General Instructions 2011

Marshalling
  1. The ‘Marshalling Area’ extends from Kew Railway Bridge to the crossing upstream of Chiswick Eyot.

  2. Crews must not engage in warming up rowing in the Marshalling Area after 15.30 hrs. Warming up rowing includes rowing at full, firm or race pressure unless specifically directed to proceed at that pressure by a race marshal or umpire. Shore based marshals are identified by yellow tabards.

    The Chief Marshal will be located on the upstream side of Chiswick Bridge.

  3. Crews will await the start in 8 divisions, heading upstream in reverse order of starting.

    Leave a navigation channel between divisions 1 and 2 to enable crews in divisions 1 & 2 travelling upstream to reach their marshalling positions without using the middle of the river.

    (Div 1 should be approximately in line with the Surrey buttress of Chiswick Bridge)

    Surrey Side Middlesex Side
    Linen numbers Black on White Linen numbers Black on Yellow
    Division 1
    (Centre)    		 1-50  
    Division 2 51-105  
      Division 3 106-155
    Division 4 156-210  
      Division 5 211-260
    Division 6 261-315  
      Division 7 316-365
    Division 8 366-405  

    Please see the plan below of the marshalling area and identify your position in relation to landmarks. When waiting, crews must maintain their position against the tide, leaving half a length between crews.

    Marshalling Diagram

  4. In the marshalling area, the middle of the river must be left for crews going with the tide, crews going against the tide must be on the side in which they are marshalling

    At 15:50, all crews marshalling in divisions 1,2 & 3 must be upstream of Chiswick Bridge and in their Marshalling positions.

    By 15:50 Crews marshalling in divisions 4 - 8 must be downstream of Chiswick Bridge and on their marshalling side of the river. You may not cross the river in the marshalling area after this time. The last crossing place heading upstream after 15:50 is at Chiswick Eyot - below the marshalling area - and is patrolled by a marshal

    Crews in divisions 4 - 8 should be assembled by the following times:

    • Div 4 & 5:by 15:50
    • Div 6 & 7: by 15:55
    • Div 8: by 16:00

  5. Crews must abide by the boating arrangements of their host clubs.

    N.B. for crews boating away from Putney, both number plates and linen numbers will be delivered to your nominated host club: you do not collect them from Putney. Crews boating from Putney should collect them at Ranelagh Sailing Club on either Friday ( 1st ) between 13:00 - 19:00 or Saturday ( 2nd ) between 10:00 - 15:30. There will be detailed instructions on the envelope with the numbers.

    Number plates should however be returned to Putney in the usual way after the race.

    Number plates and linen numbers on both bow and cox’n must be visible at all times

  6. There will be a "5 minute Warning to the start" at 15:55 by the Marshals to the crews; At 15:59 Division 1 starts to turn on the instruction of the Marshals. Likewise Divisions 2 and 3 will turn on the instruction of the Marshals.

    On the instructions of a marshal, boats in the division due to turn will do so simultaneously, bows towards the middle of the river. Do not ‘spin turn’ close inshore. You must then proceed downstream through Chiswick Bridge and should close up until you are one boat length of clear water behind the crew in the front.

    Keep closed up and do not easy unless told to do so by the Start Marshal above Chiswick Bridge.

  7. Boats will be formally started from a launch just below Chiswick Bridge at approximately 10 second intervals with the instruction "No 1...... ROW" etc. The timing point is the University Stone about 75 metres downstream of the Start.

  8. Divisions 4 - 8 waiting downstream of the start MUST obey instructions of marshals to close up and move towards their final turning position in the area between Chiswick and Kew Railway Bridges.

    Crews 260 and 365 (lead crews in divs 5 & 7) will lead their division up to the petrol pier upstream of University of London, before turning

    Crews 210. 315 and 405 will lead divisions 4, 6 & 8 up to just below the Railway Bridge, before turning.

    All crews will have to paddle hard to keep closed up, as instructed.

Safety

Random inspections will take place to assure compliance with the British Rowing Safety Code.

Safety cover will extend from Kew Railway Bridge to approximately 200 yards below Fulham Railway Bridge.

NB At the finish of the race you are directed to turn below Fulham Railway Bridge. Be prepared to return round the outside of Putney Pier if the route under the Pier is obstructed or if directed by a marshal to do so.

Before the Race
  • Study the Rules of the Race
  • Watch the HOR video ‘Coxing a Tideway Head’ several times. Make the rest of your crew watch too!

You should carry with you in the boat a card showing the details that affect you, such as numbers of neighbouring boats and the flags you need to locate, where you have to go, what time you have to be there, your signals for turning.

Check that the number, bow-ball, hatches and heel restraints are secure. Remember the British Rowing rule – if a compartment is fitted with a method of closing that compartment then the fitment must be in place and intact.

Make sure you know which side of the river is Surrey and which Middlesex - and which side is your marshalling station. Get on that side as soon as possible after boating. If your linen numbers are Black on White background, your station will be on the Surrey (south) side; if they are Black on Yellow background, your station will be on Middlesex (north) side of the river. Do not approach your station on the wrong side of the river as you may not cross at the last moment in the marshalling area. Crossing points downstream of the marshalling area are controlled by an umpire/marshal.

