Chairman's reminders

[Richard Harrison]

Following our committee meeting last night, I am writing this post on the forum to remind us all of several things.

First can I remind us all that everyone pays PIN money of £1 when rowing mid week or on Saturdays.  This applies to everyone whether junior, supervet or everyone in between.

Also if you are planning to row outside of club organised mid week or Saturday rowing, then it is your responsibility to post on the forum when you plan to row, which boat you are taking and who is rowing.   I am reminding us all about this on safety grounds as we do need to know who is rowing, when and in which boat in case anything goes wrong.  Additionally this will also ensure that boats don't get double booked etc.  Sunday rowing remains under the control of the duty beachmaster

As we prepare for the GRR, it ihas been customary in past years for GRR crews to have the use of their boats to train in during the month before the race.  I hope that this will continue again this year.  However there is an expectation that crews will post their training rows well in advance so Saturday and mid week row organisers know which boats are and aren't available.   It usually works out that there are still boats available for everyone to row.  On Sundays, club rowing takes priority, although after High Water the duty beachmaster may allow crews to take their GRR boats provided that enough people and boats are still available for club rowing and visitor rowing.

Finally as we welcome more under 18's into the club and rowing, we have revisited our junior rowing guidelines and the requirement to wear life preservers.  The Gig Club - our sister club across on Hayling Island - and the Great River Race require all under 16's to wear life preservers when rowing.  Many sailing clubs and other rowing clubs have the same requirement.  We are therefore having a consultation period during August for your comments and reflections before listening to your comments and then introducing a policy for juniors wearing life preservers.

All good wishes and safe rowing

Richard

[Claudia's mum]

Regarding life preservers for under 16's, some juniors are more proficient at swimming than the adults, therefore, ages should not determine the requirement of life preservers and, from a health and safety perspective, all crews should carry life preservers with them in case weather conditions change during a row, regardless of their ages.  Universities expect all rowers to carry out a compulsory swimming ability test to ascertain their requirement to wear a life vest, this could be a way forward.

Alternatively, I would recommend that juniors should wear a preserver if they are not able to provide evidence of their swimming ability in the form of their Amatuer Swimming Association (ASA) membership; or a letter on headed paper from their swimming coach detailing their swimming ability.

[Katy Loh]

We are currently in  Germany in an awesome rowing club with over 30 Juniors and life Jackets are not obligatory and the Juniors are all well informed regarding weather changes, safe rowing and the responsibilities attached to having the privilege of being part of the rowing community.   The fickle nature of our weather and waters means life preservers are precisely that, not to be underestimated but also equal emphasis should be put on the theory regarding weather, tides, emergency procedures  and safe rowing practices in the harbour with suitable routes for prevailing wind directions etc.  A theory course along with a swimming certificate  as Ciara suggested would be perhaps a way to qualify for just carrying the life jacket in the boat.  It is obviously a time of change in the club and it's popularity is understandably growing. I do know that having seen the girls rowing in a number of races the life jackets would cause huge rubbing and could be quite inhibiting in the teifi.   I hope a good and reasonable solution is found to navigate through the unfortunate Health and Safety requirements that the committee are obliged to follow.