Rowing: London Tideway River Thames navigation & steering for coxswains

Learning how to become an independent navigator

and independent boat master

on the Tideway

So you are safer on the TidewaySo coaches can coach and not “herd cats”

Intelligent SatNav

Skilled driver – steers/cox

TSS & AKRC

Self- teaching

• If you are working through this presentation on your own you may like to see at the same time • Basic Principles of Tideway Navigation (a single sheet)

http://www.pairshead.co.uk/Tideway%20Code%20-%20pocket%20guide.pdf• 70 page Rowing on the Tideway by PLA & TRRC 2009 (booklet) or see

http://www.pla.co.uk/pdfs/maritime/THE_ROWING_CODE.pdf • PLA Upper Thames Navigation Video. Go to

http://www.boatingonthethames.co.uk/ and see “Safely navigating in the upper tidal Thames”

• The presentation is in two parts – Tideway Navigation (Part 1) – slides 4 - 33– Mastering the boat in the conditions (Part 2) – slides 34 – 51

http://www.pairshead.co.uk/Tideway%20Code%20-%20pocket%20guide.pdf

http://www.pla.co.uk/pdfs/maritime/THE_ROWING_CODE.pdf

http://www.boatingonthethames.co.uk/

The most important rule

• Keep a good look out• In all collisions and most accidents the

first finding is that those involved didn’t keep a good enough look out

• Do not assert your “rights”– Assume ignorance, incompetence, distress or

stupidity• Your right is to avoid collisions

? Every 5 strokes, or less

Tideway Navigation – (Part 1)• Definition and geography• Port and Starboard• Keeping to starboard side of fairway • Passing port to port• Shouting • Restricted zones, overtaking, rowing abreast• Using the inshore zone (slacks)• Crossing at 90o, pointing at 45o

• Lights on bridges and boats• Dealing with washes• Priority of vessel types• Horn blasts• Summary and documentation Some TRRC questi

ons

Mastering the boat in the conditions• Using the stream differential to

– Turn or not– Turn in and out of fairway

• Passing spits• Boating at different states of the tide• The yellow peril, new rules at Putney• When the differential is not your friend• Steering 8+ and 4s• Outing plan

– Boat speeds– Wind direction and strength Who is master of th

e boat?

(Part 2)

6

Tideway definition & geography

• Just this stretch of the river• Need to know the language and geography• Study the “Basic principles” sheet and 66 page booklet

Lets do the geography test

Barnes bend Chiswick Steps crossing Isleworth Ait Oliver’s Island or Ait

Barnes bridge Corney reach Kew [road or stone] Bridge Pink House [or Lodge]

Black Buoy (Putney moorings) Crabtree reach Kew pier Putney [road] bridge

Boat Race finishing post Dove pier Kew Railway [or Iron] Bridge Putney crossing

Brentford Aits Fulham football ground MAA boathouse Ship crossing

Brentford dock or marina Hammersmith bend Middlesex Surrey

Chiswick bridge Hammersmith bridge Mile Post Syon crossing

Chiswick Eyot Harbourmaster’s [pontoon] Mortlake (OR Stag ) brewery Syon reach

Chiswick pier RNLI station Harrods [wharf] Mortlake reach UL boathouse

Some definitions• Ebb (falling 7- 8+ hours), Flood (rising 4+ hours)

– Where does the tide first change? • Fairway – >1m depth at low(est) tide• Inshore zone or slacks – too shallow for big vessels• Vessel: carries persons or goods

– Vessels < 20m must not impede large vessels• What types of vessels are on the tideway?

Class 5, cruiser, rib, barge, tug, RNLI, Fire boat, PLA / Environment Agency catamaran

Rowing boats, kayaks, canoes, paddle boards, dragon boats, gig, wherry, gondola.

Sailing dinghy, yachts, windsurfs

Coaching / umpires launch, stake boat, start boat, slipper launch

Putney

An 8+ is 17m long

Port and Starboard

Starboard – the right hand side of the boat and cox

Port – the left hand side of the boat and coxPort wine is red!

