Marshals’ Notes - UHBC Bumps 2011

 
MARSHALS MEETING13:30 Sat & 13:45 Sun - please be on time

 

Launch	Designation	Radio callsign	Range during marshalling phase	Position at race start	Radio channels
1 RVC	Marshal J Townsend/ R Darcy		Stake 13 – Stake 25	Stake 19-22 (with view of Pink Lodge)	1,2
2	Marshal		Stake 6 – Stake 13 (Monitor behind PLA moorings)	Western end of PLA moorings	1,2
3 Aquarius	Chief Umpire JM	START	Brentford crossing – Stake 5 *responsible for placing crossing warning sign at Brentford lock	Head (and follow)	1,2
4	Marshal M Cullinan		Kew Bridge RZ – Brentford crossing	Brentford crossing	1
5 UCL	Senior Marshal (Kew RZ lead) PD/ S Mason	KEW	Kew Road Bridge Restricted Zone	Western end of RZ Kew Road Bridge	1
6 RUMS	Marshal C Molyneux		Kew Rail Bridge Restricted Zone	Western end of RZ Kew Rail Br	1
7	Marshal		UL Buoy - White crane *responsible for placing advanced warning board on Surrey side	100 yards east of ULBH on Surrey side	1
8 GKT	Marshal		ULBH - Chiswick Bridge	Finish line (Surrey side)	1
9 BL	Safety launch M Williamson	SAFETY	Brnetford Lock- Olivers Ait	Between Brentford Lock & Olivers Ait.	1
10 GKT	Marshal (pilot for powered vessels) G Picton		Chiswick Bridge	Chiswick Bridge (to accompany any powered vessels up the course during race)	1
Bank marshals
BM1	Bank marshal				2
BM2	Bank marshal		Stakes 14-22		2
BM3	Bank marshal		Stakes 7-13		2
BM4	Bank marshal R Sanjey		Stakes H – 6		2
BM5	Timekeeper	TIMEKEEPER	On launch 3 (Aquarius)		2
BM6	Bank marshal		On shingle/steps on Surrey bank half way between Hog Hole Buoy and Brentford Ait Buoy		1
BM7	Bank marshal		On shingle/steps on Surrey bank opposite western end of Oliver’s Ait		1
BM8	Boat checking & Finish		ULBH (boat checking); assist control as required	UH flag at ULBH (Ladies’ finish) or MAABC (men’s finish)	1
BM9	Spotter	SPOTTER	On Surrey aspect of Barnes Bridge (lookout) looking downriver to Hammersmith		1
BM10	ULBH Control	CONTROL	ULBH		1

General instructions

1              Marshals’ meetings will be held as shown in the table above. The second and third marshals’ meetings of the day will need to be held promptly; there is little scope for time wasting.

2              Please ensure all launches are put out by marshals’ meeting including petrol, deadman’s handles and safety equipment). The list of required launch safety equipment is in the British Rowing Row Safe document.

3              Launches 4,5,6,7 and 9 must be on the water and in position before crews arrive in their respective marshalling positions.

4              All marshals must be familiar with the Code of Practice for Rowing on the Tideway and the provisions of PLA NTM 2011/U10 (revised Brentford crossing & navigation through the Kew restricted zones in this event) during the races (only):

a.     As and when it is safe to do so competitors may overtake in the restricted zones

b.     As and when it is safe to do so competitors may follow the racing line (however marshals have the power to suspend this rule in the interests of safety, ordering crews to return to ‘line astern’ racing).

5              All marshals must have read the event safety plan, with particular reference to the instructions to coxswains (appendix 2), and the navigation plans (appendices 6-11). All marshals must understand the abandonment protocol and the three different conditions related to this – (a) stopping the start sequence, (b) enforcing line astern racing through the Kew RZs or (c) full abandonment of the race once in progress (see appendix 12).

6              First aid kit available from individual Clubs at ULBH/TSSC. UHBC kit is in launch 3 (JM).

7              There will be a safety launch (9) as shown above with no other designated duties. See below for further details.

8              In the event of an accident your first duty is to the safety of competitors and yourself – see appendices 4/a/b. Call the safety launch by radio if appropriate (see section 32). Any emergencies (medical/regatta) to be reported to race control and JM at the start (launch 3) ASAP by radio. See appendices 4, 4A and 4B. Safety first – do not put yourself into danger but if close to the scene please offer assistance. Do not neglect the other aspects of your duty. If the safety launch is in attendance then please return to your designated duty unless otherwise requested.

