Rowers

[Chris_d]

I thought I might say that, but then I thought someone is bound to shout me down - what about marinas who keep a listening watch (supposedly) and why shouldn't the rowing club base have VHF as a norm?

or mebe PMR kit is more suitable?

On anther tack don't the boats have some buoyancy? (I recall the several occasions when the Boat Race crews sank - well the didn't appear to be sinking; the crews were still rowing furiously, just that you couldn't see the hulls anymore....

If the hulls still float, then because there is very little freeboard it's reasonably practical for the crew member to grab the boat - provided that he's not injured or swept away.

This may well be why dinghy sailors don't wear life jackets, they usually have a hull to hang on to.

Just some idle thoughts, which might stimulate some discussion.

VHF has no practical use on the river unless for specific events, some peeps "play" with it as they have them fitted for coastal use, but its surely better to just dial 999.

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

I thought I might say that, but then I thought someone is bound to shout me down - what about marinas who keep a listening watch (supposedly) and why shouldn't the rowing club base have VHF as a norm?

or mebe PMR kit is more suitable?

On anther tack don't the boats have some buoyancy? (I recall the several occasions when the Boat Race crews sank - well the didn't appear to be sinking; the crews were still rowing furiously, just that you couldn't see the hulls anymore....

If the hulls still float, then because there is very little freeboard it's reasonably practical for the crew member to grab the boat - provided that he's not injured or swept away.

This may well be why dinghy sailors don't wear life jackets, they usually have a hull to hang on to.

Just some idle thoughts, which might stimulate some discussion.

Modern rowing boats in general will float if they have a sealed bow and stern 'canvas' and if they have a sealed compartment beneath the seat runners of each rower.
Some however don't have sealed areas beneath the rowers and if the bow or stern 'canvas' area is punctured they will go down more easily.
There is little wood in a modern racing rowing boat to provide buoyancy. Perhaps there is an argument to suggest built in buoyancy should be compulsory in club boats?

The 'nanny state' mentality can be found to stifle any sport if we're not careful and generally most clubs have strict rules as to how to supervise and direct their rowers.... if the rules are followed that is!

The wearing of lifejackets would not allow the competetive 'racing' rower suitable manoueverability so that is not possible due to the range of movement required of the rower.
I would have thought it more possible for dinghy crew to wear lifejackets and possibly is a stipulation for all junior members in clubs??

A vhf base station with coaches carrying a handheld is an idea and could possibly have helped in some emergency situations that I've known about over the years.
However, with the mobile phone these days would there be a gain by having them?... probably.

Did you phone the Rowing Association Wavey? If not why not?

 

[Seajet]

I'm amazed at all the talk of 'lifejackets' here.

What you wear - and need - for activities such as rowing and dinghy sailing is a buoyancy aid.

These are a lot more compact, and various designs are available for different sports; they won't support an unconscious person as a full lifejacket will, but they are a great help when one ends up swimming - and that's a point to remember, swimming in a lifejacket is at best very difficult.

The RYA and other sailing schools certainly don't 'send children off in unstable sailing dinghies', there is a lot of instruction both ashore and with an instructor in the boat ( + a safety boat ) long before anyone gets to 'go solo' or go without an instructor.

Also sailing dinghies are designed with ( usually ! ) correctly distributed buoyancy tanks so that recovery is very straightforward; no-one is let loose without practising capsize recovery.

 

[rebellion]

I'm amazed at all the talk of 'lifejackets' here.

What you wear - and need - for activities such as rowing and dinghy sailing is a buoyancy aid.

Rowing as a rule does not use automated life jackets- with the exception of the coaches on the launches-as a result of one of the boat race crews sinking and the cox getting caught under the boat. However, our coxes wear a manual life jacket, as it does not obstruct the cox in the event of a capsize like a bouyancy aid or auto jacket would, but still gives them bouyancy once they are out the boat. For our junior coxes we allow them bouyancy aids, as the boats they cox are more likely to capsize, but are also easier to get out of, in the event of a capsize.
We do not ask junior rowers to wear lifejackets, however all our boats have bouyancy, and our juniors know to stay with the boat unless in serious danger.

It is not always possible to supervise all crews, however if that is the case then the most inexperienced crews are always supervised, with the more experienced crews checking in every so often. However at the end of the day, Our stretch of river (Teddington-Hampton Court) is not very wide, and we're confident that in the event of emergency an experienced crew can swim to the side and get out.
In a sport where "catching a crab" can mean being ejected from the boat as the oar hits you in the chest, it is not wise to both increase the likelihood of catching a crab with a bouyancy aid (it does increase the chances) and increase the likelihood that the oar will connect to the chest (it is possible to avoid the oar without a life jacket on)

However one final point: I have never rowed or coached coastal rowing, and I'd imagine that the smart thing in that situation is a bouyancy aid. Like I said, our rowers have not got very far to swim if the boat goes down!

 

[TrueBlue]

[\QUOTE]

Thanks for that detailed post. It's always interesting to hear how other River folks work and use their craft.

 

[CJL]

Following the recent fatality at Richmond the PLA require rowers to wear lifejackets unless supported by a "robust risk assessment" at events.

If you read between the lines my interpretation is that means the PLA think you need a lifejacket to go rowing but if you don't, on your head be it!

And please those people who say fine rowing boats are stable clearly don't provide safety cover at events on the Thames!!

The last quad we rescued had the bow chopped off when another boat crashed into it so stability had little to do with it. It would have easily sunk had the safety boat (a rib) not got there and the little tin fishes are not safe to recover people from the water before anybody suggests it!!!

CJL

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

In a sport where "catching a crab" can mean being ejected from the boat as the oar hits you in the chest, it is not wise to both increase the likelihood of catching a crab with a bouyancy aid (it does increase the chances) and increase the likelihood that the oar will connect to the chest (it is possible to avoid the oar without a life jacket on)

+1
apologies if I've said this before.... my 1st 8 was doing practice starts in a Donoratico 8 back in 1975.
Bow caught a crab, went out over his rigger backstay, came up under 5's rigger gashing his head, he disappears below the surface and pops up under the bows of my coaching launch right on que to be hauled aboard.

I'm not familiar with todays requirements, but as a master of rowing in a large school on the upper Thames, I didn't allow rowers under 15 to be on the water without a coaching/safety launch supervising, and even seniors in the school had to scull in groups of a minimum of 3. I wouldn't be surprised if there are rules to say that all juniors on the water must be supervised.

I hated the tidal Thames as a coach and tried to avoid it as much as possible when taking crews to regattas etc... for those not accustomed to it, it aPpears far more dangerous.