Reading Amateur Regatta - Rules & Regulations

Reading Amateur Regatta will be held under the British Rowing Rules of Racing. and conforms to the 'RowSafe' guide.

IMPORTANT Information about Boat Licencing

This is just a reminder of the new British Rowing rules regarding boat licensing.

It is now the responsibility of the club to ensure that their boats are licensed, prior to the regatta, for use on the Thames (non-tidal).

The RAR can no longer buy blocks of licences as it did in the past: Please ensure that your boats are licensed.

Details of licensing can be found at the link below and they can be bought over the phone with a debit card.

http://www.britishrowing.org/boat-licences

IMPORTANT Information for Coxes & Competitors:

This page will set out the most important information for Coxes and Competitors. Please ensure you familiarise yourself with the course by having a look at the course map and by looking at the official Notes for Competitors document which is copied below.

Competitors and Coxes must familiarise themselves with the contents of these pages!

Download Notes For Competitors

Download The Safety Plan

Download Risk Assesment

READING AMATEUR REGATTA : Notes for Competitors

1. General

The Reading Amateur Regatta is held under British Rowing rules, copies of which can be downloaded from: www.britishrowing.org

2. Arriving in Reading and car parking

The Reading Amateur Regatta is held on the river Thames, along the Thames promenade, next to Caversham Bridge in Reading. The Regatta is easily accessible by both road and rail. For your satnav use: RG1 8EQ

Free parking is available for all vehicles. The access route is through the Rivermead Leisure Centre "Pay and Display" car park.

Vehicles towing boat trailers or carrying sculling boats will be directed to a designated boat parking area.

Crew Registration, Crew Enquires and Coxes weighing are dealt with in the Crew Stewards office which is located on the top floor of Reading Rowing Club.

Detailed directions to the Regatta are available from the Reading Amateur Regatta website: www.reading-amateur-regatta.org

3. Safety, First Aid & Welfare

Reading Amateur Regatta conforms to the RowSafe guide.

Regatta Safety Adviser: Miss D Neate.
The Red Cross will be located in the Regatta Enclosure close to the Finish Tent.
Regatta Medical cover can be contacted through Regatta Control or Crew Registration.

Additional emergency medical support is available from:

West Call West Berks PCT tel. 0118 9787811
RoyalBerkshireHospital Accident & Emergency tel. 0118 3227020

(The Regatta's location is "near Reading Rowing Club on Thameside Promenade off Richfield Avenue".)

Public telephone at Reading Rowing Club (tel. 0118 9567091). Emergency telephones also available at Regatta Control and Crew Registration.

Two safety boats, crewed by trained personnel, will patrol the course throughout the regatta. Safety boats summoned via Regatta Control, Crew Registration, an umpire or a marshal with a radio.

Welfare of Juniors, - Whilst it is expected that the welfare of juniors is the responsibility of the competing clubs own coaches and officers, or individual parents, the Reading Rowing Club Junior Welfare Officer, Sarah Kenyon (number tbc) is available to assist should the occasion arise.

In the event of a junior being involved in any incident, the responsible adult will be identified from the competitor's entry form, held in Crew Registration. The named person will be called over the public address system and contacted by the mobile phone number given on the entry form.

It is the responsibility of the coach or parent accompanying juniors to monitor their whereabouts. In the event of any junior crew member going missing the responsible adult must take appropriate action. In the first instance a call may be broadcast over the PA, by contacting Regatta Control.

If required, the local police contact telephone number is 0845 850 5505.

4. Accidents

All incidents shall be reported to Regatta Control or Crew Registration at the earliest opportunity and not later than the close of racing. Accident/Incident report forms are available from the Crew Steward.

All incidents and near incidents must be reported on-line to British Rowing by all parties involved within 24 hours. Report online to www.britishrowing.org and click on the Incident Reporting Section.

5. Racing programme

Races are timetabled to allow competitors the longest possible interval between races.