9              It is the personal responsibility of each club to ensure each club boat conforms to the ARA requirements.  Bow-balls, heel release mechanism, British Rowing – compliant IDs, rudder lines and fin, and the integrity of the buoyancy chambers of ALL boats must be checked by each club; some random checks will be done by UHBC (bank marshal 8) and crews may be disqualified if boats do not comply (refer JM). A written record will be kept of checks by BM8.

10            All launches are responsible for policing adherence to the PLA rules of navigation in whichever location they are in (CPRT as modified by PLA NTM 2011/U10).

11    All launches will follow the last racing oared boat up the course.

12          Radio communication: The primary radio communication channel will be channel 1 and the marshalling communication channel (including start timekeeping) will be channel 2. All marshals are asked to switch to channel 1 if speaking to the chief umpire about safety issues once the start sequence is underway (in order not to block the timekeeper’s announcements). Launches 1, 2, 3 & 5 will have simultaneous access to channels 1 & 2 for monitoring purposes.       

13          Radio protocol: please keep your messages clear and short.  Remember that no-one else can transmit if you hold your transmit button down. In general please refer to the person you are trying to contact by position rather than name, particularly for:

·         Control (Race control, ULBH, bank marshal 3)

·         Start (Chief Umpire, launch 1)

·         Kew (lead marshal at Kew, launch 5)

·         Spotter (bank marshal 5)

·         Safety (launch 9)

Please keep all radio traffic formal. The correct manner of starting a call is:

‘Race control, race control, this is xxxx, over’ (best way of attracting attention)

‘This is race control, go ahead’

‘Message, over, (where response expected)

‘Response, out’ (to end conversation)

14          The PLA Harbour Service Launch may be present up to 17:00.

15            The Chief Umpire (JM) will remove all gaps in the start order if possible. If a crew cannot land then the gap stands and the crew behind need to be reminded by the bank marshal that it will get a technical bump (provided it can get past the stake in front!) and then needs to get out of the way of following crews. The crew behind the crew about to get the technical bump needs to be reminded by the bank marshal that it needs to go for the overbump.

16            The start sequence is under the control of the Chief Umpire (JM). When JM ready the timekeeper will start the sequence from 6 minutes. The Timekeeper will announce the following time points: 6m,50,40,30,25,20,19,18,17,16,15,14,13,12,11,10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1,FIRE;        4m30,4m,3m30,3m,2m30,2m.      50,40,30,25,20,19,18,17,16,15,14,13,12,11,10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1,FIRE      50,40,30,25,20,19,18,17,16,15,14,13,12,11,10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1,FIRE

17            Launches 1,2 and 3 to display white flags 20 seconds before each klaxon.

18            Klaxons will be sounded by L3,4,5 & BM 1,2,3 & 4.

19            If necessary the Chief Umpire (JM) will stop the start at any point by saying ‘abandon the start, abandon the start, abandon the start’. The restart will probably be from the 3 minute time point (i.e. effectively the crews will hear two further klaxons).

20            All UH boats must follow the standard rules of navigation during the race as modified by PLA NTM 2011/U10 (navigation through the restricted zones at Kew.  Considerable attention must be paid to ensuring that the requirements of CPRT are observed – crews must stay on the Surrey aspect of the navigation channel close to the Port Hand Buoys and only move to the central aspect of the channel in order to execute a bump. Crews should not go to the Middlesex side at any point during the race.

21            Launches need to follow the race gently downstream, avoiding excess wash. Assist in untangling bumped-out crews ASAP. In the case of entanglement following a bump ensure that the leading cox pulls out first – however dispirited the crew.

22            Bumps: Crews which bump out during the race are asked to move over carefully to rest on the Surrey side of the navigation channel in two areas ONLY in accordance with CPRT:

(1) between Brentford Lock (the revised crossing) and the Port Hand Buoy 30m upstream of the eastern end of the Lower Brentford Ait (near Kew Road Bridge) and

(2) between the UL Buoy and the Chiswick Bridge Restricted Zone; to allow the crews still in the race to pass on the centre side of the navigation channel (in accordance with CPRT) before proceeding back to their boathouse.