The linen numbers must be clearly visible before and during the race. They are waterproof - do not cover them with polythene - reflected light makes it difficult to read. Your bowman must wear one number on his racing vest, the other on his tracksuit.

If you are late in the marshalling area, or disrupt the marshalling process your crew may receive a substantial time penalty.

Remember you are on a TIDEWAY. When easied, your boat is not stationary - it could be moving at 3 - 4 mph, ahead or astern. When going against the tide keep well clear of the middle of the river, this is used by people going with the tide.

DO NOT ENGAGE IN WARMING-UP ROWING IN THE MARSHALLING AREA (Kew Railway Bridge to Chiswick Eyot)

Listen for marshals orders and locate your station flag. Keep closed up with the crew ahead when moving upstream with your section. You may have to paddle hard to keep closed up.

Crews in Divisions 4 - 8, nos 156 - 405, must appreciate that you are rowing against the tide when marshalling. As you come under Chiswick Bridge you are moving into an area where the section ahead has turned and is moving with the tide. To maintain a steady flow over the start line you must be prepared to paddle hard into the turning area and not to easy unless physically obstructed or instructed to do so by a marshal. The whole division must be well above Chiswick Bridge, with the top crew at the Railway Bridge (Surrey) or Petrol Pier (Middlesex) before the turning signal can be made. Turn in a wide turn with your bows towards the middle of the river. Do not attempt to ‘spin turn’ close to the bank.

After you have turned on your signal, paddle downstream towards the start in the middle of the river one length of clear water behind the next boat in front. Don’t let large gaps open ahead of you.

During the Race

Steering the course

Study these notes even if you think you know the tideway. Your steering can save your crew valuable seconds. You will also gain valuable assistance from the video which has been provided to your club.

Your fastest course is in the line of deepest water, shown as a dotted line on the attached chart (this line does not alter). As the tide goes out, shoals appear (shaded on the chart) and as the water drops your best course is less likely to be midway between the shorelines. For example, just downstream of Barnes Bridge the best course at high water is roughly midway between the Surrey and Middlesex banks, but by low water it is close to the drying Surrey shoreline.

You will see from the chart that the stream generally goes round the outside of each bend. As the tide goes out, this is more clearly seen. In particular from opposite the Crabtree to the finish, the stream runs down the Surrey side to close outside the Black Buoy, yet every year many coxswains lose their crews lengths by cutting across the Middlesex bend by Fulham Football Ground. Remember you must race OUTSIDE (that is the Middlesex side ) of the Black Buoy and the line of moored boats downstream, to the finish. Failure to do this will result in automatic disqualification and would be very dangerous.

Another important point is to ensure that you take up position sufficiently early to shoot Barnes and Hammersmith bridges without having to use a lot of rudder. Hammersmith is the harder of the two, every year there are coxswains who hug the Surrey shore opposite Hammersmith pier and have to change direction very sharply to avoid hitting the Surrey buttress of the Bridge. If you look at the chart you will see the best course is just to the Surrey side of the centre of the river when you are opposite the pier and you should steer to go through the bridge just to the right of its centre. Then keep the same distance from the Surrey bank as you pass Harrods. For the rest of the course, steer by the Surrey bank and do not let your eyes be drawn by the other bank, which becomes extremely shallow. Be careful approaching the Black Buoy and line up in good time to pass it with your boat towards the centre of the river.

Although you will try to steer the ideal course, you must give way to any overtaking crew. Do not wait until their bow is almost on your rudder before changing course: your crew will lose far less time if you move gently a few yards across the stream than if there is a collision or you have to use hard rudder to avoid one. When the boats are clear work equally gently back to your chosen course. If you are overtaking, manoeuvre so as to do so at a point where you will be as close as possible to your best course - do not be tempted into taking what may appear to be a short cut.

If you cause serious interference to another crew, your own crew may be disqualified. This will apply also if you interfere with boats racing while you are proceeding to your disembarkation point after you have finished racing.

After the Race

YOUR CREW MUST PADDLE ON AFTER CROSSING THE FINISH LINE AND PASS THROUGH THE CENTRE ARCH OF BOTH PUTNEY BRIDGE AND FULHAM RAILWAY BRIDGE BEFORE TURNING RIGHT. ANY CREW TURNING BEFORE FULHAM RAILWAY BRIDGE MAY BE DISQUALIFIED or receive a time penalty. Be prepared to return outside Putney Pier, if the route under the Pier is obstructed or if a marshal directs you, before moving inside the line of moored boats by the boathouses.

All crews must turn right towards the Surrey (south) shore after going through the bridges and return home in accordance with rules 17 to 19. Crews returning to Barnes, Mortlake, Chiswick and Kew, please note rule 19(d).

If you have an accident on the Tideway and your boat fills with water, it is advisable to stay together as a crew so that strong swimmers can look after the weaker members. If your boat still floats, you should make sure your crew hangs on to it until the rescue boat arrives, or you have pushed it ashore.