[CUCBC Coxes] Coxing in a high stream

[Christopher Kerr]

Here are some more coxing tips for strong currents (also valid for coxless 
boats). If you know what you're doing then you may choose to disregard these 
(I'm not a cox after all), but be aware - accidents can happen to anyone, so 
if you're not following these guidelines then you should be able to give a 
reason why.
The general principle is that you should not allow yourself to have reduced 
manouevrability when facing downstream, because when facing downstream you 
have to back it down to remain stationary relative to the bank and if backing 
down was as easy and efficient as rowing on then backing down races wouldn't 
be confined to the preliminary rounds of Catz Cardinals' Regatta.

[Numbered to continue from Mark's points]

8) When you have just boated, you probably won't be able to call on the full 
crew because some rowers will be fiddling with their footplates, putting kit 
away etc. Whenever there is a strong stream, and particularly if the river is 
also a long way up the hard so you can't easily hold on to or push off the 
bank, you should boat facing upstream and should not start turning to face 
downstream until the entire crew is ready. Start your warm-up rowing upstream 
if necessary.

9) Trying to land facing downstream (not really relevant for the Cam unless 
you are pulling into the bank) is a recipe for disaster. Once your bows are 
pointed into the bank, you need to be moving faster than the current in order 
to steer closer in - if you slow down then your stern will be dragged out into 
the middle of the river. This is obviously incompatible with stopping at a 
particular place on the bank. 

10) If you really need to pull in facing downstream (e.g. marshalling for 
Bumps) then stop in the middle of the river, level with your intended 
marshalling space, angle the stern towards the bank, and back it down slowly 
in pace with the current. This will bring you into the bank in a controlled 
fashion.

11) When spinning, use the stream to help you turn. Keep the end of the boat 
you want to be facing upstream near the bank, and the end you want downstream 
near the middle of the river. As with (8), if you're turning to face 
downstream then make sure everyone is ready to row before turning, whereas if 
you're turning to face upstream then don't let anyone start faffing until you 
have turned.

On Friday 13 February 2009 21:13:24 Mark Stringer wrote:
> Dear Coxes,
>
>
>
> It looks like the river is starting to return back to normal again, but for
> the next few days, there will still be more stream than most people are
> used to.
>
>
>
> There are a few things that people need to be aware of:
>
>
>
> 1)         Most importantly, you need much more room to complete
> manouevres! You will find that when you try and spin that the boat wants to
> stay perpendicular to the river, so it can be quite difficult to get your
> boat round - Don't panic, just make sure that people are switched on and
> working together to spin the boat.  The other thing about spinning is that
> you will be drifting downstream MUCH faster, so you need extra room to
> compensate for this as well.  Once you have spun, make sure you get out of
> the spinning zone immediately, as other crews will need the space to spin
> as well.
>
>
>
> 2)         When you go round corners, you'll find that the river tends to
> push you towards the outside of corners and you'll need to start steering a
> fraction earlier to get round.
>
>
>
> 3)         Remember that how well your rudder works is related to how fast
> you are going relative to the water.  So, even if you feel like you are
> moving quickly relative to the bank, unless you are moving relative to the
> water, you won't get any steerage.
>
>
>
> 4)         When you are holding position on the river, you'll find that the
> river starts to spin your boat very quickly.  You therefore need to be
> really switched on if you are stationary and keep your bow pair taking
> taps/strokes so that you don't find yourself perpendicular to the flow when
> you don't want to!
>
>
>
> 5)         When the river is high, there is a big possibility of large
> objects drifting downstream (in the last few days, there have been large
> chunks of trees, a fire extinguisher, a narrow boat(!)...).   the bottom
> line is that you need to be constantly looking out for hazards in the
> water.
>
>
>
> 6)         If the river is high, you often can't see where the bank is, so
> make sure you approach with caution - your captain will get a bit irritated
> if you run your boat up the bank because you have come in too quickly!
>
>
>
> 7)         Finally, it is even more important for you to make the decision
> as to whether you think you handle the conditions or not.  It's really hard
> for coxes to say no to an outing, and even more so if the river has been
> closed for a week.  BUT, the decision lies with you, and if you are not
> confident that you will be able to deal with the river, then don't go. 
> Talk to your captains if you are getting hassled into going out when you
> don't think it is safe.
>
>
>
> Best Regards, and good luck to racing crews tomorrow.
>
>
>
> Mark Stringer
>
> CUCBC Coxing Rep

-- 
Christopher Kerr
St Catharine's College
Cambridge CB2 1RL

CULRC Hon: Sec: 2008-09


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