GAINESVILLE AREA ROWING

Safety Rules

General Rowing Safety -

a) Traffic Pattern – In order to minimize the possibility of collisions between rowing craft, a traffic pattern shall be followed by all coaches and coxswains. The traffic pattern on Newnan’s Lake shall be as follows: All along the west shore of the lake, northbound traffic sticks as close as possible to the weed line (shore side). Southbound traffic stays far enough out from the weed line to allow the safe passage of northbound boats. This is especially critical around Palm Point, which is a blind turn for fast moving boats. Before sending a boat around the Point at speed, the coach shall move ahead and position his or her launch in such a manner as to assure there is no oncoming traffic. In a nutshell: if you are going clockwise follow shore, if you are going counterclockwise stay away from shore!

b) Race Course – When a course has been set on the lake, it is generally on a north-south axis. Southbound boats have priority on the course over northbound boats. In no event shall boats run the coarse simultaneously in opposite directions, no matter how many lanes exist. Coaches shall coordinate their use of the course before practice and on the water with cell phones.

c) Right-of-Way – “Blind” boats have the right-of-way over boats having coxswains. Longer, less maneuverable boats have the right-of-way over shorter boats that can be turned and stopped more quickly. In canals only wide enough for one boat at a time, boats coming off the lake to dock have the right-of-way over boats that have just launched. Coaches should position their launches in such a way as to eliminate any guesswork in the canals.

d) Personal Safety – GAR rowers have the responsibility to meet certain basic requirements.

1. Ability to Swim – While it is not essential that a rower be a strong swimmer, it is critical that a coach be aware of anyone on his or her squad who is a weak swimmer. Such rowers will get the coach’s foremost priority in the event of an emergency. A swim test will be given to all GAR Youth and adult rowers as soon as possible their first year, generally in September. This test will consist of treading water for five minutes, a 200 meter swim, and demonstrating competency in putting on a life-jacket in deep water, and is administered in the YMCA pool.

2. Ability to get back into one’s boat from deep water – Anyone rowing in GAR’s single or double sculls without a coach in a launch alongside shall first prove to a GAR coach by demonstration in the water that he or she can safely climb back into a single scull from deep water. This rule applies most often to Masters rowers. Dump training sessions are conducted several times during the year.

3. Cold Weather Sculling – Due to dangers of hyperthermia, GAR rowers shall not go out in singles or doubles unless there is a coach on the water between Thanksgiving and Easter.

4. Boathouse workouts – Rowers shall not be permitted to work out in the Boathouse alone. Youth rowers shall not be permitted to remain in the Boathouse area without a coach present. This means that if a squad splits its rowers, some on the water, some on land, another coach must remain on shore with those rowers.

e) Emergency Situations – What could possibly happen at rowing practice that you could call an emergency? How about a nasty bite by a poisonous water moccasin? What if someone is struck by lightening? Limbs have been known to fall from trees and hit people on the ground. We exert ourselves a lot on the ergs and weights, as well as on the water. What if someone passes out or begins having chest pains or difficulty breathing? These are just a few of the situations that might require getting outside professional help to our site quickly.Note: We do have an AED in our boathouse just to the right of the water coolers. Anyone is permitted to use an AED in an emergency situation. Each coach must be CPR/AED certified and will lead the use of an AED if there is a situation that requires its use.

It is a hard and fast GAR rule that there will always be a coach present when Youth rowers are doing anything together at the Boathouse or on the water. So if an emergency situation occurs, there will be a coach nearby. Someone present with the victim must let that coach know by whatever means necessary of the emergency. The on-site coach will respond to the emergency using his or her cell phone and first aid training to get help quickly and to mitigate the affects of the situation. ALWAYS ERR ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION. IF YOU ARE NOT SURE WE NEED TO CALL 9-1-1, CALL IT! We would much rather apologize to Alachua County Fire and Rescue for a false alarm than explain to a rower’s parents that their athlete has died because someone wanted to be a hero and try to deal with an emergency by himself.

The GAR Boathouse is only three (3) miles from the nearest Alachua County Emergency Rescue Squad building (located across from EastsideHigh School). A 9-1-1 call will bring an emergency vehicle very quickly. We invite these folks out every year so they can see where we are located and to assure themselves that their equipment can make it back through the woods entrance to the Boathouse area. But, although the responders will likely know where we are, you may need to explain our location to an emergency dispatcher.

Here’s what you say: “We have an emergency (briefly describe the problem) at the Rowing Boathouse (Tacachale Property)at the east end of East University Avenue (7400 E University Ave.). We will post a guide at the gate to direct the emergency vehicle into to the site.” Then put someone out on University Avenue by the back gate to show the ambulance where to go. This needs to happen quickly or we may have a lost ambulance. Guide the ambulance in to wherever the accident victim is.