But the rowers right hand

But the rowers left hand

cox

To move to starboard side of fairway pressure up with right leg

It’s the boat that has a starboard and port side

- a bow and stroke side

The oar loom has a red band

The oar loom has a green band

Sample test questions from TRRC

54. Which of these is responsible for the boat during the outing?a) The coach of a junior crew where the cox is under 16b) Strokec) The most experienced rower in the crewd) The cox’n or steersperson

55. As a steersperson are you legally responsible for the conduct of your craft and crew?a) Yesb) Yes, unless they’re older than youc) Not if you’re instructed by a coachd) No

Symbols used

Fairway

Foreshore - Surrey

Foreshore - Middlesex

Inshore zone or slacks


Poor position

starboard

port

• The stream• Any club boat• Your club boat• Crossing the fairway• Boat in poor position

• Boat moving to starboard• Boat in wrong position• Boat moving to port• Motor driven boats• Parked boat

Your club boats

wrong

wrong

ColRegs (IRPCS)

Fairway

Foreshore - Surrey




Class Vport

starboard

starboardport

• Class 5 in narrow channel:

2 m/s

1 m/s

1 m/s

• Navigate to prevent collisions• Starboard rule

– Keep to the starboard side of the fairway and pass port to port

• Rowers use the slacks when against the tide

you may need to move to port - early

Cannot move to starboard

5. When travelling downriver against a flood tide on which side of the red navigation buoys should you pass?a) Middlesex Bankb) Surrey Side of the greenbuoysc) Middlesex side of the red buoysd) Surrey side of the red buoys

Sample test question from TRRC

Shouting to prevent collisions• When? From Where? To Who? By Who? • What to say when

– Risk of collision – “Take a look”– Collision seems imminent – “Look ahead” “Ahead”– You should stop now – “Hold it up – lightly”– Stop or you will collide – “Hold it hard”

• Assume others cannot see you – Especially scullers & rowers, Class 5 and cruisers

Usually, not always, people will thank you!

Apologise if you were part of the problem e.g. baulking, crossing late, in the wrong position

Anybody any where

Restricted Zones around bridges

Foreshore

No stopping in the inshore zone or fairway but can overtake

• Only two crews side by side (rowing in a controlled manner)• No overtaking of any kind (has caused accidents)• Inshore zone: no stopping , but can overtake, no rowing abreast• You can stop to disembark• No crossing

No overtaking of any kind

Restricted zone

Only two crews side by side

No crossingCan stop to disembark

BRIDGE

No rowing abreast

Inshore zone

Inshore zone

Special case: Hammersmith at very low tide

Middlesex Foreshore

Return to IZ

• If you cannot use inside arch as no water• Proceed with caution close to port side of middle arch• You have passed Starboard to Starboard!

Restricted zone

BRIDGE

Ease out early to see oncoming crews and be seen. Shout if needed

Get in line with the stream before bridge

Pass through quickly in the yellow area

Do not proceed if congested

BRIDGE

Special case: Kew rail bridge at very low tide

Middlesex Foreshore

• Restricted zone full width of river (also at Kew Road bridge) ??• If cannot use inside arch as no water• Turn back or proceed with caution• So if you misjudge you can turn in this restricted zone!

Restricted zone Oliver’s Ait

BRIDGE

Do not proceed if congested

If insufficient water inside buoys spin turn back

Be wiser next time

Spin turn back or proceed with caution

Do not proceed

No overtaking in slacks

Overtaking rules

Foreshore

Foreshore


Overtaking on the outside normal

No overtaking two abreast

• In general on the outside i.e. in the faster stream• Overtaking crew does not have right of way• Overtaken crew to maintain course and speed and not baulk

No overtaking if you will move into oncoming craft

overtaking on the outside normal

Unusually overtaking on the inside as overtaken crew not close to bank

spit

Rowing Abreast rules

Foreshore

No rowing two abreast

Maintain starboard station, can overtake if safe

Other crew overtaking if safe

• Not in the slacks unless overtaking• Not if it will obstruct other traffic• In the fairway

