More problems with rowers - sorry!

[bradtarga34]

It's the pesky support boats that are the problem, strangely the boats here around Wallingford don't kick off anywhere near the wash down our usual neck of the woods around Walton way at the same speeds. The faster the better for the robos to keep them on their toes!

 

[Ramage]

I'm pretty certain i saw this chap cycling in Hampton Hill the other day , i was sitting having a coffee at my favourite cafe ( on the crossroads ) when he cycled past.

Obviously i only recognised him from the photo you posted !

Very likely Howard, we live in Burton's Road! (He rows for Walbrook as you can see, and is currently a student at Richmond College. Like all us top chaps he went to Teddington School..... ).

 

[teddington_lock]

I used to run the social club for BP ( where Walbrook are now ) , it was my first job after i left school.

It was an offshoot of the BP Meadhurst club , but was ( i believe ) sold off to Walbrook.

One of our other lock staff ( who is retired now ) was the boatman there.

 

[Ramage]

I knew Walbrook had a connection to BP... Their colours of green/black/gold are BPs colours.

The chap in charge of their boats now is called Jock, and they are all terrified of him!

 

[blenkinsop]

I used to run the social club for BP ( where Walbrook are now ) , it was my first job after i left school.

It was an offshoot of the BP Meadhurst club , but was ( i believe ) sold off to Walbrook.

One of our other lock staff ( who is retired now ) was the boatman there.

The Walbrook site was bought by The Royal Canoe Club (of which Walbrook is now the rowing section) and The Skiff Club

 

[teddington_lock]

Ah yes , that's right !!

So long ago , i'd forgotten. Anyway , it was fun working there while it lasted.

 

[Sulley]

We were moored at Windsor at the weekend on the Eton side, the speed and the wash from the support boats was ridiculous. It was just one boat really that insisted on going as fast as he could up and down. He wasn't supporting any rowers just seemed to be having fun on a Sunday morning!

Me falling down the cockpit steps to the galley due to his excessive wash was not amusing

 

[boatone]

We were moored at Windsor at the weekend on the Eton side, the speed and the wash from the support boats was ridiculous. It was just one boat really that insisted on going as fast as he could up and down. He wasn't supporting any rowers just seemed to be having fun on a Sunday morning!

Me falling down the cockpit steps to the galley due to his excessive wash was not amusing

So, did you get the boat identification number?

 

[Sulley]

Unfortunately not, but I now know what I'm looking for in future. The boat's name was John Blake II it was one of the older blue ones possibly from Eton College??

 

[Steve Clayton]

Unfortunately not, but I now know what I'm looking for in future. The boat's name was John Blake II it was one of the older blue ones possibly from Eton College??

Stick one on him, here: http://incidentreporting.britishrowing.org/?q=incidentreporting

 

[teddington_lock]

We had an eight and a single scull through the lock on saturday , with a support boat ( Walbrook ) and i was looking for the pennant , after all the discussion.

Anyway , the 'pennants' aren't always pennants , they are a sticker rather than a flag.

 

[st599]

I was thinking the reach between Thames Ditton and Kingston Bridge when both sailing clubs are out and active

The Teddington Reach Co-ordination Committee deal with all racing on that stretch of the River. The rules state that start lines can not exceed 2/3rds River width and that a buoy must be used to keep fleets away from the bank and to leave a navigable channel.

Doesn't help that most Mobos just ignore it and plough through the start line.

 

[boatone]

The Teddington Reach Co-ordination Committee deal with all racing on that stretch of the River. The rules state that start lines can not exceed 2/3rds River width and that a buoy must be used to keep fleets away from the bank and to leave a navigable channel.

Doesn't help that most Mobos just ignore it and plough through the start line.

So how are the Mobo's - and others - able to identify the start line and where the navigable channel lies? A single buoy on its own might mean everything to the racing boats but little to those passing by?

 

[Ramage]

We had an eight and a single scull through the lock on saturday , with a support boat ( Walbrook )

SWMBO was the Cox on the eight (her first time coxing through a lock) and she wanted to know if "The Nice Lockie" was Howard...

So I assume I can tell her it was! (By the way she did lots of cooing and ahhhing over the pictures of your baby).

 

[Steve Clayton]

So how are the Mobo's - and others - able to identify the start line and where the navigable channel lies? A single buoy on its own might mean everything to the racing boats but little to those passing by?

The use of a port-hand or starboard-hand buoy as appropriate would indicate the start of the channel with small yellow buoys placed intermittently to indicate the channel line and/or:

The preceeding lockie hands out a flyer to boats advising of the channel changes ahead and etiquette when passing through. - although it doesn't help those who have set off close to the event and haven't used the lock.
The flyer, I would suggest, should have the reference as to how to complain about rowers

 

[TrueBlue]

No taking issue with you in any way

The use of a port-hand or starboard-hand buoy as appropriate would indicate the start of the channel with small yellow buoys placed intermittently to indicate the channel line and/or:

The preceding lockie hands out a flyer to boats advising of the channel changes ahead and etiquette when passing through. - although it doesn't help those who have set off close to the event and haven't used the lock.
The flyer, I would suggest, should have the reference as to how to complain about rowers

But I'm not convinced how many river users understand the concept of a handed buoy - even if they twig "colour to colour"; most never have any need to use their navigation lights (if fitted).

Handing out a notice at the preceding lock is fine, but if you're navigating there isn't much time to read it anyway.

Usually my Management files any notice away on receipt.....

 

[Steve Clayton]

But I'm not convinced how many river users understand the concept of a handed buoy - even if they twig "colour to colour"; most never have any need to use their navigation lights (if fitted).

Handing out a notice at the preceding lock is fine, but if you're navigating there isn't much time to read it anyway.

Usually my Management files any notice away on receipt.....

I've also seen arrow signs (on a buoy or small anchored tender) used at regattas; saying "Channel" - this should work

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

I've also seen arrow signs (on a buoy or small anchored tender) used at regattas; saying "Channel" - this should work

Normal practice and works well. The more awkward ones are the sailing clubs where the start line and course buoys are less obvious to passing boats. I sailed for years when I was younger and still find some of the positionings can be obscure. Furthermore the whole width of the river will be in use, including bits motor boats often cannot use due to depth issues.

 

[Ramage]

I've also seen arrow signs (on a buoy or small anchored tender) used at regattas; saying "Channel" - this should work

We had this for the boat handling competitions at the last TVR (Thames Valley Rally).

Sadly, the ROBOs did not see them..... thats the trouble with going backwards down the river!

 

[apollo]

Sadly, the ROBOs did not see them..... thats the trouble with going backwards down the river!

...did not want to see them, even when TVR marshalls drew their attention to them!!

Thats what is so annoying, we have to scrape down a miniscule channel during a regatta, and they wont play ball when its round the other way.

Humpf!