Norfolk Sculls (SaturdayOctober 29th 2016)

InstructionstoCompetitors, Coaches& Coxes

General Information

  • Please ensure that all competitors, coaches and coxes are aware of the attached information, prior to arriving at Norwich Rowing Club (NRC).
  • It is your responsibility to ensure compliance with any requirements set out in the British Rowing RowSafe Guide and that your equipment complies with BR standards.Equipment spot checks may take place on the day and any boat or crew that fails to meet the minimum safety requirements will NOT be allowed on the water.
  • Access to the Whitlingham Boathouse (WBH) area will be restricted to vehicles transporting trailers and other equipment. No cars (except those transporting boats) will be allowed to access the track beyond the old NRC clubhouse car park.
  • This event is organised by NRC, Whitlingham Lane, Trowse, Norwich, NR14 8TR, Grid Reference TG 25031 07697.
  • A Safety Briefing will take place at 08h00 inthe newWhitlingham Boathouse(see location on attached map) for race Marshalls. Competitors are welcome to attend.
  • Boat hygiene – The commonly known ‘Killer shrimp’ (Dikerogammarus villosus) is an invasive species and is currently causing a significant problem in UK lakes and rivers. The shrimp is primarily transmitted via attachment to the hulls of river craft, and for this reason, the Broads Authority have requested that all visiting boats be washed with fresh water and dried before transit to NRC. All boats should also be washed and dried after racing and prior to transit.

Trailer and Car parking

Car Park Marshalls will be located at the entrance to NRC(see attached map) - only trailers and cars with boats will be allowed down to quayside to offload. This track is also an emergency access route to the Whitlingham Outdoor Education Centre (WOEC) and must be left clear for emergency vehicles.

Due to new parking restrictions there isonly very limited parking along Whitlingham Lane- please DO NOT park illegally or block access to neighbouring properties.

All cars need to be parked in thePay and Displaycarparks locatedfurther along Whitlingham Lane beyond NRC- see attached map for locations; car park Marshalls will bein attendance. Please park considerately to allow as many cars as possible into the car park.

Registration

Registration will take placein the Whitlingham Boathouse. Please report here for numbers and registration. Race control will be open from 08h00 to 09h30 for the 1st Division. Please ensure that all substitutions are submitted, along with payment, in advance of racing. No numbers will be released unless the documentation is in order. Registration and collection of numbers for Division 2 may be completed up to 12h30.

Division 1 -

Short course start time 10h45 Long course start time 11h00

Division 2 –

Short course start time 14h15 Long course start time 14h30

Please be aware that Registration closes 1hour 15 min before division start times. No numbers will be allocated after these times- whether paid or unpaid. BR cards will be checked prior to releasing prizes.

Race numbers: All competitors will be provided with race numbers for fitting to the Empacher slot of their craft and for pinning to their racing kit.

Boating

Boating will be either from the NRC quayside or the pontoon located further downstream depending on the tide conditions on the day - please heed the boating Marshall’s instructions. All crews must have their equipment at the launch sites prior to boating but ALL adjustments must be completed away from the boating areas.

NO BOATS WILL BE PERMITTED TO BOAT AFTER 10h00 FOR DIVISION 1 AND 13h15 FOR DIVISION 2. ALL CREWS MUST BE PAST THE FINISH BY 10h15 FOR DIVISION 1 AND 13h30 FOR DIVISION 2.

The Marshalls will turn back late crews. There is ample water to venture beyond the start to keep warm. PLEASE BE AT THE START, IN YOUR MARSHALLING POSITION AT LEAST 5 MINUTES BEFORE THE START TIME FOR ALL DIVISIONS.

ANY CREW CAUSING A DELAY TO THE BOATING SCHEDULE MAYFORFEIT THEIR SLOT.

A boating schedule will be issued on race day- please adhere to it. If the boating is running ahead of schedule Marshalls may ask crews to boat earlier than their allotted time. Please respect their request.

Boat safety -Marshalls mayperform spot checks prior to launching and any craft that fails to meet the relevant BR safety standards will NOT be allowed to boat.NRC is the official boating location but spot checks on equipment may be made at other locations.All coxes shall wear a life jacket appropriate for either stern or bow-loaded positions and each boat will need to have heel restraints and bow balls appropriately fixed.

Footwear- A major limiting factor to getting crews on and off the water efficiently is dealing with footwear. Shoes and Wellington boots must NOT be left on the quayside or pontoon as they constitute a significant trip hazard. If you are not taking footwear in your boat please arrange for club colleagues to collect and return your footwear in a timely manner. Any footwear left on the pontoon or quayside will be removed.