These crews must be careful to move sufficiently far enough to the Surrey side to allow the race to proceed BUT NOT too far over to the Surrey side to obstruct the proper navigation of other oared boats proceeding against the stream in accordance with CPRT. Crews which bump in the restricted zones at Kew Bridge (irrespective of whether racing is allowed as per PLA NTM 2010U1 or is line astern) MUST proceed through the restricted zones without delay before stopping in accordance with CPRT after the UL Buoy on the Surrey side of the fairway. 

Definition of bumps

1. A bump is where the boat, blade or person of the chasing crew makes contact with the boat, blade or person of the crew ahead (provided that that crew has not already been involved in a bump). It is essential that coxes of crews being bumped concede, or acknowledge, the bump as early as possible by raising their hand clearly. Once the crew has been involved in a bump, the crew drops out of the race for the day[1].

In 2005 there was an incident involving injury to a coxswain of one of the competing boats in the ladies division. The incident arose as the coxswain did not concede that a bump was inevitable early enough and the coxswain was injured by contact with the chasing boat. The UHBC committee have discussed this matter at great length and have decided that should coxswains not concede at the appropriate time they run the risk of having their crew disqualified for the duration of the racing by any of the marshals. The importance of conceding in a timely manner is to be stressed at the coxing meeting to be held before the event.

It is also important that the leading crew[2] in the bump pulls away from the bump as soon as possible in order to avoid the crews becoming entangled and thus causing obstruction to crews behind. This is particularly important in the restricted zones at Kew.

2. Overbump. An overbump occurs in the situation where a crew makes a legal bump (or technical bump) on the boat three places ahead of them. This can only occur if the two intervening crews have already bumped out. It is not possible for a boat to legally bump a crew two places ahead[3]. A double overbump occurs where a crew makes a legal bump (or technical bump) on the boat five places ahead, provided that the four intervening crews have already bumped out.[4]

3. Technical bump. A technical bump occurs where the bows of the boat pass the bows of the boat ahead, provided that that crew has not already been involved in a bump.

4. Special rules for bumping in the Kew restricted zones if the marshals call ‘line astern’:

If a marshall instructs crews to proceed line astern through either or both of the Kew Bridge Restricted Zones, a bump will be awarded if the bows of the chasing boat pass the stern post of the leading boat, irrespective of whether or not physical contact has been made between the two boats. Once the bump has occurred, the chasing crew must hold back to allow the leading crew to proceed (without delay) through the restricted zone. Crews who deliberately overtake when line astern has been ordered will be disqualified (three position drop) and the matter may be reported to the TRRC via the standard incident reporting system. In this situation the concept of a technical bump (bows past bows) does not exist. Crews behind must be prepared to stop if needs be in the interests of safety.

23            Finish marshalling: (overseen by launches 7,8 & 10). See maps provided. It is essential that crews turn promptly to the side of the river, well clear of the navigation lane. They may then proceed back to their boathouse. Do not allow crews to drift downstream obstructing clear navigation of other river users or racing crews. Crews returning from the men’s finish to ULBH must proceed down the Surrey in-shore zone until reaching launch 7, when they may cross the fairway if the river is clear.

Specific marshalling & umpiring duties

24            Launch 1:

·         Launch 1 is responsible for taking the stakes from ULBH to the steps near the head position, and returning the stakes at the end of the day.

·         Monitor the fairway for any vessels coming up from Richmond/Pink Lodge; notify launch 2 and Start (JM in launch 3) of any external vessels (whether powered or oared). This is particularly important in the start sequence; the launch will need to take a judgement as to whether the external vessel will reach the lowest crew before the start klaxon. If so, inform Start ASAP that the race may need to be suspended. Use channel 1 to communicate with Start. It may be possible for some vessels to hold their station for a minute or so.

·         Escort any vessels coming up from Richmond through the marshalling area and hand over this duty to launch 2 as appropriate.

·         Keep crews paddling up on the Middlesex side well over to that side. Encourage crews to proceed to a position 10 stakes above their position before turning.

·         Monitor crews turning and ensure that the fairway is clear (no vessels coming from the pink lodge); ensure crews go well across to the Surrey side as they turn.

