TRAILERS, RACKS and BOATING AREA:

NSR hire of NWSC begins on Thursday afternoon at 14:00. Boat trailers may be admitted as follows:

We do not expect to find any small boats on the racks on Saturday, nor any eights, other than octuples, on racks on Friday or Sunday, please.

Vehicles must not be driven on the apron in front of the boathouses during the hours of racing. The Trailer Park gates will be locked from 20.30 on Thursday, Friday and again on Saturday evening. Clubs wishing to drive their trailers out later than this should contact the Duty Officer at Reception.

PRACTICE on COURSE:

Crews wishing to boat outside these hours must make their own arrangements, including safety cover, with the National Water Sports Centre.

Boating is permitted only from the three rafts indicated on the accompanying sheet concerning circulation.

SAFETY:
All coaches and competitors must be conversant with the accompanying safety instructions.

MISSING PERSONS:
In the event of a missing child, whether competitor or spectator, please inform the Raft Marshal at the Raft Marshall's office in the boating area.

CHILD PROTECTION:
The attention of school and club coaches is drawn to the Regatta's Child Protection Policy and Procedures document (available on the NSR website on the competitors page).
In particular:

• It is a condition of entry to the Regatta that each competitor or crew shall have a named manager/coach. The coach, who must be over 18, must have been named on the entry form.
• If a substitute coach comes to the regatta he/she must report to the Rafts Marshal's office and register his/her mobile telephone number.
• The coach is responsible for the welfare, safety and appropriate supervision of his/her crew and is expected to know the whereabouts of his/her crew at all times during the Regatta.
• The National Schools Regatta expects clubs and schools to have their own up-to-date child protection and welfare policies and that these policies (incorporating the DCSF guidelines contained in the booklet "Health and Safety of Pupils on Educational Visits") will be followed.

CYCLING:
Cycling is prohibited in all Regatta enclosures and in the boating area. Please tell parents and spectators not to bring bicycles.

REGISTRATION:
A representative of each club shall report to the Raft Marshal on arrival each day stating which crews and coaches are present. Crews will be required to carry lane numbers on their bows in the standard slots.

WEIGHT-IN:
Coxes must be weighed at least one hour before racing.

BETWEEN RACES:
No crews will be permitted to rest or stretch in any corridors within the Main Centre. The sports hall within the new building will be set aside for crews to relax in.

BUSES:
Buses are provided on the South side of the course for spectators to follow the racing - free on Friday - a nominal charge of £2 for adults, £1 for children, will apply on Saturday and Sunday.

T-SHIRTS:
Genuine National Schools' Regatta T-Shirts, Fleeces and many other shop items carrying the Regatta logo will be available for sale, only from the Regatta shop, at the bottom of the Tower or in the reception area if wet.

SPECTATORS:
There is free parking in Car Parks A & B, but the price for parking on the Grassy Banks on both sides of the course is £10 per car. Spectator entry is £5 per adult; schoolchildren free.

PROGRAMMES:
Regatta programmes will be £3 on the Friday and Saturday, but only £2 on Sunday.

The Committee thanks you for your entry and hopes you will have a very enjoyable regatta.

2008 SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

This regatta will be run according to the Amateur Rowing Association's Rules of Racing and Water Safety Code.

The regatta will endeavour to provide a safe environment within the ARA's Water Safety Code although competitors and coaches are specifically reminded that persons using the lake and the adjoining river do so entirely at their own risk and are solely responsible for: -

1. Their own safety.
2. Ensuring that their boats are safe and are prepared to the standards required by the ARA Water Safety Code and the ARA Rules of Racing. Any boat that fails to meet the standard shall be excluded. See ARA rule of Racing 2-3-8 for details
3. The strict observance of the circulation pattern (see below) and the Water Safety Code.
4. Deciding, together with their coaches, whether or not they are competent to use the lake in the prevailing weather conditions.

Clubs and competitors are also reminded that they must: -

1. Only go out for practice sessions if there is a safety boat on the course.
2. Not practice during racing. Crews will not be allowed to boat until at least 15 minutes after the last race of the day has finished and permission has been given by the Rafts Office.
3. Crews that wish to train on the River Trent must make their own safety arrangements and must also inform the Boat Marshals' hut of their intentions. They must also ensure their boat is licensed to be on the River and they must read the circulation pattern for the River Trent on the Nottingham and Union RC website (http://www.nurc.co.uk/Steering%20Advice.doc)
4. Ensure that all roadways and access routes are kept clear at all times, and that they should not park in the Finish/Presentation Stage area. Crews should be especially vigilant in the boating/boathouse areas.
5. Supervise juniors with a high degree of vigilance and anticipation. A higher standard is expected when acting "in loco parentis".
6. Report all accidents to the Regatta Office.

NSR expects schools to comply with the DfES guidelines for organising and supervising off-site activities. These can be found in the booklet "Health and Safety of Pupils on Educational Visits" which can be downloaded from www.teachernet.gov.uk

PRACTICE CIRCULATION PATTERN

Thursday Afternoon and Friday Morning Practice Circulation Pattern
This applies on Thursday from 14:30 to 20:30
and on Friday morning from 0700 am until 30 minutes before racing is due to start.

