City Cruises

Safety

Regatta Safety

Please click here to see the Risk Assessment 2008 details.

This Safety Plan has been formulated to enable the Poplar Regatta Organising Committee's responsibilities to be met, taking due account of advice from the Amateur Rowing Association (“ARA”), the London Regatta Centre, the Environment Agency and other interested parties such as the Police and Ambulance Service.

Regatta Safety Adviser and Race Committee

The Regatta Organising Committee has appointed Nick Paul as Regatta Safety Adviser. He is a full member of the organising committee and the co-author of this document and the Regatta risk assessment.

A Race Committee comprising the Co-ordinating Umpire as Chair, Alan Taylor, the Chair of the Regatta Committee, Chris Kendall the PBDRC Club Captain, Nick Paul and two further ARA licensed umpires (being appointed on the day of the Regatta by the co-ordinating umpire) will undertake the duties detailed in ARA Rules 2-1-3 and 2-1-4; in particular they will decide if weather conditions are too dangerous to permit racing to continue.

ARA Water Safety Code (WSC)

It is mandatory that all crews attending the Poplar Regatta comply fully, in regard to safety, with the ARA's current Rules of Racing (ARA Rules 2-2-1 to 2-2-5 inclusive) and hence with the ARA's Water Safety Code ("WSC").

The on site ARA Umpires will inspect boats for safety related compliance and in addition boats fitted with hatch covers must have these in place and correctly fitted. Boats, which pass inspection, will be so labelled.

No boats will be allowed on the water unless they pass the safety inspection, and in coxed boats that the coxswain is wearing an appropriate life jacket or buoyancy aid in the correct manner. In "front-loader" boats coxswains must wear manually operated gas inflation life jackets. All crew coaches are to ensure that their crews are correctly briefed on the WSC in particular in relation to capsize procedures for scullers.

In the continuing interest of safety, the following “Best Practice for Getting onto the Start on Non-Tidal Water” has been issued by the Thames Regional Umpires Commission.

Crews experiencing difficulty in getting attached at the start become unfocused and do not race at their best. Coaches should ensure that their crews follow the ensuing guidelines to minimise delays and facilitate smoother racing. They should:

1. Move onto the allotted lane without impeding crews in other lanes.
2. Turn their boat within the lanes' width, 50 metres from the start, directly ahead of the stake boat.
3. The stern half of the crew should back down at backstops and without slides - Bow half of the crew sit with blades flat on the water.
4. The boat speed is checked by the bow half just before attaching by squaring their blades. The stake is thus not pulled out of alignment. Stroke is to control this manoeuvre in bow loaded boats.
5. Minor adjustments in direction by 'bow' or 'two' as appropriate taking short stabs at front stops using arms only (no slides).
6. More significant adjustments to be done by 'bow' or 'two' passing blade handle to 'two' or 'three', who then takes short stabs using arms with the blade well ahead of front stops (no slide).

Adjustment needs to be continuous in cross winds to over compensate until advised to stop and get ready by the starter.

Off Water Safety Cover

We have appointed Dr Max Mahfoud as the Regatta Medical Officer during the day. First aid facilities are provided by St. John Ambulance with staff and facilities close to both the enclosure and the boating area. Organisers of the High need participants to advice the Regatta committee if they are providing separate medical cover.

On Water Safety Cover

There are five fully equipped safety boats in attendance. They are provided with radios on the Regatta's standalone safety network. Additional safety equipment as specified by the WSC will be carried by each Umpire’s launch. Boats will not be allowed to go afloat during the lunch break, as there is no safety cover on the water.

Accidents and Emergencies

Any Regatta official observing a safety related incident must report it immediately by the nearest available radio link to Regatta Control. The Regatta has a network of radios spread along the course, each radio being manned at all times whilst racing is in progress. The Co-ordinating Umpire and/or his Assistant may assume control of the incident and will call for radio silence except from those involved in dealing with the incident and will summon whatever help is needed. He will immediately suspend racing if the incident has occurred anywhere on the course. He will also initiate any "999" call by mobile phone should the incident require assistance beyond the scope of that available on the Regatta site.

Regatta Incidents

The Regatta Duty Controller holds a Regatta Incident Book in the Regatta Office portakabin. All safety related incidents, including "near misses" must be recorded in this book.