·         Assist crews 12-20+ to land. Remind crews to keep stern in as landing; backing down on Stroke and 6 early. If crews need to have another go remind them to go further upstream and once turned, go slowly, keep close to bank &c. Once start sequence is imminent then crews may have one more chance at landing at the discretion of JM at the start. If they cannot land then the relevant crews must paddle away from the start area ASAP (in either direction in accordance with CPRT).

·         Start sequence - show a white flag 20 seconds before each klaxon. Fire a klaxon at each of the three timepoints.

·         If the sequence is stopped by the start, inform all crews in sector that the restart will be from the 3 minute time point (unless otherwise advised by the start).

·         Monitor crews approaching the PLA moorings during the initial phase of the race, ensure that bumped out crews do not obstruct the fairway.

·         Follow the very last crew (i.e. probably one that has been involved in a bump). (launch 3 will follow the last active crew and will probably be well ahead).

25            Launch 2:

·         Monitor the fairway for any vessels coming up from Richmond in conjunction with launch 1.

·         Escort any vessels coming up from Richmond through the marshalling area, taking over this duty from launch 1 and hand over this duty to launch 3 as appropriate.

·         Monitor the space behind the PLA moorings and the impact of the PLA notice (wooden stake) on the availability of the navigation channel.

·         Keep crews paddling up on the Middlesex side well over to that side, behind the PLA moorings. Encourage crews to proceed to a position 10 stakes above their position before turning.

·         Monitor crews turning and ensure that the fairway is clear (no vessels coming from the pink lodge); ensure crews go well across to the Surrey side as they turn.

·         Assist crews 5-12 to land. Remind crews to keep stern in as landing; backing down on Stroke and 6 early. If crews need to have another go remind them to go further upstream and once turned, go slowly, keep close to bank &c. Once start sequence is imminent then crews may have one more chance at landing at the discretion of the start (JM in launch 3). If they cannot land then the relevant crews must paddle away from the start area ASAP (in either direction in accordance with CPRT).

·         Start sequence - show a white flag 20 seconds before each klaxon. Fire a klaxon at each of the three timepoints.

·         If the sequence is stopped by JM, inform all crews in sector that the restart will be from the 3 minute time point (unless otherwise advised by JM).

·         Stay near to the PLA moorings, monitor navigation of boats around the PLA moorings during the race (launch 3 will follow crews up the course) – this includes boats in the race and external crews proceeding against the stream behind the moorings.

26            Start (Launch 3) (JM) responsibilities:

·         Chief umpire (JM)

·         Senior medical officer, modified medical kit with ability to deal with initial stages of ALS.

·         Overall control of conduct of event

·         Overall control of marshalling in start area

·         Responsible for placement of the revised crossing board and flags at Brentford.

·         Ensure that crews cross at the revised crossing and keep to Middlesex behind the PLA moorings, passing between the mooring and the wooden post.

·         Communication with Control, BM 9 (spotter) and PLA at Richmond Lock prior to commencement of start sequence.

·         Direct liaison with the timekeeper throughout the start sequence.

·         Start sequence - flags white-white-red & klaxons. Restart usually from the 3 minute time point.

·         Monitor of the PLA moorings during the initial phase of the race; bumped out crews etc.

27            Launch 4:

·         Responsible for ensuring adherence to the PLA navigation rules by UH boats paddling to the start along the Surrey inshore zone.

·         Warn all external crews between Chiswick Br and Kew Br ‘PLA Notice to Mariners 2010U1 ahead, cross to Middlesex at Brentford Lock’; ask all external crews to cross at UH flag at Brentford Lock and proceed on Middlesex side of PLA moorings. If non-compliance advise start (JM in launch 3). Advise crews to take care behind the PLA mooring and to pass between the mooring and the wooden post.

·         Notification of any external oared boats travelling upriver to launches 1,2,3 & notification of any powered vessels.

·         Monitor the race and follow gently down as appropriate.

·         Advise launch 5 of any situations likely to cause difficulty during the race as crews arrive at the Kew RZs.

28            Launch 5:

·         Will be positioned at the western end of the RZ at Kew Road Bridge (see appendix 12)

·         Lead marshal for Kew RZ (launches 5,6 and BM7). Has continuous access to radio channel 1 (start/launch 3 & BM10).

