From robert at cucbc.org Tue May 23 13:38:06 2017 From: robert at cucbc.org (Robert Nimmo) Date: Tue, 23 May 2017 14:38:06 +0100 Subject: [CUCBC Coxes] Cygnets (and other wildlife) Message-ID: Dear Captains and Coxes, Many of you will have noticed that there are now a family of cygnets on the river (their range seems centred on the gut, but they've been as far as Baitsbite and the Long Reach). This seems a good time to remind coxes and bank parties of the guidelines agreed between the various groups of river users relating to wildlife at this time of year. I'm sure most of you have seen these before, but just in case, the link is below: http://www.cucbc.org/system/files/Wildlife%20on%20the%20River%20Cam%20-%20Guidelines.pdf Please take the time to let bank parties know about this, since the cygnets are sometimes invisible from the coxes seat. Very best wishes for the next few weeks of training and thankyou for reading, Robert -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From mark at cucbc.org Wed May 24 23:12:08 2017 From: mark at cucbc.org (Mark Jacobs) Date: Thu, 25 May 2017 00:12:08 +0100 Subject: [CUCBC Coxes] Navigation / overtaking In-Reply-To: <56AC0004.3030607@cucbc.org> References: <56AC0004.3030607@cucbc.org> Message-ID: <5ed8a1da-682e-d343-e3ce-adb91fe566ae@cucbc.org> Dear All, (Captains - please forward to / discuss with your coaches) There have been several instances in the last couple of weeks or so where crews have made some very poor overtakes - particularly when running late heading downstream to the lock during the evening changeover period! Most have been without consequence, some have caused obstruction to oncoming crews though fortunately I'm not yet aware of one that has caused injury or serious damage. I'd like to remind you of the following points: 1) The river is NOT a one-way system - irrespective of the time of day there will probably be other boats travelling in the opposite direction. Remember that town crews are not bound by lighting up/down times. 2) In order to overtake another crew, you MUST be able to see enough of the river to move to the other side, row past and get back to your side, all the time being CERTAIN that you will not obstruct any oncoming boats. At this time of year there's a good chance that that oncoming boat will be a men's 1st VIII at full chat. 3) The bankparty has a different point of view to the cox of a boat - working together you can identify safe overtakes in some places where the cox alone cannot. 4) You must NOT overtake on a corner. Even if you have worked with your coach to identify that there's no oncoming traffic, do you really trust the other crew to steer a perfect line? 5) Coxes - before you move out to overtake, ask yourself whether you would have time to complete the manouevre if an VIII appeared in the distance, coming towards you at a normal speed for that part of the river (e.g. paddling along Riverside, race pace in Plough Reach). Do you have time to complete your overtake? Can your coach see more and help you out? Can you safely overtake? 6) If another crew asks to 'come by', please don't deny them purely for the sake of ego. If there's a queue ahead, or if you can see something oncoming that they can't, or you think it's not a safe choice for some other reason, by all means respond in the negative. I well understand the desire to overtake a slower boat and get some clear water to work at your own pace. However, in order to avoid further clashes/damage, and to optimise traffic flow on the river, please ensure that you are not taking chances and hoping that nothing is coming the other way. Likewise, please cooperate when a faster crew is behind you - don't hog the middle of the river and give a clear acknowledgement when they ask to 'come by'. I know that many of you cut it fine when heading down to the lock during the changeover period. However, I'd much prefer to have people tutting and rolling their eyes because you're there 5 minutes late than to hear about a serious accident. That said, if you're passing under the railway bridge at 6.57 you really should turn around and head back upstream rather than treat the reserved hours with blatant disrespect. Coxes - if your coach tells you to go past another crew, and you're not sure, it's OK to hang back and choose not to pass. You might miss out on a bit of clear water, but you can talk about it with your coach later and make a more informed decision next time. Coaches - talk to your coxes about overtaking, especially those with less experience. Explain that on the approach to some corners you can see further down the river than they can, and what clear instructions you'll give as and when you think an overtake is safe and necessary. Regards, Mark Jacobs CUCBC Safety Advisor -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From conor at cucbc.org Wed May 24 23:12:34 2017 From: conor at cucbc.org (Conor Burgess) Date: Thu, 25 May 2017 00:12:34 +0100 Subject: [CUCBC Coxes] Umpiring May Bumps 2017 Message-ID: <20488311-DAE2-4A1A-879E-42468B973AA5@cucbc.org> *Captains please forward this message to your clubs* Dear all, The time has come for May Bumps Umpires Sign Up. Umpiring is a great way to get involved in the racing and you get the chance to be right at the centre of the action - either by cycling along with the crews or acting as a static umpire along the course. As a 'thank you' for your time, all umpires are offered a free dinner (including drinks) at the Cambridge Blue pub, the