– Maintain a starboard station, can overtake one crew if safe• Can overtake crews who are rowing abreast if safe

spit

Using the slacks

• Rowers should use them – when going against the stream

• Keep as close to the bank as practicable – 1m – if by a wall– 20m say – if in shallows

• Boats should overtake on the outside!• So keep close to the bank if slow or stopping• It means you have to cross the river sometimes

Don’t run aground

Crossing at 900 , pointing at 450

• River flowing at 4 knots = 2 m/s• To cross at 90 pointing at 45 boat needs to

make 2 m/s against the stream so boat speed needs to be 2.83 m/s

• This is a good light paddling or novice crew speed. (racing at 5 m/s = 6:40 2k)

• A boat racing towards you on the stream is travelling at 5+2 = 7 m/s so if it is 70 m away it will reach you in 10 sec

• To cross 50 m fairway will take you 25 sec!

How long does it take to cross a 50m wide fairway flowing at 4 knots if you are crossing at 90o, pointing at 45o and on a light paddle?

Stream 2 m/s

Boat 2

.83

m/s

Crews in the fairway should maintain course and speed

?

45o

• For most stream conditions and average boat speeds

pointing at 45o will result in crossing at 90o which is

recommended

• To cross as quickly as possible point at 90o . However

this will leave you with slow sharp turns at either bank

and you may drift back into danger

• Crossing pointing at less than 45o means the crossing

will take longer, you may gain some distance up

stream whilst crossing but it may not be a more

efficient way to cross

• So point at 45o and cross quickly

Crossing Points

1. Putney crossing2. Chiswick steps crossing3. Chiswick bridge crossing4. Syon crossing

• Cross to get to the inside of the next bend• No stopping in crossings

Other crossing points?Where clubs on Middlesex have to cross fairway to the slacks

UL boat house• ULO/Tyrian/Team Keane• IMM/RUM/SBA/SHG/UNH• QMC/RHO/UCL• LYR

TSS/KCB/QBC/MAABCLatimer/Sons of ThamesAKRC/FSC

24. When crossing the river at a crossing point who has right of way?a) The boat crossingb) Class V Passenger boatsc) The boat travelling in the fairwayd) The larger/faster boat

25. Which of these pieces of guidance is not correct with regards to crossing the river when travelling against the stream/tide?a) Keep moving to avoid interrupting your work. b) Cross as quickly as possible (aiming to cross as close to 90° as possible)c) Cross only within designated crossing zonesd) Give way to boats travelling with the tide


You can cross to boat and return to your club

Lights on bridges and boats

Strawopen Headroom Reducedclosed

360o white light 360o white light Flashing 360o white light recommended now

If above 7 knots: 360o white light 1m above side lights, 30 cm above drivers head

180o side

lights

18. Approaching Kew Road bridge, rowing upstream against the tide, three scullers in front of you stop. Your view beyond the pier and the bridge is restricted. What should you do?a) Paddle out slowly and move round the scullers then go through the Surrey arch b) Move out and paddle through the centre arch once you can see it is clearc) Wait for them to move, or ask them to move.d) Keep paddling towards them as they are obliged to get out of your way

19. You are going with the tide. You wish to take your splash-top off before doing a piece of work. Where would it be safe to do this?

a) Under the centre arch of a bridge

b) It does not matterc) At a crossing pointd) Close to the starboard edge of the Fairway


Dealing with washes

Fairway

Foreshore - Surrey



2 m/s

1 m/s

1 m/s

• The cruiser going too fast• The RNLI on a rescue – blues and twos• The Class V

RLNIClass V

drawdown (tsunami) before the wash

Especially 1x & 2x Especially 4x and 8+,blades in safe position

Which way should you point?

Priority of Vessel types• Sailing – paddling - motor at sea• “a vessel must not cross or enter a fairway so as to obstruct

another vessel proceeding along the fairway”• When do motor vessels have priority over rowers?