Doubling up of competitors cannot be accommodated in the draw. However, if a doubling up situation arises in a FINAL it will be dealt with by the Crew Stewards.

In the event of a dead-heat, crews will re-row immediately over the full course.

The Committee reserves the right to make alterations in the programme.

6. Rules of navigation

6.1 General

The Thames Navigation Licensing & General Byelaws 1993 and regulations for the avoidance of collisions shall be observed at all times. In particular, the navigation channel must be left unobstructed for through traffic at all times.

It is the responsibility of the competing crews to report to the start at the appointed time � they alone must ensure they have allowed sufficient time to make the transit to the start area.

Crews in the channel that behave in a dangerous or discourteous manner with disregard for the rights of other river users may be summarily expelled from the regatta.

6.2 Course

The regatta will be umpired from towers along the bank. The course will be approximately 1500 m on Saturday and 1100 m, starting at "The Railings", on Sunday. On both days, the finish will be approximately 100 m up-stream of Reading Rowing Club.

The start will be administered from a pontoon positioned in the river behind the stakeboats supported by roving marshals.

The course will be separated from the navigation channel by buoys for the full length. The two lanes will be separated by buoys.

6.3 Boating

The boating area is situated on the Thames Path, which is a busy public walking route. Every care should be taken carrying equipment through areas where members of the public and regatta supporters are present.

Crews must make equipment and cox's weight certificates available for inspection by the Control Commission before boating.

Crews shall leave the rafts at least TWENTY MINUTES before the scheduled race time. However, it is the responsibility of the competing crews to report to the start at the appointed time and crews should take into account river traffic conditions when making their decisions when to boat.

Boating is under the supervision of raft marshals. Crews going afloat to practice prior to racing shall advise the raft marshal whether they intend to land again before racing or stay on the water until their race time.

When leaving the raft, crews shall take care to ensure the river is clear of crews finishing a race or winding down after the finish before crossing promptly to the navigation channel along the Oxfordshire (north) bank. Crews must row with the full crew and not do any exercises until they are across the river and alongside the Oxfordshire bank. All outbound crews are to be established in the navigation channel before they pass the finish line buoy.

Boats and blades shall not be left in the access area between the Regatta Enclosure and Reading Rowing Club. There will be a marked-off area immediately behind the Enclosure where boats and blades may be left between races.

6.4 Before racing

This reach of the Thames is a busy public thoroughfare during the period of the regatta. All craft passing thorough the reach have a right of navigation and competitors have no special rights of way in the navigation channel itself. The sole purpose of the navigation channel is to allow the flow of all traffic though the regatta area.

A channel Marshall, with assistance from the safety boats, will be responsible for maintaining the flow of river traffic will police the movement of those crews in the channel. Crews shall obey their instructions at all times.

Crews shall proceed to the start along the right hand (starboard) side of the navigation channel along the Oxfordshire (north) bank.

Practice starts and firm pressure paddling is not permitted in the navigation channel. Failure to observe this rule may lead to expulsion from the regatta.

Crews proceeding to the start must avoid impeding other river users, especially vessels travelling downstream in the navigation channel.

Crews shall identify themselves to the start marshal when passing the start pontoon while proceeding up-stream.

After reporting to the start pontoon, crews shall pair up with their opponents. On the Saturday, first continue through "the Gut" past St Mary's Island.

Crews wishing to practice starts or paddle firm shall proceed well above "the Gut" and clear of crews waiting to race. Coxes and steersmen should note that normal navigation rules apply above "the Gut" and crews shall take care not to interfere with other river traffic.

6.5 Proceeding to the start

Crews paired with their opposition shall report to the marshal upstream of the start pontoon FOUR minutes prior to their scheduled race time.

Crews should proceed to the start when directed to do so by the marshal.

On Saturday, when instructed by the marshal, crews shall proceed through "the Gut", easying just above their respective stakeboats and taking care not to obstruct the navigation channel. Crews who have to stop in "the Gut" shall do so line-astern to ensure that other river traffic can continue to pass freely.

