Introduction

 

This is a Safety Code and Guidelines for people participating in rowing, sculling and associated activities from the Grange School boathouse at Acton Bridge. It applies to staff, coaches, parents, students and others involved and assisting in the organisation of junior rowing on the section of the River Weaver between Dutton Lock (downstream) and Saltersford Lock (upstream). The document is to be used in conjunction with the current edition of the British Rowing RowSafe. 

 

The first version of this document was produced in June 2000, when occupation of the boathouse commenced. The club is constantly gaining experience whilst external factors constantly evolve. It is reviewed annually in line with the British Rowing Safety Audit process and, if necessary, updated more frequently if required.

 

This is the eighth iteration and has been reviewed in preparation for the annual British Rowing Safety Audit. 

 

Club Water Safety Adviser

 

The Club’s adviser is currently Gareth Ireland. Any coach, parent or member should make the adviser aware of any safety concerns they may have.

 

The safety adviser also holds the position of Head of Rowing and will make any recommendations to the School through the Director of Sport. 

 

Launch Log

Any incidents of faults with the launches are to be entered into the launch log. The log book is located by the notice board.

 

Incident Log

All incidents are reported using the British Rowing online Incident reporting mechanism by those involved (coaches, volunteers, parents, bystanders) Any incident which has financial or health implications is also reported to the Director of Sport using the school process. 

 

Boat inspection log

Safety inspections are carried out every time a boat is taken out of the boathouse. Any notable damage or safety concerns are noted on the reporting board in the large boathouse. Boats which are not fit to use are labelled as such and are not taken on the water until the issue has been rectified. 

 

Emergency Services contacts

The notice board adjacent to the main entrance carries the relevant information for any person who may have need to contact the emergency services, together with locations of the nearest public telephones and directions to the boathouse. This has recently been updated with up-to-date British Rowing RowSafe guidance. 

 

All coaches should carry a radio tuned to channel 2 when in a launch or on the bank, and a mobile phone in a waterproof case in the event of having to call for emergency help. 

 

Each safety bag (launch and bike) has the contact and directions card. Every coach should carry a safety bag with them. 

 

Safety and First Aid Equipment

The First Aid Cabinet is situated in the club room next to the boy’s toilet. Please return the portable kit after use.  Smaller kits are situated in the launch rescue kits.

 

Throw lines are located to the left of the roller shutter doors in the small boathouse. Coaches must carry throw lines when coaching from the river bank. There is a throwline in each coaching launch. 

 

Exposure blankets are located in the boathouse by the first aid cabinet, launch rescue bag and in the primary first aid kits.

 

A rescue kit is carried in each launch.

 

Lifejackets and buoyancy aids are located to the left of the door from the boathouse into the club room. 

 

All coxswains, launch drivers and passengers must wear lifejackets or buoyancy aids at all times when out on the water.

 

Definitions

Sculling/rowing - references to ‘rowing’ are also intended to apply equally to ‘sculling’.

Crews – includes rowers and coxes (coxes have particular responsibility for navigation) 

Rowing Coach – refers to the school’s paid coaches.

Qualified Coach – means they hold a coaching qualification recognised by British Rowing. 

 

Supervision of Training Sessions.

Supervision for sessions is arranged based on the competence level of both the rowers and coaches, combined with the river conditions. There is no ‘one size fits all’ for every session, but the sessions are organised on the premise that the younger and less experienced crews require a higher ratio of coaching staff to safely support them. 

 

General:

There should normally be at least two coaches present at every session. 

 

Coaches should carry with them a throw-line, a mobile phone and should be able to contact the other coach (es) by both phone and radio. 

a) Inexperienced participants-

A safety boat should be on the water, either in use or tethered to the bank. A coach should supervise the crew at all times, either from the safety boat, the bank or another boat. Visual and audible contact between the coach and the crew should be maintained as far as possible. Safe passage and clear lines of communication should be sought. No specific ratio of coaches to participants/boats is stipulated, but consideration should be given to ability to respond to all crafts in the event of difficulties. The coach should ensure that the crew is competent to row the stretch of river selected (which may include combining an experienced coxswain with an inexperienced crew). In general, less experienced crews will use the downstream section.  No rowers are to use the ‘upstream’ stretch without the permission of the Head of Rowing. 

