Visiting crews to The Tideway
This document was largely written by Sarah Gardiner, CWSA of MAABC for visiting crews to her club and has been adapted by Chris George for general use.
If you are boating from a host club then it is arguable that there is a modest duty of care for the club, the event and the region to advise the visitor that certain navigation rules exist of which every cox or steersman (master of vessel) must be aware and to put the visitor, you, on notice of the need for you to ascertain any hazards or difficulties which you may encounter. That is one the purposes of this document.
All coaches and coxes should read the requisite information on the PLA, British Rowing and Regional websites. To help, a précis has been presented of some sections on navigation but these are merely additional information to be helpful to visiting crews and guests and it is up to you, the visiting crew, to ensure each steersperson knows the navigational law. Even if you are an experienced Tideway person there may be something which has changed or that you didn’t know. The whole thing should only take about 10 minutes to skim through.
There are some things which relate to safety on river, others are just points of etiquette to keep everyone happy. Hopefully the document will make your visit and the river safe and enjoyable.
1. Navigation
This section includes the circulation for both rising (flood) and falling (ebb) tides. There are important differences for both river conditions, and it is especially important to be aware of the tide change times – accidents often happen when crews are not aware of the change.
During the main HoRR races the river is closed and there are special additional or modification of the navigagtion rules. At ALL other times, all rowing craft must obey the rules of the river. It is a common mistake of visiting crews to remember the rules they follow when racing or marshalling.
Tides
The river Thames is tidal, the river changes in height by around 6 metres between the low and high tide. Each tide state has its dangers. Low tide is generally more benign conditions because there is less water and it is more sheltered, however the river does get very shallow around the edges, and the risk of grounding is significant. High tides can have very rough (almost sea like) conditions.
As with any river, the wind affects conditions – on a tidal river when the wind and tide are in the same direction, conditions are generally better than when they are opposed. If the tide changes so that you have wind against tide, calm water can become choppy very quickly. The river also bends significantly, so around one corner you can have flat calm and around the next choppy difficult conditions.
Be prepared: know what the tide is going to do and, if possible, check the wind direction so you know where and when to expect the bad patches. In general, better water conditions are found upstream of the Chiswick Bridge (away from the Championship course).
There is more in later sections about the specific circulation patterns for the different tidal states.
Tide tables
There are tide tables available online (www.maabc.com – Tidal predictions and on the Vesta and PLA sites. The cox (and coach) must check to see what the state of tide is when boating and determine whether the tide may change while you are out on the water. This is so you can be aware of the change in circulation pattern and react accordingly when it has.
It might seem obvious but if the high tide time is a 2pm then the tide will be RISING until 2pm and then FALLING after 2pm.
The rising tide moves quicker. It takes approximately 4 hours to rise and 7.5 hours to fall. So we spend more time rowing on a falling tide.
The turning tide
The tide changes earlier further down river. A rowing boat moves faster than the changing tide. It is common for crews to boat at Putney, checking their tide conditions, and start up-river knowing that ‘the tide is rising’ but when they arrive at Chiswick the tide has not yet changed because they have overtaken the tide and they meet crews who have boated and judged the ‘tide to be falling’. Be aware (look at every bridge buttress or post to check as you go past); stop, look and listen to other crews’ advice. If in doubt, stop the boat and see if you are drifting up or down stream (but make allowance for any wind).
The difference in the times to those stated on the MAA tidetables is approximately:
Earlier at Putney - 17 mins (high) and 44 min (low)
Later at Richmond 15 min (high) and 53 min (low)
Boating
You should always boat and return with your bows pointing into the stream.
Work out what the river is doing before you pick the boat up. Trying to boat the wrong way is tricky and can be dangerous for other crews boating or landing. Consult the tide table, look at the river and, if in doubt, ask someone on the foreshore (beach).
Also be aware of wash from launches or cruisers, this can ruin your landing / pushing off and at worst damage your boat by bouncing it on the shore.
Landing – before landing stop and allow your crew to put their boots on. This ensures that the side due to jump out on landing are prepared and can save the boat from any damage! It also slows the boat down so you can make a cautious landing. There is no need to do anything at speed; the currents do not push you away from the bank.
‘Working the slacks ’
In addition to standard ‘right hand rule’, where crews stick to the starboard side of the river (bank on cox’s right), there are exceptions for rowing craft called ‘working the slacks’ – basically that rowers can be ‘on the wrong side of the river’ in order to go around the easy side of a long bend.
This rule applies when you are moving against the stream/tide – the special ‘rowing lane’ does not alter its position, but the direction of traffic in the lane depends on the tide conditions. Imagine a one-way street, which in the morning rush hour allows traffic to move into town, and in the evening the same street allows traffic to leave town.
A summary follows which you may find helpful.
When moving with the stream/tide (that is when you are not using the special rowing lane) you follow the right hand rule that applies to all the river traffic. You should never be ‘in the middle of the river’. Think of the centre of the river as the large white line or better still dual-carriage way ‘island’, with traffic going in 2 directions on either side of it. You must be on the starboard side (cox’s right) of this middle ‘no man’s lane’ and, whenever safe, as far to the right as is “safe and practicable” (Notice to Mariners Upper 24 2009 – see http://www.pla.co.uk/notice2mariners/index.cfm/flag/2/id/3450/site/navigation ).