– Emergency services with blues and twos– A Class V– A any vessel manoeuvring with difficulty e.g. at low tide– A coaching launch involved in a rescue– Ferry crossing the fairway?– A seaplane?

• She should keep clear of other vessels

Sample test question from TRRC40. In which four situations does a motor vessel have priority over a rowing craft?a) RNLI vessel at all times.b) Police vessel at all times.c) Any emergency vessel with blue lights flashing.d) Class V vessel in a restricted channel.e) Any emergency vessel at full speed. f) Fire vessel at all times.g) A any working vessel manoeuvring with difficulty.h) A coach launch involved in a rescue.

Horn blasts

• 1 short blast• 2 short blasts• 3 short blasts• 4 + 1 short blasts• 4 + 2 short blasts• 5 short blasts

• 1 Long blast• 2 long +1 short• 2 long + 2 short

• I am altering course to starboard• I am altering course to port• I am operating stern propulsion• I am doing a 180 to starboard• I am doing a 180 to port• I am not clear what you are doing

• I can’t see clearly but I’m proceeding• I’m overtaking you on your starboard• I’m overtaking you on your port

One second

4-5 seconds

Basic Navigation rules summary• Going against the stream (working the slacks)

– Use inshore zone, inside buoys, close to bank• Going with the stream

– Stay in the fairway, on starboard side– With oncoming craft pass port to port– At low water a big vessel may take up the whole channel; then, if safe, pass

starboard to starboard showing intentions early.• Paddle according to the direction of the stream not the tide• If in doubt keep to starboard• Do not stop, turn or overtake within 75m of a bridge (Restricted

Zone) • Do not stop in a crossing zone• Always keep a good lookout, assume others cannot see you

study t

he sheet

Every 5 strokes

33

Tideway Navigation

Documentation and websites to seeBased on the TTRC and PLA guides with local supplements• Basic Principles of Tideway Navigation• 66 page Rowing on the Tideway by PLA & TRRC 2009 (booklet)

or see http://www.pla.co.uk/pdfs/maritime/THE_ROWING_CODE.pdf

• PLA Upper Thames Navigation Video http://www.boatingonthethames.co.uk/

• Furnival SC guide http://www.furnivall.org/documents/files/Tideway%20Navigation%20(FSC).pdf

• Language and geography of the Tideway • TTRC Steering Certificate Test Questions• Supplementary Questions• Sign up to receive PLA notices at

http://www.pla.co.uk/register/index.cfm/site/email



http://www.furnivall.org/documents/files/Tideway%20Navigation%20(FSC).pdf

http://www.pla.co.uk/register/index.cfm/site/email

Mastering the boat in the conditions• Using the stream differential to

– Turn or not– Turn in and out of fairway

• Passing spits• Boating at different states of the tide• The yellow peril, new rules at Putney• When the differential is not your friend• Steering 8+ and 4s• Outing plan

– Boat speeds– Wind direction and strength

(Part 2)

Using the stream differential to turn

Fairway

Foreshore

Foreshore


Point bows out and stream differential will turn you further

In the fairway no turning effect but you might get hit

If you haven’t turned by now you probably can’t!

Or did you just mean to cross the fairway? - badly!

2 m/s

Doing a fast 360?

PLA

Using the stream differential to turn into the starboard fairway and pass port to port

Fairway

Foreshore

Foreshore


Point bows out and stream differential will turn you further as you spin turn into starboard side of fairway

starboardport

Passing port to port

Use a sweep turn to get to far side of fairway

Class 5starboard

port

Turn below buoy

Turn below buoy

Beware of spitsyou may end up in the middle of the river

Fairway

Foreshore

Foreshore


Move out earlyBut keep out of fairway and keep moving

spit

Ebb tide at AKRC – boating and return

Restricted zone

AKARA FSCInshore zone or slacks

St Pauls

Sweep turn to

get across of fairway

Spin turn in slacks

Restricted zonesNo turning, no crossing, no overtaking no stopping in slacksUse to assess timing your next move

