Which position (station) your crew is starting from. Remember, this will change each night if you bump or are bumped.
b) Where your finish line is (Rule 3.2). Remember, it is a STERN finish.
c) Which crews are in front of and behind you (and their race numbers) for that night's race.
d) You must have a coach or helper on the bank with you (Rule 3.6).
e) Which division you are in and what time that division starts.
f) Make sure that your crew know that if you bump or get bumped then they must listen to you.
g) Coaches are not allowed to use loudhailers so you must listen carefully and know who will give you instructions.
2. Going to the start
a) Check that your boat and equipment are all in order before you boat. Make sure you have your life jacket and your boat’s bow ball is firmly attached or you will not be allowed to race.
b) Make sure you allow enough time to get to your station.
c) You must be through the railway bridge 20 minutes before your starting time (Rule 4.1).
d) If you are sharing equipment, ensure you agree where and when you will do so to avoid congestion, keeping any stop on the bank between Penny Ferry and the railway bridge to an absolute minimum.
e) Marshall as directed in Rule 4.5 in good time.
f) As far as possible, marshall in reverse starting order and proceed downstream in this order. Allow crews starting further down than you to overtake where possible, on the way down to the start.
g) When rowing down to the start, watch out for crews returning from the previous division. Normal navigation rules apply, so stay to your correct side.
h) Crews are only allowed to do starts at the railway bridge and at The Plough (Rule 4.6). Watch out for crews ahead of you who have easied after their start. Try to avoid easying straight after your start.
i) You are not allowed to spin on the way down to the start to fit in extra warm up (Rule 4.5). Only spin when you get to your station.
j) If there are crews paddling to the start behind you, who are starting lower down, let them past before you spin.
k) Take care when spinning at narrow places (eg stations 1-7), consider spinning whole crew hands only rather than full slide. This is better than just using Bow & 3 and 6 & Stroke at full slide.
l) You must be at or opposite your station before the 4 minute gun fires (Rule 4.2).
3. At the Start
a) Three cannons (generally called guns) will fire to let you know when the race will start. These are; 4 minutes to go, 1 minute to go and GO! Make sure you know which one is which (Rule 4.8).
b) At each station there is a chain with either a wooden or plastic handle (known as a bung). You must hold this as your boat is pushed out by your poleman. You must hold it clearly above your head so that the marshall can see that you have it (Rule 4.7).
c) When the Go gun is fired, let go of the bung. Don't drop it before the gun goes, but do not forget to let go when it fires. If you forget and your crew start rowing, you may be pulled out of the boat!
d) If on stations near A14 bridge, beware of guns firing – especially if wet – and cover ears as far as is possible, at least on four minute and one minute guns.
4. During the race
Safety
a) Safety is paramount. You must listen to and obey marshalls instructions at all times during the race, including after you have bumped/been bumped.
b) If during racing, crews bump out ahead and the river is congested, generally aim for the widest gap. If you can see that a crew is moving in a direction that will make this gap smaller, then try to go where a gap is opening up. By the nature of it, there can be no hard and fast rules here, so common sense is needed! The situation will vary by the second but within reasonable safety limits it is up to you to get through. In order to do this, you may well need to use a lot of rudder to steer hard. If necessary you should be ready to get one side to go light or even drop people out to help you steer the boat.
c) If the river is completely blocked and there is no way through, then you must easy and/or hold it up. Do not simply hold it up if you are still several lengths away as you the crew behind you will likely be very close behind, in this case, wind down or easy so that you slow down more gradually. If the river clears in front of you, resume racing as soon as possible. If you find yourself in this situation, you must control your crew. Make sure they know to listen to you in this situation.
d) When the marshals and umpires consider that the river is blocked they will stop the race either by sounding an airhorn or by simply using a loud hailer to inform you so try to be aware at all times. In this situation, generally all impeded crews will be awarded row overs. If you are nearly involved in a bump, you must stop and the marshals may award a bump if they deem that it was inevitable.
Making a Bump
e) A bump is any contact between the two boats concerned. This includes any part of the boat itself, the oars or the crew! (Rule 5.1).
f) Before the post opposite The Plough, a bump will also be awarded if the bow ball of the chasing crew comes level with the cox of the boat being chased (Rule 5.2). After The Plough, contact must be made.
g) Should any crew fail to turn up at the start or not be allowed to race for any reason, a bump will also be awarded to the following crew when they have rowed past the station of the absent crew (Rule 5.3). You should then pull in as for a normal bump. Keep a look out for this in case the crew in front or two in front of you is in the situation.
Being Bumped
h) If you are bumped (i.e. if you see or feel contact, or if 4.f applies) then you must acknowledge. To acknowledge, clearly raise one of your hands so that the cox behind can see it. If the chasing cox cannot see your hand, they will not know to stop rowing.
i) If you are yet to reach The Plough, i.e. where the river is very narrow, and you can see that a bump is inevitable, then raise your hand early in the interests of self preservation and keeping the river clear.
j) If you are bumped, you must keep your crew rowing. When your crew see your hand go up, they will flop. You must keep them together.
k) Pull in to which ever side is quicker. If you are on a corner and it is possible, try to get to the outside. When you are pulled in – stay pulled in! Hold on to the bank if possible. Make sure your oars do not impede other crews still racing. Mind oars on the tow path too.
Bumping
k) As soon as a bump is made, hold it up. Your priority is to get the two crews separated and then clear the river.
l) You will know a bump has been made if either you see the coxes hand go up, or if the marshall on the bank calls it.
m) You must keep control of your crew. Do not let them celebrate before you have pulled in. You must make sure that they know this before you leave your boat house (as above in 1.f.).
n) As soon as the two boats have seperated, you must get to the bank (as in 4.j above). In the Gut, if at all possible, pull in on the towpath side as it is very diffuclt to pull right in on the Ditton side. However, keep your crew calm, often in their excitement they will row on hard. Don't crash!
o) If you disagree with the verdict on the Bump that has been made on you or you have any other query or dispute, please try to resolve it with the other crew and the marshall on the bank. If all else fails, please ensure you let both the marshall and the other crew know you intend to challenge the decision. Ensure that your bank party is aware and that they, with both crews and the marshall, report to the Control Point without fail on the way home. These matters are now finalised on the bank at the Control Point before you return to your boathouse.
The Finish
p) Remember that it is a stern finish, i.e. your boat is only deemed to be off the course when your stern has passed the line. You can still be bumped even if your bows have crossed the line but your stern has not yet.
q) There are two finishes for each division (Rule 3.1). The top 8 crews will row to the top finish, the remaining crews have the option to continue to the top finish to attempt to make a bump on a crew in the top 8.
5. On the way home
a) Push off and row home as soon as you are sure that the last crew has passed you, or when instructed by a marshall.
b) Row home in single file. Normal navigation rules apply. You will pass other crews making their way to the start as you paddle back. Do not impede them and if necessary give way to them. Keep a look out ahead in case the crews in front of you have easied.
c) Beware of crews pulled in at the Penny Ferry who will need to push off and cross the river to row down to the start.
d) If you wish to stop at the beer tree, please pull in close to the Penny Ferry and walk back down the tow path. Please don't pull in at the beer tree itself so that this area can be kept clear. This is a new rule for 2010.
e) After the Green Dragon footbridge, the river is narrow. Give way to other crews who are heading to the start of the division, drawing your blades in if necessary, even though the navigation rules say that you have priority.
12th July 2010