 

b) Experienced participants-

Although less direct supervision is required and visual contact need not normally be continuous, safe passage and periodic communication should be maintained, together with the ability to render assistance in the event of an emergency situation. Coaches will need to decide, in the light of the crew and the conditions, whether this is best achieved by use of the safety boat or access along the bank on foot or bicycle. Experienced crews may use both upstream and downstream stretches, depending on conditions. Use of the upstream section shall be by express direction of the Head of Rowing only. A safety launch must ALWAYS accompany crews on the upstream section of the river. 

 

Around the boathouse

It is essential that inside of the boathouse and the area outside, particularly the landing stage, is kept in as tidy a condition as possible. Whilst some equipment will inevitably need to be left in various places, unnecessary clutter should be avoided. All participants must conduct themselves with care and due regard for the safety of others. In particular, this means there should be no running in or around the boathouse. Coaches, participants and parents all have a duty of care to ensure that dangerous practices are kept to a minimum.

 

Any damage to the building or equipment should be notified to a member of staff as soon as is practicable and an entry made in the damage board. 

 

Planning sessions on the water

All sessions should take place on water that is safe for the activity.  The Head of Rowing will keep up to date with stoppage advice from the Canal and River Trust. The school will not row when the river is closed, even if the conditions appear manageable for experienced crews. 

 

All participants should familiarise themselves with and refer to the map displayed in the boathouse, showing turning areas, known hazards, potential collision areas, no stopping areas etc.

 

Prior to Boating 

The Head of Rowing will keep a close eye on the weather forecast to decide if it is safe to go to the boathouse. If when arriving at the boathouse, the river conditions are too challenging for some or all of the group, the Head of Rowing will provide alternative activity for those who are not competent to deal with the conditions. All coaches must keep conditions under review during the session. If a coach is concerned that a particular crew is unable to cope with the conditions, they should curtail the outing and seek assistance if necessary.

 

Crews, with advice from coaches, and resources about appropriate kit provided by school, should ensure that they are adequately dressed for the conditions. 

 

Local Rules of navigation for rowers

 

Plan of the river

A plan of the river between the Dutton and Saltersford Locks is on permanent display on the boathouse notice board.

 

Boat Carrying, Launching and ‘Moving Off’

Coaches and rowers must ensure that there are sufficient numbers, size and strength of people available to carry boats. Care must be taken to avoid injury to people carrying boats and to others and to avoid damage to boats and other equipment or the building.

 

When boating, rowers should place the boat on trestles to check it is in sound and safe condition, with particular attention paid to bow balls and heel restraints. The coach should also check the condition of boats going on the water, with particular attention given to supporting less experienced crews 

 

Once boated, crews should move away from the stage as soon as it is safe to do so and adhere to the landing stage circulation plan. Before moving off, crews should check that they can clear the narrow area near the boathouse without stopping – especially if heading downstream, under the bridge. Crews should stop only in emergency.

 

It should be noted that none of the club’s boats are fitted with navigation lights – accordingly rowing during the hours of darkness or in conditions of poor visibility is strictly forbidden.

 

Steering

Crews should steer as per the navigation rules for the stretch of water on the (coxes) right or starboard (scullers bow side) of the river. Care should be taken not to cut corners. Care should also be taken to avoid any hazards such as low hanging branches or reed beds (especially in the summer) 

 

River Traffic

When traffic approaches from the opposite direction, crews should stay on (coxes) right side of the river. If the rowing boat is positioned in mid river, it should give way and move to (coxes) right. 

 

When traffic approaches (to overtake) from the same direction, crews should move to the (coxes) right and allow the overtaking boat to use the centre of the river. Crews should alert any other traffic to their presence. 

 

Rules of Priority

Although only rarely encountered, large commercial vessels have priority at all times. Commercial craft need deep water channels and will take up most of the centre of the river. 

 

Crews should be aware also that in addition to cargo vessels, a commercial passenger carrier also boats and lands around the bridge area. Crews should pay particular consideration to the manoeuvring needs of these vessels. They create a large wash which could capsize an unprepared rowing boat (see footnote ‘Action to avoid being swamped’). They also displace a lot of water, which will raise the water level at the banks.

