These instructions and rules must be read by all coxswains and coaches ahead of race day.
INTRODUCTION
The Race is conducted under the British Rowing Rules of Racing and these HORR Rules and Instructions. The Chief Umpire will apply penalties (to include disqualification) as appropriate.
All participants are required to prioritise safety.
Coaches and Captains must ensure that the crew complies with Row Safe, the Tideway Code, the British Rowing Rules of Racing and these race instructions and rules. Captains must ensure that coxswains are competent to control and navigate an 8+ on the Tideway.
Boats with a front-loaded coxswain are NOT permitted to race.
The course is timed from the University Stone in Chiswick to the University Stone in Putney, a distance of 6.8 km.
NAVIGATION
Coxswains must navigate according to the rules and guidance of the Tideway Code during training. Visiting crews should speak to their host club for support with navigation whilst training. The Tideway Code contains navigation rules and guidance which must be followed outside of the race river closure.
The river closure will apply to the area between Kew Rail Bridge and Fulham Rail Bridge Bridge from 1415 until the last racing crew has crossed the finish line and returned past Putney Pier. Safety cover will extend from Kew Railway Bridge to approximately 200m below Fulham Railway Bridge.
During and within the river closure the Tideway code navigation rules do not apply, crews should be in the middle of the river when travelling with the tide and as near the bank as conditions and depth allow when travelling against the tide. Maintain a good look out, bow pair should aid the cox. Do not stop or turn immediately up stream of fixed hazards.
The Race Committee may apply penalties to crews training on the Tideway in the 14 day period before race day that are not compliant with the Tideway Code and British Rowing Rules of Racing Equipment Check, and Boat Design.
Coxswains are required to watch the ‘Steering a Tideway Head’ and the ‘WOX Webinar’ to support with race day and racing line competence.
RACE DAY
Both the bow numbers and kit numbers (for coxswain and bowman) will be delivered to your nominated host club; you do not collect them from Putney. You MUST return your bow number to your host club or to Ranelagh Sailing Club at Putney on the day of the race. Crews whose bow numbers are not returned to HORR committee within seven days of the race will be charged a penalty of £10.
Bow Number plates and kit numbers on both bow and cox must be visible at all times i.e. before and during the race. Coxes must pay particular attention to prevent long hair or lifejackets covering the number on their back. The kit numbers are waterproof. The bowman must wear one number on the back of his racing vest, the other on his outer garment.
Random boat checks will be made on race day across all boating locations. Crews must ensure they are compliant with Row Safe and the British Rowing Rules of Racing.
Coxswains must carry a mobile phone in their boat.
Crews must carry sufficient clothing and kit in readiness for time spent marshalling, the row back after racing, and in the case of race abandonment.
All crews must dispose of their refuse responsibly and must not leave any debris (especially water bottles) along the foreshore or at any of the boating locations.
Crews must not bring the sport into disrepute (e.g. foul or abusive language, or urinating in public view) and are reminded that this applies across the whole course, training areas, and on the land/boating areas.
MARSHALLING
From 1 hour prior to the start of the race all crews must boat and marshal in accordance with these marshalling instructions even where this may conflict with the Tideway Code.
Crews must abide by the boating arrangements of their host clubs. Shore-based HORR marshals are identified by a yellow hi-vis vest.
The ‘Marshalling Area’ extends from Kew Railway Bridge to the crossing upstream of Chiswick Pier.
Crews must ensure that they are on the correct side of the river – if the crew’s kit numbers are Black on White background the crew’s marshalling position will be on the Surrey (south) side, if they are Black on Yellow background, the crew will be on the Middlesex (north) side of the river.
Coxes are reminded that the Tideway is subject to strong currents – when a crew is stopped on the water, it will still be moving at 3-4 mph. Crews must not attempt to stop or turn upstream of fixed hazards, such as bridges or moored boats.
In the marshalling area:
- Crews may only paddle up to half pressure and to a maximum rate of 21 in the Marshalling Area, unless instructed to do so by an official.
- 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.
- The crossing point downstream of the marshalling area is controlled by an umpire/marshal.
Please check the marshalling plan and identify your position in relation to landmarks. When waiting, crews must maintain their position against the tide, while safely minimising gaps between crews.
All crews in must be in their marshalling position by 15h05.
By 15h00, all crews marshalling in Divisions 1, 2 & 3 must be upstream of Chiswick Bridge and in their Marshalling positions. Failure to be in position risks a time penalty.
Any crews which have not reached Chiswick Bridge by that time will be held below the Bridge, and will have to row at the end of Divisions 4 or 5 as the case may be.
By 15h00 crews marshalling in Divisions 4 – 7 must be downstream of Chiswick Bridge and on their marshalling side of the river. Not being so risks a time penalty. You may not cross the river in the marshalling area after this time.
Crews not in their marshalling position by the time specified must proceed as directed by the marshals. Crews that arrive late to the their marshalling position/the start may be required to wait to the end of the division to be allowed to race or may not be permitted to race at all.
START PROCEDURE
On the instructions of a marshal, crews will be required to turn into the middle of the river and paddle downstream to Chiswick Bridge. Prior to crossing the start line crews must not close up on boats next to or in front of them and must immediately drop back if instructed. The Chief Marshal may temporarily pause crews crossing the start line for reasons of safety; in this instance the race has not been stopped.
Crews will be started by an umpire in a launch just downstream of Chiswick Bridge and the timing will start at the University Stone where a ‘START’ banner will be displayed.
