Contact

If you have any questions relating to health and safety at Upper Thames Rowing Club, please contact the Club Water Safety Advisor.

Reporting

Previously all incidents however minor were supposed to be reported through ARA channels. New procedures differentiate between recordable and reportable incidents. Again all minor incidents including e.g. a capsize which may not even involve other river craft must be recorded.

However, only incidents involving major damage or injury need to be reported to the ARA. It is important that if you are involved in an incident either on or off the water that it is logged. The incident report log is a Red file that is on the bar.

If in doubt record an incident - it may help to clarify what happened if at a later stage a claim is made against the club.

Download the Incident Report Form here

Safety Board

The safety board is inside the door of the boatshed. All single scullers and any boat going out in the dark, must complete this before going afloat.

CODE OF WATER PRACTICE (by permission of Henley Rowing Club)

RULE OF THE RIVER

The rule is keep to the right; that is crews (and scullers) proceeding downstream from Henley Bridge to Hambleden Lock keep to the Berks (Clubs) side, and those coming upstream from Hambleden Lock toward the Bridge keep to the Bucks (Town) side. Temple Island is always passed to the right.

NOTE: Special rules apply during Regattas and are advised separately.

Crews being overtaken have a duty to stay clear but must take care not to stray into the centre of the river particularly when coming upstream.

BOATING

Crews should always boat facing upstream and have a duty to avoid those coming downstream. See also Henley Bridge.

Particular care must be taken when crossing to and from the Bucks (Town) side to gain access to or leaving club landing stages, and crews coming downstream have right of way at all times.

TURNING AND CROSSING

There are three designated turning areas:

1. At the New Street Public Slipway
2. Between the bottom of Temple Island and the Gate
3. At the 3.000 metre marker (White Cottage boathouse)

Under no circumstances may crews turn around or below the 'Danger' board at Hambleden Lock.

Crews turning, particularly at Temple Island and the New Street slipway, must take care to avoid other boats already on passage, especially those on set work pieces.

There are two designated crossing points:

1. Upper Thames Rowing Club
2. Leander Club

Crews crossing to and from Club rafts have an absolute duty of care to avoid other craft particularly at Henley Bridge, see below.

Counting from the Berkshire bank crews coming downstream should use arch two and going upstream arch four. The centre arch should always be left clear for cruiser traffic. Crews leaving the Leander raft must always ensure that the river is clear for them to do so and likewise when crossing from the Bucks side to the raft.

Between dusk and dawn, boats must carry a white bow and stern light. Red stern lights are NOT permitted (on the water, a red light is a portside light).