Lanes 0, 5 and 6 (and the first 1000m) will be closed during these practice sessions.
Friday Evening Practice will start approximately 30 minutes after the last race and will follow the normal 2000m circulation pattern below.

2000m Practice Circulation Pattern
This applies at all times other than during racing.
The lake must be clear 30 minutes before racing is due to start.
The lake will close at 20:30 hours each evening.

Lanes 0, 5 and 6 will be closed during practice sessions.

RACING CIRCULATION PATTERN

Friday Racing Circulation Pattern
This applies from 30 minutes BEFORE the first race until after the last race on Friday.

2000m Racing Circulation Pattern
This applies from 30 minutes BEFORE the first race,
until after the last race has finished on each day.

Failure to comply with these rules may lead to the removal of the crew or club from the Event.

POINTS OF DANGER

1. Great care should be taken when using the pontoon on the Country Park shore. Note that this pontoon is for embarkation only.
2. The pontoons on the side of the course past the Finish Tower and in front of the new boathouses should not be used under any circumstances during the regatta.
3. Static crews in Lane 7 must be aware of the potential danger of being blown into the racing Lane 6 if there is a cross wind. Crews stopping in Lane 7 are advised to stop close to the bank.
4. At the 2000m start crews must keep into the bank whilst waiting to be called to their race and must stay clear of the 100m Start Zone.
5. Crews must take particular care of the stakeboat mooring cable in lane 7 beside the intermediate start when the intermediate start is in use.
6. Crews must take particular care when crossing the course to get to their allocated lane.
7. Crews must take particular care in the finish area to avoid collisions with other crews that have just finished, have been cooling down or that are returning from the presentation raft.
8. Crews must take care to avoid the intermediate start pontoons which may be 'in place' during practice sessions.
9. The Course Road is out of bounds to all but Regatta Officials and Spectator Buses.
   The Course Road is on the 'Centre', that is, the South side of the course

MARSHALLING INSTRUCTIONS

Each crew is responsible for being at the start and ready to race 2 minutes before the scheduled time of their race.

2000 Metre (Saturday and Sunday) Starting and Marshalling Arrangements

Crews may warm-up in LANE 5 ONLY between 500m from the start and 500m from the finish. Crews may ONLY turn into lane 5 at 500m and 1000m.

1000 Metre / Intermediate (Friday) Starting and Marshalling Arrangements
Crews will proceed in lane 7 to 250m beyond the start where they will be held by a Start Marshal. Under the Start Marshal's instructions they will cross into their racing lane and proceed towards the Start. Crews should assemble behind the Start Tower, close to race time allowing time to be attached 2 minutes before the race. If a crew misses its "slot" it may not be allowed to race. When the Starter calls the race, crews will paddle past the start pontoons in their allotted lane and will then back down onto the start pontoon.

Crews may warm-up above the Start in their ALLOTTED LANE only and in the RACING DIRECTION only.

All Races

All races finish opposite the Grandstand.

Crews stand by their accidents.

The requirement for a crew to proceed to the next round is indicated below the eliminating heats. The Race Committee reserves the right to alter this format and re-arrange heats if withdrawals destroy the balance of competition.
Crews affected will be notified before they are due to boat.

Cooling down is NOT permitted

TIME TRIAL MARSHALLING INSTRUCTIONS

The first round of most events will be raced as a time trial over 1500m from the 1500m marker (i.e. 500m from the 2000m start) to the normal 2000m Finish Line. On Friday the time trials will be over 1000m from the 1000m marker to the normal 2000m Finish line

Crews should collect their race number from the marshal's cabin and then boat in race order. Umpires will call you forward but please act sensibly and ensure to boat safely and swiftly.

Any boat failing Control Commission inspection will be pulled out of the boating line and placed last for boating.

Crews will paddle down slowly towards the start in lane 7 only. At 500m (from the 2000m start) the Marshal will tell them 'tops off' and will encourage them to move on to 250m. A Marshal at this point will direct them towards the launch in lane 7 and encourage them to keep moving. Aim to row round in a continuous semi-circle ("hard on strokeside, bowside easy/light hold") into lanes 1and 2. Lanes 0, 3, 4, 5 & 6 are safety lanes and are not in use for racing, Lane 0 (nearest the tower) is to be used only for crews in distress. The launch in lane 7 will allocate them a lane and direct them towards that lane. A launch in lane 3 will sort the crews into lanes and set them off towards the start. Having completed the turn you will be expected to keep paddling. Timing will start at the 1500m line (for Friday only, the start timing will be from 1,000 metres) and end at the finish. They will straighten up in their allotted lane and paddle towards the start. Crews will be started in Lanes 1,and 2 alternately at approximately 15-second intervals: -

This will allow 4 crews to be started each minute with 30secs between crews in each lane. It is the responsibility of crews that are being caught to move across to allow faster crews to overtake. After the finish please be very careful and clear the finish area and lake quickly and safely; you may not warm down on the lake after the race as you will get in the way of other crews racing.