DURING RACING
Overtaking crews should manoeuvre so as to overtake at a point where they will be as close as possible to their best course. A crew that is overtaking must have consideration for the slower crew and allow it sufficient time and space to give way without risk of colliding with a fixed hazard or other crew. The crew being overtaken should look to move in good time, severe use of your rudder will slow you more significantly than being off the best course for the period. All crews have a responsibility to avoid collision.
All crews must pass through the centre arches of Barnes and Hammersmith Bridges. Crews must not enter the inshore zone marked by the green and red navigation buoys. Crews must pass on the Middlesex side of the line of the moored boats at Putney.
Should your hull be swamped and provided all hatches are secure it should still be rowable. Your crew should stay with the boat until a rescue boat arrives, or you have manoeuvred it ashore. If a crew encounters any mechanical difficulties with their boat during the Race, they should stop racing, move away from the racing line towards the nearest bank while avoiding fixed hazards and seek assistance.
AFTER RACING
After completing the course, all crews must continue through the centre arch of Putney Bridge and the centre arch of Fulham Railway Bridge before turning.
Crews should have lights on their hull, compliant with the Tideway Code, where they will be rowing back after racing during low light levels.
After passing through the centre arches of the Bridges all crews must turn right towards the Surrey (Putney) shore and paddle back on that side of the river between the line of moored boats and the shore.
The finish area marshals may instruct you to keep moving until you are above Putney Pier, this is to prevent congestion, and excess time on the river.
Crews returning to Middlesex clubs below Chiswick Eyot have crossing marshals for their boating locations, they should present themselves to these marshals and await instruction to cross. Fulham Reach, the marshal is opposite the clubhouse. Hammersmith clubs below Dove pier the marshal is stationed above Hammersmith Bridge. Hammersmith clubs above Dove pier (Latymer and Sons of the Thames) the marshal is stationed upriver of St. Paul’s BC. No crew should cross unless specifically instructed to do so.
Crews returning to Barnes, Mortlake, Chiswick and Kew must paddle up the Surrey side to opposite Chiswick Pier, and present themselves to the marshal stationed at this point before crossing to the Middlesex side. They must then paddle up the Middlesex side keeping clear of racing crews. While marshalling is still in progress crews returning to Barnes, Mortlake, Chiswick and Kew must remain behind the last division on Middlesex as they move upstream and – if necessary – wait below Mortlake Anglian & Alpha BC for them to complete their turn before proceeding further upstream.
Under no circumstances may returning crews overtake marshalled crews. Crews wishing to cross to Surrey at this point must await permission from the Marshal above Chiswick Bridge. This will not be given until the last crew to start has passed through Chiswick Bridge.
Only in exceptional circumstances and under the express direction of an umpire/marshal, may a crew cross at a point other than an official crossing-point.
PROTESTS
Protests, and further protests, must be received within 3.5hours after the start of the race. Protests, and further protests, must be sent to secretary@horr.co.uk. You must include your mobile phone number.
RESULTS, LIVE STREAM AND PRIZE GIVING
Results will be available on this site and updated live throughout racing. Results are provisional until finalised.
Race Livestream will be available on our YouTube channel from 15h00 and available on the HORR YouTube Channel after the race.
Prizes will be available to collect from Ranelagh Sailing Club in Putney from 19h15 on race day. For prizes not collected on race day please contact secretary@horr.co.uk to arrange your collection.
RACE CANCELLATION, ABANDONMENT, COURSE CHANGE AND ADVERSE WEATHER
The Committee fully realises the huge disruption that can be caused by cancellation, and/or misleading or late information through the different social media.
The Race is ON, unless a time-stamped message is put out on Twitter(X), e-mail and the main page of the website stating that it is OFF. Once it has been declared OFF, it will not be reinstated. It is the intention that all 3 media will be updated at the same time, but for operational reasons it may take up to 30-45 minutes.
The two key risks for the event are high wind speeds and high fluvial flow rates (the flow of water from upriver). The Committee will in general be reviewing the fluvial flow pattern and weather forecasts, in the days prior to and during the Race.
If there are high fluvial flows, it may be necessary to alter the marshalling arrangements or reduce the number of competitors for safety reasons.
If there are high wind speeds forecast, it may be necessary to reduce the numbers of competitors to avoid exposed banks and consider shortening the course.
On race day there will be a course inspection shortly after high water, at which a decision may be made to cancel the race, delay the start, or possibly shorten the course. Any cancellation, delay or curtailment announcement will be made as soon as possible after high water and will be broadcast to crews by race officials and host clubs, and subsequently via X (Twitter).
You are therefore recommended to monitor the official HORR social media channels and HORR website for updates. It is in your own interests to ensure that you follow the HORR X (Twitter) account, and that the three e-mail addresses you have given via BROE are all correct, up-to-date and different.
If the Race needs to be changed or indeed abandoned for safety reasons while crews are on the water obey the instructions of the Marshals who will be following a prescribed plan. Failure to observe instruction will put this plan and safety at risk.
In the event of the need to stop the race, marshals and umpires along the course will sound continuous short blasts on air horns, wave red flags and instruct crews to “STOP RACING”. Crews must immediately slow to a light paddle and await further instructions. Failing to do so is a major safety infringement.
In the event of the cancellation of the Race, all crews in the marshalling area remain under control of the marshals and must only move from their position following receipt of specific instructions from a marshal.
Race Officials in the Putney, Hammersmith, Barnes Bridge and Chiswick areas will prevent crews from going afloat in the event of either Race cancellation or abandonment; crews are required to follow their instructions at all times. If weather and/or river conditions are poor, but not bad enough to force cancellation, the Committee may decide for reasons of safety to hold the Race over a shorter course, and possibly with fewer crews.
Enjoy your racing!
Ben Helm Chief Umpire