Other crewsUp river outUp river returnDown river outDown river return

Sweep turn to get to starboard side

of fairway

Parked waiting to cross watching

yellow peril (Dove Pier buoy)

Dove Pier

Flood tide AKRC – boating against & return

Restricted zone


St Pauls

Spin turn

round yellow peril



Dove Pier

Parked waiting to cross watching yellow

peril & Dove pier

Alternate safer route for bigger boats

Flood tide at AKRC – boating with & return

Restricted zone


St Pauls



Do not cross until well downriver of

Dove pier

Parked waiting to spin into fairway watching yellow peril & Dove

pier

Dove Pier

Spin turn in fairway well

down stream of Yellow peril /

Dove pier

Alternate safer route for bigger boats

Dove pier buoy – Yellow Peril – flood tide

Restricted zone

AKARA FSC

St Pauls

Dove pier is curved! so pressure up

starboard (bow) side

Dove Pier

Move to port to get outside Yellow peril

Do not go inside yellow peril!

You may have > 10 sec to get out again

Check your position and pointing, especially if windy from SW

Putney Crossing - Ebb Tide – High Tide

Restricted zone

Swan Drawdock

Putney PierFast spin turn for

experienced smaller boats

Yellow marker on wall by steps

Safer route for less experienced longer

boats in strong stream

Can turn as not in restricted

zone

Not allowed under any

circumstances, see low tide

routes

Half

Crossing Zone

Right Hand Rule

Right Hand Rule

As close to bank as

practicable

But right hand rule

suspended??

Putney Crossing - Ebb Tide – Low TideSwan

Drawdock

Putney PierFast spin turn for

experienced shorter boats

Yellow marker on wall

Safer route for less experienced longer boats in strong stream

Move to slacker water, spin turn (against the

stream) 135o then cross, or go below Rail bridge

and cross

Foreshore

Do not cross until opposite

the gap

Can be very shallow here

Crossing Zone Restricted zone

Right Hand Rule

Right Hand Rule

As close to bank as

practicable

NewCrossing

Zone?

Putney Crossing - Flood Tide – High TideSwan

Drawdock

Putney PierAll boats sweep turn

across fairway to starboard side for a U

turn


Can use either Middlesex arch or

central arch if clear??

Proceed on starboard side as

per Colregs


Right Hand Rule

Right Hand Rule

As close to bank as

practicable

On starboard side of fairway or as close

to bank as practicable?

Putney Crossing - Flood Tide – Low TideSwan

Drawdock

Putney PierAll boats sweep turn

across fairway to starboard side for a U

turn


Do not use South Middlesex or Central arch as not close to

bank?

Move to slacker water and proceed on starboard side

as per Colregs

Foreshore

Stream can be very fast here so

keep moving


Right Hand Rule

Right Hand Rule

As close to bank as

practicable

On starboard side of fairway or as close

to bank as practicable?

When the stream differential is not your friend

• Attraction into the slacks as you near them• Attraction to port side if you drift into the

middle• Pushed to the outside of the bend

• Solution: – Keep on dancing– Adjust little and often

looking round

When the stream differential is not your friend

Different water speeds on your spoons can spin you into the slacks

Drift to port and you will be swept further to port Shoal stalling

the stream

Keeping to starboard on a starboard bend helps

Stream may sweep you to outside of approaching bend

Keep on looking round / ahead

Adjust little and often

Steering an 8+ or a 4+x

Rudder pushes stern out, bow stays put, boat slides sideways

So you need to anticipate the turn or you will go wide

It’s like a rear wheel steered dumper truck

Steering an 8+ or 4+xA touch of starboard rudder to keep you in the slacks

Keeping to starboard on a starboard bend helps

Your Outing plan and Boat speeds• Look up the tide times

http://rjen.me.uk/thttp://rjen.me.uk/tides/Tides2012-ChisMall.pdfides/-ChisMall.pdf http://maabc.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/MAA-tide-tables-2012-PDF.pdf

• & weather forecast & do a risk assessment & manage – Coach & Cox / steers job

• Which way is the stream flowing– Pooh sticks, pontoon, bridge piers, buoys, stop and

hold, paddling birds face the stream• Why normally go out against the stream?