·         All UH boats must be kept close to Surrey in the usual fashion against the stream between UL and Brentford Lock in accordance with PLA NTM 2006U15; boats must only cross at Brentford Lock to Middlesex giving way to vessels on the stream. There is usually a tendency for boats to fan out against the stream alongside Brentford Ait – all marshals need to maintain rules of navigation.

·         Warn all external crews between Chiswick Br and Kew Br ‘PLA Notice to Mariners 2011/U10 ahead, cross to Middlesex at Brentford Lock’; If non-compliance advise start.

·         Pass on information to launch 4 and start about oncoming rowing boats and powered vessels proceeding upriver. This is particularly important during the start sequence. Inform start immediately if there appears to be a situation which requires the stopping of the start sequence.

·         Supervision of Kew Road Bridge restricted zone, both before and during the race.

·         Monitor the arrival of crews during the race and determine whether there are likely to be any crews attempting to bump through the Kew Road Bridge RZ. Good contact with launch 4 will facilitate the early detection of any problems as crews come up to launch 5. If it appears that there is a possibility of more than two crews attempting to overtake in the area, the marshal must advise the rear-most crew(s) to slow down and ensure that they do not cause a situation where more than two crews are attempting to ‘overtake’ at any one time. Important information about likely problems should be passed on to launch 6 by radio. IF IN DOUBT tell crews to proceed line astern through the RZ.

·         Launch 5 must judge whether it is safe to permit racing under PLA NTM 2011/U10. If there is doubt for whatever reason, then racing ‘line astern’ must be ordered. This is particularly relevant if there is a powered vessel approaching Kew proceeding upriver. The standard instruction to crews in this situation will be ‘Caution ahead - No overtaking allowed - Proceed line astern’. Note that all boats on the fairway count in this assessment - whether or not they belong to crews competing in the race.

·         The launch must warn all crews approaching during the race if there is a possibility of meeting a powered vessel proceeding against the stream in either the Kew Road or Rail Bridge RZs.

·         Crews must be told to proceed line astern if there is any doubt about the available width of the fairway through the restricted zone (the affected area may be a part or all of the restricted zone area).

·         Coxes who appear to disregard the instructions to proceed line astern for safety reasons should be made aware that their actions will be reported to the TRRC and the boat may be disqualified if it appears that safety has been compromised by the coxes’ actions.

29            Launch 6:

·         Will be positioned at the western end of the Kew Railway Bridge restricted zone (see appendix 13). All UH boats proceeding upriver must be kept close to Surrey in the usual fashion against the stream between UL and Brentford Lock in accordance with PLA NTM 2006/U15.

·         Warn all external crews ‘PLA Notice to Mariners 2011/U10 ahead, cross to Middlesex at Brentford Lock’. If non-compliance advise start (JM in launch 3).

·         Pass on information to launch 5 about oncoming rowing boats and powered vessels proceeding upriver.

·         Work in conjunction with BM7 on the western end of Oliver’s Ait.

·         Supervision of Kew Rail Bridge restricted zone, both before and during the race.

·         Launch 6 must judge whether it is safe to permit racing under PLA NTM 2011/U10. If there is doubt for whatever reason, then racing ‘line astern’ must be ordered. This is particularly relevant if there is a powered vessel approaching Kew proceeding upriver. The standard instruction to crews in this situation will be ‘Caution ahead - No overtaking allowed - Proceed line astern’. Note that all boats on the fairway count in this assessment - whether or not they belong to crews competing in the race.

·         The launch must warn all crews approaching during the race if there is a possibility of meeting a powered vessel proceeding against the stream in the Kew Rail Bridge RZ. This information should be provided to launch 6 by the downriver marshals.

·         Crews must be told to proceed line astern if there is any doubt about the available width of the fairway through the restricted zone (the affected area may be a part or all of the restricted zone area). This is particularly important at Oliver’s Ait which is the narrowest part of the whole course.

·         Coxes who appear to disregard the instructions to proceed line astern for safety reasons should be made aware that their actions will be reported to the TRRC and the boat may be disqualified if it appears that safety has been compromised by the coxes’ actions.

30            Launch 7

·         Will be positioned opposite UL in a position to be able to monitor traffic in the Surrey in-shore zone and the navigation of boats crossing the fairway proceeding to ULBH following the mens’ race (see appendix 14)

·         Launch 7 will be responsible for placing the advanced warning sign[5] on the Surrey side opposite UL (the exact location needs to be discussed with JM).