week after bumps. Those who volunteer to umpire also count towards their college's marshal allocation. You don't need to have umpired before. There will be a meeting for all umpires ahead of racing where we explain everything and all new umpires are paired with a 'senior' one during racing. However, we do ask that you have rowed or coxed in at least 2 sets of bumps before so that you understand how the races work. Please remember that you can both compete and umpire. We suggest you leave 2 divisions clear before your race and 1 after to allow you to get to and from the boathouses. The division times are available here: http://www.cucbc.org/mays/times The umpires briefing will be on Sunday 11th June and should last about half an hour. The exact time and location will be confirmed nearer the time, and I?ll endeavour to distribute a first draft of the umpiring rota before the meeting. You can sign up here: http://www.cucbc.org/mays/umpires/signup - ideally before 2nd June please. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at conor at cucbc.org Many thanks for helping to make the Bumps possible, and best of luck with exams and training, Conor -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From flag at cucbc.org Sat May 27 11:27:08 2017 From: flag at cucbc.org (flag at cucbc.org) Date: Sat, 27 May 2017 12:27:08 +0100 Subject: [CUCBC Coxes] Yellow Flag Message-ID: The flag is Yellow. Boating is restricted to University crews, first VIIIs, men's crews in the top 2 divisions of the May Bumps and women's crews in the top division of the May Bumps as well as first fours and tub pairs. Members of crews permitted to boat under a Yellow Flag may do so in fours or small boats (i.e. single and double sculls and pairs) with the express permission of the Club Captain and/or Boatman. Outlook: Currently very strong gusts down the reach. Wind speed will be reassessed at 2pm. The CUCBC Committee From flag at cucbc.org Sat May 27 13:03:33 2017 From: flag at cucbc.org (flag at cucbc.org) Date: Sat, 27 May 2017 14:03:33 +0100 Subject: [CUCBC Coxes] Yellow Flag Message-ID: The flag is Yellow. Boating is restricted to University crews, first VIIIs, men's crews in the top 2 divisions of the May Bumps and women's crews in the top division of the May Bumps as well as first fours and tub pairs. Members of crews permitted to boat under a Yellow Flag may do so in fours or small boats (i.e. single and double sculls and pairs) with the express permission of the Club Captain and/or Boatman. Outlook: Still strong gusts. Wind will be assessed again this afternoon. The CUCBC Committee From flag at cucbc.org Sat May 27 16:56:11 2017 From: flag at cucbc.org (flag at cucbc.org) Date: Sat, 27 May 2017 17:56:11 +0100 Subject: [CUCBC Coxes] Green Flag Message-ID: The flag is Green. There are no restrictions on which crews may boat. Outlook: Wind has dropped off, but please ensure coxes are switched on to the fact it will still be strong enough to blow them into the bank/middle of the river whilst sat stationary. The CUCBC Committee From conor at cucbc.org Tue May 30 23:36:08 2017 From: conor at cucbc.org (Conor Burgess) Date: Wed, 31 May 2017 00:36:08 +0100 Subject: [CUCBC Coxes] Umpiring May Bumps 2017 In-Reply-To: <20488311-DAE2-4A1A-879E-42468B973AA5@cucbc.org> References: <20488311-DAE2-4A1A-879E-42468B973AA5@cucbc.org> Message-ID: * Captains please forward to your clubs * Hi all, Thanks to everyone who has signed up so far - we're a decent way towards a full complement, but we're not there yet! Please encourage anyone you think might be interested (who's also eligible) to sign up by this Friday evening. See my previous email below for details, and here's the link: http://www.cucbc.org/mays/umpires/signup Many thanks, Conor On 25 May 2017, 00:12 +0100, Conor Burgess , wrote: > *Captains please forward this message to your clubs* > > Dear all, > > The time has come for May Bumps?Umpires?Sign Up.?Umpiring?is a great way to get involved in the racing and you get the chance to be right at the centre of the action - either by cycling along with the crews or acting as a static?umpire?along the course. > > As a 'thank you' for your time, all?umpires?are offered a?free dinner?(including drinks) at the Cambridge Blue pub, the week after bumps. Those who volunteer to?umpire?also count towards their college's marshal allocation. > > You don't need to have?umpired?before. There will be a meeting for all?umpires?ahead of racing where we explain everything and all new?umpires?are paired with a 'senior' one during racing. However, we do ask that you have rowed or coxed in?at least 2 sets of bumps before?so that you understand how the races work. > > Please remember that you can both compete and?umpire. We suggest you leave 2 divisions clear before your race and 1 after to allow you to get to and from the boathouses. The division times are available here:?http://www.cucbc.org/mays/times > > The?umpires?briefing will be on Sunday 11th June and should last about half an hour. The exact time and location will be confirmed nearer the time, and I?ll endeavour to distribute a first draft of the?umpiring?rota before the meeting. > > You can sign up here:?http://www.cucbc.org/mays/umpires/signup?- ideally before 2nd June please. > > If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at?conor at cucbc.org > > Many thanks for helping to make the Bumps possible, and best of luck with exams and training, > > Conor -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: