MALDON TOWN REGATTA ROWING INSTRUCTIONS

Saturday 19th September 2015 High Water Maldon 1700

Welcome to all gig crews at our Regatta.

Composition of Crew Each crew shall comprise of 2 men and 2 women. Coxswain at the discretion of individual Gig clubs.

Start. The Gig race will start at 1445 from Osea Pier and will be a 3 mile race to Hythe Quay Maldon.

The Start Line. Will be a line between the light on the end of Osea Pier and the mainmast of ‘Dinah’ a small Thames barge flying a very large Red Ensign.

Course. Direct to Maldon leaving Hillypool Point (buoy 8) to port. (A red can buoy opposite BSC).

Finish line will be crossing the line formed by two duck metes on the salting opposite the tug boat ‘Brent’ immediately below the Hythe Quay Maldon.

Starting Procedure. The horn on ’’Dinah’’ will be sounded with one long blast to alert the crews of an imminent start at1440.

At 1442 the horn will sound 3 times.

At 1443 the horn will sound twice.

At 1444 the horn will sound once.

At 1445 a horn will be sounded and all gigs will start racing.

The starter may use his/her discretion to disqualify any boat at the start line which is deemed to be trying to gain an unfair advantage or require any boat that has false started to undertake a 360 degree turn as a penalty. Offending starters who fail to respond to the recall signal will be disqualified. The crew will be notified by a second firing of the gun and the offending gig being called on VHF CH77.

Communications All boats may communicate with the starter on VHF CH 77 but not in the 5 minutes leading up to the start gun, although a listening watch should be kept.

Safety

1. All crews will obey the Rules for the prevention of collision at sea and in particular the responsibility to give way to sailing vessels if there is the possibility of collision.

2. All participants are to show respect to each other and officials at all times.

3. All participants should enjoy the spirit of the rules and strive not to test their letter.

4. Boats are advised to carry the following equipment: (a –e)

a) A hand held VHF radio in a waterproof case. b) The means to effectively bail or pump out the boat.

c) Bow and stern ropes no shorter than the length of the boat. d) An anchor.

e) First aid kit e) Inshore flare pack.

Insurance IT IS A CONDITION OF ENTRY THAT ALL BOATS MUST CARRY ADEQUATE THIRD PARTY INSURANCE

Coxwain The role of the coxwain is essential for the safety of their own crew and other participants. On the water they are helmsman and skipper of their boat. Their crew must obey orders of the coxwain and the coxwain is the main communicator with other crews and with officials. Coxwains must not contribute to forward movement of the boat by pulling or pushing on an oar.

Crew Boats must finish a race with the same number of crew as at the start. Crew members must not be secured to any part of their boat(unless as a necessary and reasonable adaptation to allow a rower with disabilities to participate). If foot restraints are used they should be easy to slip off the foot without using hands.

Racing conduct All turning buoys must be left on whichever side is specified in the instructions. Any boat which deliberately or carelessly impedes anothers progress by changing course may be disqualified. Overtaking boats must keep clear of the boat being overtaken. The overtaking crew must ensure that their oars do not overlap with those of the boat being overtaken. This also applies to boats attempting to obtain an overlap on the inside of the approach to a turn. The overtaking manoeuvre is not complete until the overtaking boat has a full boat length of clear water on the boat being overtaken.

Berthing After completing the race do not attempt to tie up to the sailing barges or the pontoon by the quay. Following the gig race up the river will be as many as70 smacks, old gaffers and yachts which have priority for berthing on the quay. Competing boats may wish to contact the local boatyards to pre-book a berth or slipping. Contact details;

Downs Road Boatyard 01621 853330

Landbreach Boatyard 07836715685

Marinestore Maldon Boatyard 01621854280 ext 200

The Sail Lofts 01621 853885

If you do not wish to stay in Maldon PLEASE DO NOT attempt to return across the Finish Line until all boats have finished racing.

Crew Party There will be a crew party starting at 1700 at the Sail Lofts just up river from the Queens Head—FREE BEER and CIDER till it runs out!

Prizegiving Will be in the Sail Lofts Boatyard at 1830 and we hope all crews will attend. There are two prizes being awarded for the gig race.

Food:- Meals will be available in the Queens Head at any time.

The Regatta Committee hopes you have an enjoyable day’s on the water and a great evening with live music on Hythe Quay.

Location

downs road boatyard