·         Warn all external crews between Chiswick Br and Kew Br ‘PLA Notice to Mariners 2011/U10 ahead, cross to Middlesex at Brentford Lock’. If non-compliance advise start (JM in launch 3). Pass on information to launch 6/BM7 about oncoming rowing boats and powered vessels proceeding upriver. Request that external oared boats do not attempt to turn in front of the oncoming race (particularly with reference to the area between the Kew Bridge RZs).

·         Monitor the ladies’ finish and ensure that boats turn promptly and return to ULBH. Please ensure that crews do not obstruct the Surrey in-shore zone (refer to CPRT).

·         Ensure that crews returning to ULBH cross only in the designated crossing area, and not before (see appendix 14). These crews must give way when crossing the fairway from the Surrey in-shore zone to the Middlesex side, particularly if other boats are still in the race.

31            Launch 8:

·         Pass on information to launches 5,6 and 7/BM7 about oncoming rowing boats and powered vessels proceeding upriver. Ensure that Start (JM in launch 3) is aware of the arrival of any powered vessels proceeding in an upriver direction. This is particularly important in the start sequence.

·         Monitor the finish. Ensure that crews in the ladies’ race turn promptly and proceed smoothly to the Middlesex bank to land at ULBH. Ensure that they do not obstruct the Surrey in-shore zone.

·         Men’s race: Ensure that crews pass into the Chiswick Bridge RZ line astern, and take action to slow down relevant crews in order to avoid any boat overlap as crews enter the RZ. Ensure that crews turn promptly and safely, and ensure that there is no conflict with external crews, particularly those crossing at the Ship Inn Crossing. Please ensure men’s crews returning to ULBH turn promptly after the Chiswick Bridge RZ.

·         Please monitor boats returning to ULBH from the men’s finish to ensure that they stay in the Surrey in-shore zone. 

·         Launch 8 needs to work with launch 10 particularly if there are several separate groups of powered vessels coming upriver at Chiswick Bridge, then it may be necessary for launch 8 to assist with escort duties alternating with launch 10.

32            Launch 9:

·         Will act as the event safety launch.

·         Stationed at a suitable point on the Middlesex side between Brentford Lock and Olivers Ait, such that it has a good line of sight and good radio contact with both control and the start.

·         No other primary responsibility. However, may pass on information to other launches about oncoming powered vessels proceeding upriver.

·         Will respond to any report about an accident or capsize on the course by making way towards the reported accident site as quickly and safely as possible.

·         Will act as the primary rescue vessel in any case of capsize or inadvertent ejection of a competitor out of a boat, and will assume this role from any other launch in attendance once the safety launch has arrived.

·         Will ensure that the senior medical officer has been informed about any accident or incident ASAP. The senior medical officer will keep a modified kit suitable for the provision of the initial aspects of ALS.

·         The safety launch will need to inform control (BM10) and start (JM in launch 3) if the action and emergency action plan (appendices 4a, 4b & 4c) needs to be put into action.

·         The safety launch will need to discuss with the senior medical officer the most appropriate route of evacuation of casualties and inform control accordingly. It will be the primary responsibility of control to call an ambulance, although others may take on this responsibility if necessary[6].

33            Launch 10

·         The principal duty will be to be stationed at Chiswick Bridge (irrespective of division) and meet any powered vessels coming upriver towards Kew against the stream.

·         The launch will inform start (JM in launch 3) and control of any sighting of powered vessels. This is particularly important during the start sequence. If the race start sequence is allowed to continue (decision by start) then launch 10 will precede (at a safe distance) the powered vessels (and if possible inform them of the oncoming race, requesting that they maintain a course as far to the starboard aspect of the fairway as possible) towards the oncoming race, ensuring that all oared boats take the correct starboard aspect of the fairway and maintain a course away from the powered vessels. The launch should liaise with launches 5 and 6 whether racing ‘line astern’ should be ordered through either or both of the Kew RZs. Once the powered vessels have been escorted to Oliver’s Ait and handed on to launch 6, launch 10 can then return towards Chiswick Bridge.

·         If there is considerable powered boat activity, launch 10 will need to work with launch 8 to escort powered vessel groups alternately.

