Helpers Briefing for Avon County Head of the River

1. Helpers Briefing forAvon County Head of the River Prepared by: Robin Leach and Bryn Hughes WM & WAGS RUC January 2009 Updated for February 2011

2. Useful terminology for those new to rowing First: Identify the crew by its club or number then: • to instruct a crew to move to their right or left in the direction they are travelling: • to steer to their right say: “Move to starboard” • to steer to their left say: “Move to port” • if crews are converging identify both & say “Move apart” • to ask a crew to stop rowing say “Easy oar” • to ask a crew to stop quicker say “Hold her up” • in an EMERGENCY say “Hold her HARD” or just say “STOP” !

3. PRIMARY DUTY OF ALL RACE OFFICIALS It is the primary duty of every Race Official to care for the SAFETY of competitors, officials, other water users and the public at large

4. C L O T H I N G • It is advisable to bring clothing for all weathers • Hint: Keep your legs warm in cold weather – Sallopettes are very good for this • Officials in boats and those operating close to the water’s edge must wear life preservers and should not wear Wellington boots • Hint: Wellingtons are recommended for other duties and a change of clothing in the car may be welcome

5. EQUIPMENT(1) You should be prepared to bring: • Binoculars • Mobile phone • Food and hot drinks • Notepad and writing equipment (preferably pencils as they work better in the wet) • A clipboard is useful in case one is not provided

6. EQUIPMENT(2) You should be provided with: • Lifejacket or similar (if working on or near water) • Loudhailer • Radio (if required) • Map of the Course indicating your area of responsibility • Race schedule and/or programme • Safety and emergency procedures • Instructions as to the action to take in certain situations eg: • How to deal with a crew wishing to overtake another • What to do if one crew impedes another

7. EQUIPMENT(3) You may be provided with: • Bib or similar to identify you as an official • Clipboard • Flag, bell and whistle • Other means of communication • Timekeeping sheets • Video Camera • Refreshments after the event has ended (if you are not a member of the organising club)

8. S A F E T Y • Never put yourself or other people at risk • In the event of an accident and/or injury follow the safety instructions issued to you • Act quickly and calmly to assess the situation and summon help • You should be aware of the quickest way to summon help • Having done so report the circumstances to the Chief Umpire / Marshal / Safety Advisor or whoever you are told is the responsible official

9. Race Monitors • Arrive at the event in good time to reach your post • Check communications are working • Ascertain the boundaries of your area of jurisdiction • Monitor crews proceeding to the start • Whilst crews are racing you need to be very aware of possible incidents • Give clear instructions to each crew as to the action you wish them to take • Be prepared, and know how, to instruct a crew to stop so as to avoid a collision • Make notes of any incidents as soon as possible

10. Communications • You may have access to one or more of the following: • Radio • Mobile phone (possibly your own) • Loud hailer • Flags, bell and / or whistle

11. Using a hand held radio • Use button top right to switch on and select channel • Ensure you are tuned to correct channel for your job • To speak press and hold the button on the side (usually left) of the radio • Remove finger when finished • Keep messages short and clear • Keep to the point – don’t gossip • Be prepared to relay messages

12. RADIO PROCEDURE • Press button and wait a second before speaking • Begin by identifying the person(s) you wish to contact and then yourself by your position (not your name) & eg: “hello Rescue Boat 1 this is Monitor 5 over” • Await “Monitor 5 - Rescue Boat 1 receiving over” • Then give a “short clear message” • If you expect a response - end with “over” • If not end with “out” • To indicate you have received and understood the message say “roger” • If you do not hear or understand all of the message, respond “say again”

13. Radio Protocol for assistance • PAN-PAN, PAN-PAN • On hearing this everyone should: • maintain radio silence while the incident is dealt with. • Pay attention in case they are required to assist. • When the incident is over the station who broadcast the warning should send a transmission clearing it.

14. Boat checking • Safety checks on boats before they reach the landing stage • A qualified umpire will be present and will brief you • If you are unsure – refer the boat to the umpire • Don’t be persuaded by the crew – even if the boat has already been rowed in a previous division

15. Common boat faults The next few slides show some examples of common faults found in boats entered for competition at heads and regattas. All the photos were taken at the Control Commission at actual events.

16. Bow ball bolt protruding This could cause serious injury and should be taped. In the long run it should be replaced by a better means of securing the ball. See later slide.