A coach may have to deal with an emergency out on the lake. Since he or she will have a cell phone in the launch, it will be quick to communicate the situation to another coach or call 9-1-1. The first thing to do is decide if the injury is serious enough to warrant taking the victim out of his or her boat and into your launch. If so, and if you don’t already have someone else in the launch with you, then also take another rower out of the victim’s boat into your launch to help stabilize the victim on the way to the ambulance pickup point. Take these rower’s oars into your launch with you to enable the coxswain to get the rest of the boat back to the Boathouse safely. (The oars will also help attract attention later as you are closing on the ambulance.)

The tip of Palm Point is not accessible to an ambulance, so if you were in the central half of the lake, you would direct the ambulance to the point on Lake Shore Drive (CR 329B) just south of Palm Point Park. The ambulance can pull right up to your launch there. If you were way at the south end of the lake, then tell the ambulance to meet you at the PowersPark boat ramp on Hawthorne Road (S.R.20). If you are on the eastern shore of the lake you could also meet an ambulance at the Windsor boat ramp. From anywhere in the North end of the lake, transport the victim back to the GAR Boathouse, directing the ambulance there.

f) Severe Weather - While it is perfectly okay to row in the rain, it is extremely dangerous to take rowers out on the water if there is thunder and lightening, usually accompanied by high winds. Therefore we don’t do this. On stormy days, we restrict practices to inside the Boathouse where the athletes are safe from the weather. The senior GAR coach present (normally the head coach) will make the decision as to whether or not it is safe to launch boats. A weather radio report or smart phone radar will be consulted to help with this decision.

In spite of using reasonable caution, it is possible that a coach and his or her rowers will still get caught out on the lake with a storm between them and the safety of the Boathouse. With thunder, lightening, and high winds approaching, get off the water by the quickest route possible. Do the best you can to protect the rowing equipment by pulling it up into soft grass, but first priority goes to getting rowers off the water and up to dry land – BUT NOT UNDER TALL TREES. This will almost always involve rowers getting out of their boat into waist-deep water and wading ashore. Once you have rowers safely ashore, let another coach know where you are by cell phone so alternate transport back to the Boathouse can be arranged. If you have dry clothes and emergency blankets in your launch, use them now. When it is safe to do so, tow the rowing shell back to the Boathouse. (YOU CAN MAKE A BOATBOX CHECKLIST FROM THIS PARAGRAPH!)

g) Night Operations – Any rowing done during hours of limited visibility will comply with the following rules: All rowing craft shall use a bow light. Craft not having a coaching launch alongside shall also use a stern light. Each coach working with a boat or boats during limited visibility rowing shall carry a flashlight in the launch for the purpose of signaling oncoming motor craft of his athletes’ presence. A strobe light is also recommended, especially if there is another coach out in another launch at the same time. By periodically using the strobes, you will keep each other informed of your locations.

h) Rowing in Fog – In addition to following the rules for night operations above, a coach shall attach a strobe light to the pole marking the lake end of the GAR canal. This makes it much easier to find your way back home again. Coach shall carry a compass or GPS. If more than one boat will be rowing at the same time coaches and/or coxswains will coordinate their routes very carefully to avoid possibility of collisions. It is recommended that single sculls carry a whistle.

i) Site Security – Security of GAR’s equipment is of paramount importance. Coaching launches shall always be secured to the dock with a cable and padlock when not in use. The Boathouse shall always be locked when not in use, EVEN WHEN ROWERS ARE ON THE WATER. The front gate has a combination that is only for the coaches! When using the key box be sure to reset all of the tumblers and close the cover completely. It is never okay to dummy lock either gate. The gate into the boathouse area shall be locked by the last coach leaving the area. This coach should also check to ensure that the pedestrian gate is locked.

Annex 1 – Coaches’ Launch Contents Checklist

1. Cell phone (this is absolutely mandatory; have head coach’s cell number among your quick dial numbers; use it frequently!);

2. Rope, long and strong enough to tow either a rowing shell or another launch back to the Boathouse;

3. First aid kit (Band-Aids, first aid crème, athletic tape, scissors, tweezers);

4. Tools (7/16” wrench, adjustable wrench, screwdriver, sharp knife);

5. Tape (you will need both duck tape and electrical tape at some time; have ‘em both);

6. Dry Clothes (several shirts, and in winter, sweatshirts and pants);

7. Emergency blankets (these can save a life in the cold and damp);

8. Life preservers (bags are kept in the Boathouse – take enough for all rowers when you launch);

9. Paddle

10. Water (make sure rowers leave the dock will full waters, feel free to bring a cooler in

your launch for refills)

11. Flashlight and strobe light for night rowing; compass for rowing in fog.