34            Bank Marshalls 1,2,3,4

·         Will monitor the start area as shown.

·         Please ensure that all crews have stakes in good time, and avoid unnecessary radio traffic shortly before the start sequence begins.

·         Monitor start timekeeping on channel 2; switch to channel 1 to communicate with Start about safety issues.

·         Sound klaxons at 5 minutes, 1 minute and start.

·         Observe the race in the initial phases.

·         Ensure that the stakes are brought back to the head position at the end of the start.

35            Timekeeper (BM 5) (will be on launch 3 - Aquarius)

·         Perform radio check of all marshals prior to start sequence on both channels 1 and 2.

·         Liaise with bank marshals 6&7

·         Once confirmed by start, announce the start sequence times as shown at section 16 above. It is very important to keep to the exact pattern shown.

·         Stop the sequence immediately (whatever point has been reached) if told by the Chief Umpire (JM)  ‘abandon the start-abandon the start-abandon the start’

·         Liaise with JM about restarting the sequence, usually from the 3 minute time point.

36            Bank Marshal 6

·         BM6 needs to position him/her self on the shingle on the Surrey bank by the bend of Brentford Ait, half way between the Hog Hole Buoy and Brentford Ait Buoy, so as to have a good vision of the river in both directions and ensure that there is complete line-of-sight coverage of the course along the Brentford Ait in conjunction with launches 4,5&9.

·         The marshal needs to ensure that where at all possible, that radio contact is maintained with both the start and control.

·         Monitor the race, and in particular any potential bumps or other incidents.

·         BM6 must ensure good communication with launch 5 during the race, and in particular advise launch 5 of any groupings of crews which may lead to bunching of crews or overtaking in the Kew Road Bridge RZ. If in doubt, warn launch 5.

37            Bank Marshall 7

·         BM7 should be positioned on the shingle or steps on the Surrey bank opposite the western end of Oliver’s Ait and work with launch 6. Maintain good visibility.

·         Monitor the race, and in particular any potential bumps or other incidents.

·         BM7 must ensure good communication with launch 5 during the race, and in particular advise launch 6 of any groupings of crews which may lead to bunching of crews or overtaking in the Kew Rail Bridge RZ. If in doubt, warn launch 6.

38            Bank marshal 8

·         Control commission: Will be responsible for checking boats prior to boating at UL and documenting the check on the list shown at appendix 7. Note that this is not a mandatory check but it is strongly advised that as many boats as possible are checked prior to racing. Any issues should be discussed with JM but boats which are not of an acceptable standard must not be allowed to boat. Check:

o    Adequacy of bow-balls

o    Adequacy of heel restraints

o    Adequacy of buoyancy compartments (lids screwed in place, not covered by tape etc)

o    Adequacy of coxes’ lifejackets/buoyancy aids

·         Finish monitor: Monitor the finish (adjacent to the relevant flag on the Middlesex side). Liaise with launches 7 and 8 (and 10) if any problems.

39            Bank marshal 9 (Spotter)

·         Will be placed on the Surrey side aspect of Barnes Bridge with a clear view of the river towards Chiswick Eyot.

·         Must be in position 20 minutes before the expected race start time.

·         Ensure effective radio communication with launches 7,8 (10) and control to warn of any power vessels or significant oared boat activity proceeding upriver towards the race finish.

·         Specific direct mobile telephone contact with start (JM in launch 3) to advise of class V (pleasure cruiser) or similar sized powered vessels coming towards the race course. The Chief Umpire (JM) will contact BM9 before starting the start sequence.

40            Bank Marshal 10 (Control).

·         Act as co-ordinator of the finish group of marshals.

·         Maintain close direct contact by radio or mobile telephone with the Chief Umpire (JM) in launch 3, particularly if powered vessels are coming upriver at Chiswick Bridge. Use channel 1 for direct communication with Launches 5 and 3.

·         Overall supervision of the boating of crews (assisted by BM 8 and launch 7) at ULBH

·         Liason with contact at TSSC to ensure timely boating of GKT crews.

·         Co-ordinator of the accident and emergency action plan (see appendix 4a) - designated to make primary contact with the LAS if an ambulance is required.

·         Ensure appropriate deployment of launches & marshals in the finish area

·         Ensure that radio system is used appropriately and unnecessary radio traffic is avoided by all marshals.