Circulation at Start

SAFETY BOATS

There are safety boats on the course during racing and the first duty of the umpire and the umpire's launch is to the safety of the competitor or any person in difficulty.

ACCIDENTS AND EMERGENCIES

All accidents and emergencies must be reported to a Regatta Official as soon as is practicable. The Official will summon medical support if necessary and will summon any additional support that may be required. The Official will also ensure that the Safety Adviser and the Race Committee are made aware of the incident. An ARA Incident Report Form MUST be completed for all accidents, collisions or capsizes. The Raft Office holds supplies of these forms.

MEDICAL SUPPORT

The Medical Officer can be contacted via the Regatta Office or Boathouse Control during racing. A Duty Officer of the National Water Sports Centre is on call 24 hours a day, contactable through the Centre Reception, dial 0 from any site telephone. During racing hours the British Red Cross will provide medical and first aid facilities at the base of the Tower, dial 249 from any site telephone. Any medical problem arising on the campsite that can safely be brought to the First Aid Centre will be dealt with. Medical facilities are intended to cover emergencies only: there is no provision for physiotherapy treatment.

Outside racing hours, or if a more serious problem occurs, the local Medical Practice should be contacted at the Health Centre, Radcliffe on Trent.
Tel: 0115 933 3737 or 0115 933 2948.

MISSING PERSONS

In the event of a missing child, whether competitor or spectator, please inform the Raft Marshal at the Raft Marshall's office in the boating area.

EMERGENCY TELEPHONES

1. Start Tower
   
2. At 1000 metres on each side of the course
   
3. At 1500 metres on each side of the course
   
4. Main Reception in the Water Sports Centre
5. The Boathouse
6. All manned huts have telephone

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

1. National Water Sports Centre Reception 0115 982 1212
2. Police, West Bridgford 0115 940 0999
3. Hospital, Queens Medical Centre 0115 924 9924
4. Safety Adviser 07785 234432

BOATING PROCEDURE

The Committee is well aware of problems caused by congestion in the area of the rafts and the Circulation Procedure shown on the digram below will operate again this year and will be rigorously enforced.

Crews will be called to the rafts 40 minutes before the start of their race. Crew numbers will not be released until this announcement has been made, nor will Control Commission umpires permit boats on to the embarkationrafts until this moment.

ARA Registration Cards are subject to spot checks but, in any case, inspection will be compulsory for all those competing in relevant finals. Coaches should deliver these cards to the Entries Secretary in the portacabin at the base of the tower as soon as is practicable after the draw for the relevant finals has been published. Coaches must not leave this inspection until the 'Call to Boat' referred to in 2. above because this will not allow sufficient time to reach the start.

Coaches are asked to note that in order to facilitate the smooth running of the above, NO vehicles may be parked within the raft area, NO trestles may be positioned where they may impede the passage of other competitors moving their boats and NO trailers may be parked except in areas agreed by a member of the Regatta Committee.

CIRCULATION PATTERN AT BOATING AREAS

JUNIORS AND THE START AT THE NATIONAL SCHOOLS REGATTA

Starters, in the main, try to act with sensitivity and tolerance where juniors are concerned and go out of their way to assist crews to get attached at the start. Just as capsize drill is an important part of water safety, watermanship and boat handling skills need to come before the ability to move boats fast . Coaches must ensure that all their charges understand and can effectively execute:

• Backing down in a straight line in their lane onto a stake boat
• Keeping their bows into the wind when there is a cross-head
• Keeping their boat straight by 2 paddling with bows blade etc
• Coming onto the stakeboat on the up-wind side
• Turning within their lane

THE 2000 METRE START PROCEDURE

The 2000 metre start at Nottingham makes use of a 'traffic light' starting system. The start procedure used at the National Schools' Regatta for all races will be as follows:

• Crews must attach themselves to their start pontoon at least 2 minutes before the starting time of their race.
• At this stage the traffic lights on the start pontoon will be off.
• When the starter announces "Two Minutes" this will signify to the crews that they are formally under starters orders.
• The announcement of "Two Minutes" will also be the instruction to the crews to prepare to race, i.e. remove additional clothing, check equipment etc.
• After the roll call, and when the crews are aligned, the Starter will say "Attention"
• The traffic lights on the start pontoon will then be changed to show a red light.
• After a clear pause the Starter will give the start by (at the same time)
  • changing the lights to green
  • making an audible signal through loudspeakers
• The pause between the red light and the start command, (the green light and the audible signal), will be variable
  

It has become clear that some coxes have been instrcted to keep their hands up unnecessarily and they are reminded to make every effort to keep their crews ready. Unjustified claims at the start may render offenders liable to exclusion from a restart. Crews unable to keep straight in a cross-wind may have to be excluded altogether so coaches should make sure that their crews are familiar with the "Two with Bow's oar" technique.