 

Motorised pleasure craft also have priority as they are generally less manoeuvrable than rowing boats. Most drivers, particularly from the local cruising clubs, should be aware of the vulnerability of rowers, but crews should be aware that the drivers of hired pleasure craft may not be experienced or knowledgeable about the river. The wash should be less of a problem unless the craft is speeding, in which case crews should steer slightly towards the wash for a few moments to minimise the risk of swamping.

 

Canoes, SUPs and small rowing dinghies have equal priority but may not be able to manoeuvre quickly, so rowing crews should expect to take the initiative in the event of possible collisions. Crews should note that these vessels regularly boat by Acton Bridge and may not be aware of the navigation rules. 

 

Stopping

If crews need to stop or are asked to do so by a coach, they should move close to the (coxes) right bank, then stop. Boats should not stop in mid stream (except in an emergency), or allow themselves to drift into mid stream.

 

Turning

Crews should normally only turn just before the locks at either end of the stretch of river or, exercising great care, just upstream of the boathouse or downstream of the swing bridge. Exceptionally, a coach may instruct a crew to turn at another suitable point in the river providing that it is safe to do so.

  

Approaching the locks at either end of the stretch of river, crews should keep clear of the smaller ‘river offshoot’ as they service the sluice gates positioned near each lock. At Saltersford, the force of the currents from the upstream offshoots will push boats towards the centre of the river, whilst the draw into the downstream (Dutton) offshoot could pull the boat into the sluices. Once past the offshoots, crews should stop well before the lock gates and pull to the side if resting. Care should be taken not to create a problem for traffic emerging from the locks.

 

Boats must follow the landing stage circulation plan and they should not and must row light and with caution between the bridge and the end of the island.  They should not turn on or near to bends in the river. Before turning anywhere, crews should look out carefully for other craft and should not turn in front of approaching craft.

 

Speed

Crews should paddle slowly in the narrow areas of the river, both approaching and through the bridge and boathouse area and near to the locks and sluices. The only exception to this is when crews are doing a timed piece for the whole stretch of river and are being closely monitored by marshals on the river and bank. Crews should also be prepared to slow if they are approaching a commercial or motorised vessel or another rowing boat if it appears that the other crew is inexperienced and may not be fully in control.

 

Approaching the boathouse and disembarking

Crews must follow the landing stage circulation plan. The Rowing Coach will decide, having regard to the conditions at the start of each session, which way boats should approach the landing stage and this will be posted on the notice board if the normal pattern is to change. 

This may necessitate boats having to paddle light past the boathouse until the river widens before turning and approaching from the correct direction, joining any queue that exists.

 

   

 

Notes

Action to avoid being ‘swamped’ by a large vessel.

 

It is preferable to face the oncoming vessel, but the following guidance applies to approaches from either direction. 

 

Firstly, assuming the vessel is approaching from the direction of the bows. 

The moment the stern of the oncoming vessel has passed, turn your bows into the oncoming wash (which will be pushed out from the rear of the vessel at approx 45%) so that you can cut through it, or ‘ride it out’, at a right angle. The aim is for the bows to cut through and the front weather board (V shaped) to deflect the oncoming water.

Once through the wash, straighten up and continue rowing. Expect ‘swell’ (water rebounding from the canalised river bank), which will continue to unsettle the boat until the water calms.

 

Secondly, if a large vessel approaches to overtake from the direction of the stern, ideally 

you could turn around and take the above action. But, if you haven’t time, stop the boat and turn the bows towards the bank so that the stern is at a right angle to the wash when it arrives. Ride out the wash in that position, staying ready to back paddle to prevent you being pushed towards the riverbank. Sit out the wash and the after swell until it is safe to continue rowing. 

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V1.0 06/2000 Superseded

V2.0 04/2002 Superseded

V3.0 10/2003 Superseded

V4.0 11/2007 Superseded

V4.0 03/2015 Superseded

V5.0 11/2020 superseded

V6.0 11/2021 superseded

V7.0 11/2022 Superseded

V8.0 11/2023 This version updated by Gareth Ireland