6.6 The race

There will be a stagger at the start to equalise the course. The stagger will be aligned using the stern of the boats.

Crews are required to remain in the lane in which they start. Crews on the Enclosure (Berkshire) station should note and avoid following the bank at the upstream end of the Promenade where there is a significant bay.However, if crews on the Berkshire station cut the course so that their blades cross the buoys around 900 m from the finish, they risk being disqualified even if not previously warned.

6.7 After the finish

After finishing, crews should proceed downstream along the Berkshire (Enclosure) bank through CavershamBridge before turning in the pool downstream of PipersIsland.

Crews shall return upstream as close to the centre abutment of the bridge as possible paying attention for other downstream traffic. (NB: Taller cruisers will pass under the centre of the arch of the bridge.)

Below CavershamBridge, normal navigation rules apply.

Crews waiting to land shall hold position on the north (Oxfordshire) side of the centre line of the river opposite the slipway downstream of Reading Rowing Club until called into the landing stage by a raft marshal.

6.8 Passenger cruises

The Caversham Lady, Caversham Princess and Princess Marina operate cruises from a jetty just down-stream of Reading Rowing Club.

Coxes and steersmen should make themselves familiar with the following signals that will be used by these vessels when manoeuvring.

One short whistle blast � changing course to starboard (right)
Two short whistle blasts � changing course to port (left)
Three short whistle blasts � reversing
Four short whistle blasts / short interval / one short blast � turning with bows moving to starboard (right)
Four short whistle blasts / short interval / two short blasts � turning with bows moving to port (left)

7. Prizes

Prizes may be withheld if:

Less than three boats actually compete in an event.
The British Rowing membership card of any member of the winning crews is not presented for updating.

All finalists shall present their cards for verification prior to going afloat for Finals. They will be returned after the result of the event is known.

8. Competencies expected of entrants

8.1 General

It is a condition of entry that all competitors are competent in basic watermanship and racing skills.

Reading Amateur Regatta works hard to provide safe and fair racing for all concerned, but we expect competitors to do their bit as well by being competent in basic watermanship and racing skills.

It is a condition of entry that all competitors are able to:

Proceed safely in the navigation lane and marshalling area without impeding other river users.
Get attached to the start quickly and cleanly (see 8.2 below).
Know which station is which, and the one they are allocated for their race.
Respond quickly and clearly to any steering instructions given by regatta officials (and not just during a race) and that they can do so unaided, without the intervention of a coach or regatta official.

Competitors who are clearly not competent in any of these areas may not be allowed to race in the interests of their own and other competitors' safety. We ask that club captains and coaches ensure their competitors (especially juniors) are trained in these basic manoeuvres.

8.2 Getting onto the start

We expect competitors to get onto the start unaided, and to be practised in the following procedure:

Move into the start area without impeding other crews or colliding with the start pontoon or stakeboats.
Paddle directly ahead of the allotted stakeboat and straighten up no more than 30 m from it.
The bow half of the crew sit with blades flat on the water, whilst the stern half back down at backstops and without slides, steering the boat towards the stakeboat.
The bow half of the crew check the boat speed by squaring their blades so the stern stops gently at the stakeboat, and does not hit it at speed. Stroke is to control this manoeuvre in a bow-loaded boat.
Once attached, "bow" or "two" can make minor adjustments to direction using short strokes with arms only, at front-stops (no slide).
Larger adjustments can be made by "bow" or "two" passing their oar forward to "two" or "three", who then takes short strokes on front-stops (no slide), reaching out so that the blade is as close to the boat as possible. This procedure reduces the pull on the stakeboat.

9. Detail Circulation Diagrams and Enclosure Map

Below detail diagrams are shown to assist crews follow the embarking, starting and returning instructions contained in these notes. Also there is a block diagram of the key facilities within the Enclosure, such as First Aid Post, toilets, Finals registration tent etc.

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Reading Amateur Regatta 2011

Saturday 11^th & Sunday 12^th June