Night Rowing

The information below details the Champs policy for rowing in the dark.

UPDATED September 2018

From the end of September 2018, any crew that goes out at night must include a Cox, Bank Party and Boat Organiser who have all attended the Champs Night Rowing Training Session. Crews must not row at night unless they are certain of this. A crew will be prevented from night time rowing until this condition is met. Attendance at the Night Rowing Session will be required once every 3 years.

Download Champs Night Rowing  leaflet & map

 

General Points

  • Rowing in the dark is considered to be from 15 min before lighting up times provided by CUCBC [http://www.cucbc.org/lighting]. Boat organisers are responsible for checking these timings prior to any outings.
  • Coxes and crew members and bank party reserve the right to refuse to go out if they are unhappy with the decision to go out in the dark.
  • Be alert to crews from other clubs who may be less sensible than you (e.g.: no lights, spinning in non-standard places, no bank party etc.). Report anything dangerous or potentially dangerous to the Champs Safety Officer (noting the club involved, boat type, time of incident), who will bring the matter to the attention of the club concerned.
  • When it is particularly dark (e.g.: no moon) it may be safer to stay on the long reach and not go downstream of Ditton Corner.
  • Champs high-visibility tops are available in both Clare and Logan’s Way boathouses.

Crews must:

  1. Not be inductees. Inductees may not row in the dark.
  2. Include bowman with a high visibility top.
  3. Have a Bank Party and a Cox. Non-coxed boats may not row in the dark.

Coxes must:

  1. Wear a high visibility top.
  2. Have a least 12 months experience. Novice coxes may not cox in the dark.

Bank Party must:

  1. Accompany the crew for the entire outing.
  2. Watch from the Common side of the river as the crew push out.
  3. Meet the crew at the Boat House to help them into the bank at the end of the outing .
  4. Carry coaching bag and telephone.
  5. Have lights on their bike.
  6. Wear a high visibility top.
  7. Act as a lookout. They should only act as a coach if it is definitely safe to do so, for example in the early part of an outing that begins before it gets dark.

Lights must be:

  1. Limited to one white light on the bow and both a red and white light on the stern.
  2. Looked after by the Boat Organiser.
  3. Static and not be flashing.
  4. Attached to the boat and not head-torches.
  5. Be sufficient bright to be clearly visible, but not of an intensity that will dazzle other crews.

 

S O Venn, Champs Safety Officer

September 2018