17. What can tape be hiding? Is there a sharp object underneath this poorly taped bow?

18. Bow ball lifts too high exposing prow of boat Note also jagged edge below that could cause a nasty injury

19. Buoyancy compartment not sealed

20. Heel rises above lowest fixing point of sole

21. Sideways bend exposes prow Note holes in bow that might prejudice buoyancy

22. Another insecure buoyancy cover

23. A very good boltViewed from both sides

24. LANDING STAGE Function: • To effectively and efficiently manage boats and crews on and off the landing stage as rapidly and as safely as possible • Use common sense at all times Equipment: • Marshal in charge to have a loud hailer and radio to communicate with: a. Crews b. Registration • Life jackets or similar should be worn

25. Above the Start Function: • To work as a team to marshal all crews in numerical starting order (as dictated by the race notes) and to feed them down to the start in starting order Equipment: • Loudhailer, radio, throw line, race schedule and/or programme, buoyancy aid if on or near water

26. Monitors on the Course Function: • To monitor racing crews so as to ensure they pass SAFELY through your area of jurisdiction • To make a note of any incident that occurs, and report each one to the chairman of the race committee Equipment: • Loudhailer, radio, race schedule and/or programme • Possibly: Mobile phone (your own), flags, bell and / or whistle and throw line if appropriate

27. EMERGENCY SITUATIONS (1) In the event of an incident during the race the monitor will need to assess the situation quickly and prioritise an appropriate order of courses of actionThe most likely options are to: take action to prevent further danger e.g. stop or warn crews approaching the incident summon safety boats decide whether racing crews can pass safely warn monitors up river & advise about stopping crews or allowing them to proceed warn starter and advise about holding crews who have not started • Continued

28. EMERGENCY SITUATIONS (2) The most likely options continued: assist with rescue without putting yourself in dangercontact race control: explain situation : give further info as requested: await instructions about taking furtheraction and then: – make written notesas to exactly what happened as soon as possibleconsider whether to recommend any “penalty” to theRace Committee(It is their decision so do not discuss the possibility with crews)

29. STOPPING THE RACE • If you want to stop the race, or you see the next monitor down stream waving their red flag, or you get a message over the radio saying to stop racing • Stopthe race as instructed by blowing the whistle and waving the red flag. Shout “All Crews Stop” • Use your radio to contact other monitors (not everyone may have heard it) • Identify your position and tell them to stop all crews up course of the incident immediately. Crews should wait where they are until given further instructions • Crews who have passed the incident should be allowed to continue • Radio the start and tell them to stop any crew starting • Contact the race co-ordinator who will decide what should happen next

30. Beyond the Finish Function: To keep crews clear of the Finish Line in order to avoid impedance of racing crews Equipment: Loudhailer

31. TIME KEEPING Function: Record the start and finish time of every crew Equipment: Synchronised stopwatches Timesheets Radio, race schedule and/or programme Optional: Megaphone, video camera, voice recorder Hint: A video camera is very helpful especially at the finish to provide a back up where several crews finish close together

32. TIME KEEPING (2) • Watches should be synchronised before the timekeepers set off for their posts • START • Above start marshal warns crews to get up speed • Starter says: “CREW No XX GO” as they pass so both the crew and the start timekeepers can hear and helpers note time • FINISH • Above finish marshal calls out crew number of approaching boat(s) • One person looks along the finish line and shouts “Crew No XX NOW”as each crew passes • Second operates the split time on the watch and calls out the time • Third acts as back up with a second watch & also writes down the time • Fourth writes the crew number and time on the time sheet

33. Monitor Positions for Avon County HOR Finish Monitor 11 Monitor 4 Monitor 3 Monitor 2 Monitor 5 Umpire Monitor 10 Monitor 6 Monitor 1 Monitor 7 Monitor 8 Start Monitor 9

34. Monitor 8 Monitor 7 Monitor 6 2 boats have come into view. What is the first conclusion you draw from this situation? Would you take any action? 4 7

35. Monitor 8 Monitor 7 Monitor 6 4 Crew 4 has capsized. What do you do?

36. Monitor 8 Monitor 7 Monitor 6 4 Crew 4 has capsized and blocked the racing line. What do you do? 5

37. Monitor 8 Monitor 7 Monitor 6 4 Crew 4 is a coxless boat and is heading for the bank. What do you do? 5

38. F I N A L L Y Be calm Be efficient Be safe Be alert Be authoritative Be communicative Enjoy the experience