Oars and blades- oars and blades must be stored on the scaffolding frames at either end of the NRC quayside. They must NOT be stored on the quayside as they are a serious trip hazard. Any unattended blades on the quayside will be removed by the Marshalls.

Dress- competitors can expect tobe on the water for some time (1.5–2 hrs) so please ensure all competitors are attired for a range of weather conditions on the day. Race Marshallswillprohibit any crew from racing if they are not suitably attired.

Tidal conditions on Saturday October 29th 2016

The times of high and low water are -

LW –07h30

HW - 13h20

Crews should ensure they avoid grounding the rudder and fin, and that riggers are clear of the quayside when loading,to avoid damaging their craft.

Navigation

The river willNOTbe closed forDivision 1 and 2 races. All crews mustuse utmost caution at all timessince this is a navigable water way and you may encounter cruisers, craft and fishermen. InparticulartheBroadsAuthorityNavigationBylawsstatethat craftmust travel alongthe river keepingto therighthand,orStarboard,sideofthecentrelineoftheriver.Therefore, all crews must follow instructions provided by raceMarshalls positioned along the course.

Local race rules:

  • Overtaking: The slower boat must move out of the racing linetowards the bowside bank and not impede the overtaking craft. Time penalties of 10 seconds will apply if this is not heeded. All appeals must be addressed to the Chief Umpire immediately after the division.
  • Any crew causing a delayat the start will incur a 5 second time penalty for every minute of delay.
  • A penalty of 20 seconds will be given to any crew who is warned for going over the deemed centre line. If the boat continues racing on the wrong side of the centre line a further 20 penalty will be given.
  • CAPSIZE: Inthe event of capsize you will not be allowed to continue to the start, or to finish the race.

Full details of the local rules can be found in the attached document ‘Norfolk Sculls 2016 Local Rules’.

Normal rules of navigation apply. Stay to the right (i.e. the starboard/bowside bank) while paddling to the start and after the finish. All overtaking is towards the centre and the strokeside of the craft being passed. There are Marshals throughout the course who will provide safety advice to competitors and other craft.

Capsize- in the event of a capsize follow your usual capsize drill (stay with the boat and use it as a flotation device). Bank based Marshals, umpires and a rescue boat will support you if required. Inthe case of any injury Medical Support will be summoned.

Emergencies

Medical support will be provided by Ian Williams (07973 314161) in Division 1 and Jo Fitzgerald(07730 953100) in Division 2, who will be located at the race Finish (GR: TG269078) during the racing times.

In the event of an emergency the Medical Support, Emergency Co-ordinator and Race Control will manage the incident and use mobile phones/FM radios to contact Emergency Services and will dispatch someone to direct an ambulance or other services to the incident. Race Marshals will also have radio communication with Race Control.

All umpires/launch drivers will have mobile phones and FM radios to summon assistance in the event of an emergency. There is vehicular access at three locations by public highway (the short course start, flyoverand Whitlingham Green) and numerous boat yard locations. The race officials will be able to liaise with the emergency service regarding the best access locations.

The nearest A & E department is located atthe Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Colney Lane, Norwich, Norfolk NR4 7UY (Tel: 01603 286286).

Division 1 and 2 marshalling Instructions

ALL rowers should note the river will NOT be closed during racing and of the need to be aware of oncoming river traffic.

Short course(Postwick Straight to Whitlingham Green, 2100 M)

Short course competitors will be marshalled at the area downstream of the short course start.Please ensure you marshal close to the river bank according to the Marshall’s instructions.Competitors must keep clear of boats moving downstream to the long course start. Race officials will marshalcompetitors on the north bank facing the start (conditions permitting). On passing the finish keep rowing toward the NRC quayside to enable following boats to complete the race.

Long course (Bramerton Green to Whitlingham Green, 4200 M)

On the way to the start you will pass the marshalling area for short coursecompetitors downstream of the short course start- extra vigilance will be required in this area. Long course crews should marshaldownstream of the start at BramertonGreen according to the Marshall’s instructions.Long course crews should marshalwith odd race numbers opposite Bramerton Green and even ones on the Green side.When instructed by the Marshallproceed at 10 second intervals to the start which is located at Bramerton Green downstreamof the Waters Edge Public House. On passing the finish keep rowing towardthe NRC quaysideto enable following boats to complete the race.

Results

All results will be displayed at Whitlingham Boathouse clubhouse after Division 1 and as soon as possible after Division 2. A copy will also be available later on the NRC web site ( The trophies will be presented at the Whitlingham Boathouse as soon as possible after Division 2.

Facilities

Changing, shower and toilet facilities will be available at Whitlingham Boathousefrom 08h00. Catering facilities will also be available on the day (hot and cold drinks, confectionery and light snacks, and hot food).

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