– drift back if exhaustion, injury, capsize, equipment failure (launches!)

• When to go out with the stream? – Tide about to change or will change during the

outing.

http://rjen.me.uk/thttp:/rjen.me.uk/tides/Tides2012-ChisMall.pdfides/-ChisMall.pdf

http://maabc.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/MAA-tide-tables-2012-PDF.pdf

Your 90 min Outing plan and Boat speeds• How long does it take, going out coming back, if

average boat speed 4 m/s, stream 2m/s, slacks 1m/s? 4m/s is elite sculler

Ability Speed (m/s) Time (min)

Distance (km) DestinationAKRC / TSS

Elite 4-1= 3 out4+2=6 back

6030

10.810.8

Pink LodgeBlack buoy

JM/JW / IMn /old Vet

3-1=2 out3+2=5 back

6526

7.87.8

Brentford dockPink lodge

Beginners 2-1=1 out2+2=4 back

7218

4.34.3

Chiswick bridgeUL twice

Faster boat classes may go further but single scullers rarely stop. Coaches usually reduce the distances

52

Outing plan and wind direction

Predict whether water conditions will get worse, where and when• Wind against tide makes waves bigger, especially

around high water• Strong winds from SW, SE, NW, NE

Show rough areasRough on flood

Rough on ebb

The End The End

• Unless you want to get certified!

54

Certification programme• Study steering/coxing

• 29 page Level 1 Certificate in Coxing / Steering Workbook• 6 page Assessment Guide• Coxing the Tideway Head http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSl8XiXfpng• On-line coxing / steering course at RowHow

http://www.rowhow.org/mdl/course/view.php?id=27

• Study Navigation• 66 page Rowing on the Tideway by PLA & TRRC 2009 (booklet)

http://www.pla.co.uk/pdfs/maritime/THE_ROWING_CODE.pdf • PLA Upper Thames Navigation Video http://www.boatingonthethames.co.uk/

• Practise steering/coxing with mentor • record in Log book as evidence

• Sit the Navigation test• Tideway navigator (Basic, independent or

exceptional)

• Steering assessment by L2 coach - Independent steers/cox/navigator

When ready

When ready

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSl8XiXfpng

http://www.rowhow.org/mdl/course/view.php?id=27



Ebb tide at TSS – boating and return

Restricted zone

TSS MAABCQBC


PTRC

Finish Post

Quintin flagpole

Sweep turn to

get out of fairway

Spin turn in slacks



Sweep turn to get to starboard side

of fairway

Parked waiting to cross

Flood tide at TSS – boating and return

Restricted zone

TSS MAABCQBC


PTRC

Finish Post

Quintin flagpole

Sweep turn to get out of

fairway

Spin turn in slacks

Restricted zonesNo turning, no crossing, no overtaking, no stopping in slacks Use to assess timing your next move

Spin turn into starboard side

of fairway Other crewsDown river outDown river returnUp river outUp river return

Don’t start your turn from here

Parked waiting for

group to form

Appendix – pictures of navigation – courtesy of Dr N. Jackson

• Chiswick crossing in a head race• Putney Pier turn• Other pictures to be added?

– Yellow peril from Hammersmith Bridge– Up stream and down stream markers for all restricted zones and lights

on bridges taken from launch– Syon crossing taken from Kew gardens– Wind against stream pictures– Boats out of position due to stream– Dealing with washes– Class V in narrow channel

Waiting in Surrey IZ by the RED buoy

Crossing: general view of the Surrey queue and a boat crossing

Two eights crossing at Chiswick Stepsone at 45o and TSS at 30o (because they are so fast!) note crossing marshal launch in background controlling

Carrying on up the Middlesex IZ past GREEN buoy

Putney Pier, Ebb tideturning the gap to Putney Embankment

Rowing: London Tideway River Thames navigation & steering for coxswains

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Transcript of Rowing: London Tideway River Thames navigation & steering for coxswains