Where working the slacks applies
The ‘working the slacks’ rule applies ONLY between the Syon crossing (look for the yellow line by number 14 painted on the Surrey bank) and the Boat Race steps 'yellow line' 100 metres above Putney Bridge. Below the line at Putney and above Syon normal RHR (Right Hand Rules) river rules apply.
The river between Syon and Putney can be split into 3 parts. There are 5 crossing points to split the river if you count each end above and below. See this map.
- From the Syon (upstream) crossing down to just below Chiswick Bridge, the working the slack ‘special rowing lane’ is on the Surrey (West / South) side of the river
- From the Chiswick ‘Bridge’ crossing (actually 300 downstream at the Ship Pub) down to ‘Chiswick’ Steps (well below the bandstand) the lane is on the Middlesex (North) side
- From ‘Chiswick’ Steps down to Putney Pier (100m above the Bridge) the lane is on the Surrey (West / South) again. See Eyot, Harrods and Putney charts.
This map below shows the crossing points and the path of the special rowing lane. Notice how the lane hugs the inside of the wide bends.
The PLA link for an alternative map that is a draft but very useful
Notes about the crossings:
Syon – found between the two yellow marker lines near numbers 13 and 14 marked on the Surrey wall . Do not cross at the final buoy or by the PLA mooring barges.
Chiswick Bridge – cross well downstream of the bridge – outside the Ship pub.
Chiswick Steps – be aware of the boats moored on the Middlesex side and the strong current around this bend.
Tide rising – (Flood)
When the tide is rising (direction of the stream is from Putney to Syon)
- Rowers heading upstream follow the right hand boundary of the channel keeping away from the middle (leaving deepest water free for large craft) or, as is the case most of the time on the flood if the water makes it “safe and practicable”, they should be well outside the channel altogether on the right hand side of the river. (See diagram below)
- Crews going downstream (against the tide) use the special rowing lane, crossing the river at Syon, Chiswick Bridge, Chiswick steps and Putney.
Tide falling
When the tide is falling (stream direction Syon to Putney)
- Rowers heading downstream follow the right hand boundary of the channel keeping well away from the middle (leaving deepest water free for large craft) as is the case only between the Chiswick Bridge and Chiswick Steps Crossing zones on the ebb, they cab be well outside the channel altogether (other than for Barnes Bridge where perusal of the charts shows that there is no special rowing lane abutting. (See diagram below)
- Crews going upstream (against the tide) use the special rowing lane, crossing the river at Putney, Chiswick steps, Chiswick Bridge and Syon.
Buoys marking special rowing lane
There are several buoys that have been placed by the PLA as an experiment to separate the rowing lane from the main traffic. They are only on the Surrey side of the river. There are 11 between the Syon crossing and the UL boathouse. The other 4 buoys are below Hammersmith Bridge. This diagram shows where you should be in relation to the buoys depending on the tide. 
Diagram showing the traffic flow when the rowing lane is on the Surrey bank
Diagram showing traffic flow when the rowing lane is on the Middlesex bank.
Bridges
There are several bridges on the river. When we are rowing with the tide, we must stick to the starboard side of the river. (That's bowside, the cox's right and steers person's left). We need to use the 'middle' arches of several bridges - there is a simple rule - look for the orange light which marks the middle of the bridge and stick to the right hand side of it and if safe and possible as far to the right as you can. (That’s bowside blades near the buttress).
2. Behaviour On the river
Be aware that you are representing the whole rowing community – ensure you are in the correct place at all times and be polite to all other river users.
Racing pieces
When the river is not closed we are, technically, only allowed to race side by side on the ebb if the fairway is absolutely clear and safe. Safety takes precedence over any time trial or race. Both crews must be on the correct side (starboard) of the river or, better still, if tide allows out of the fairway altogether (if safe). Be prepared to give way to other traffic and stop the piece. It is better not to be two abreast going through a bridge but not actually against the code provided you do not overtake in a Restricted Zone so if you are in one make sure you paddle side by side. You must never be three abreast anywhere at any time . The Tideway Code only allows 3 way traffic when overtaking.
Boat numbering
Under PLA rules, all rowing craft, including rowing launches, must have a name. There is a £1000 fine for not so doing. It is now not only a Thames Regional rule (since August 5th 2005) but a British Rowing rule
http://www.britishrowing.org/policies Section "L"
Incidents
If you do have an incident (capsize; crash with bridge; crash with other boat) you MUST report it. See this link. (http://incidentreporting.britishrowing.org/SelectRole.aspx ) See also http://www.thames-rrc.org/safety/reporting/ .
First put it on paper as soon as possible whilst fresh in your mind then it will then need to goon line and if more than £500 value or if there is an injury then the PLA.
If you need serious assistance while on the water, call 999 and ask for the coastguard – we have a lifeboat station downstream at Chiswick pier and they will come to your aid.
If you are involved in a serious incident and don't call 999 (because you self rescue) please call the coastguard on 020 8312 7380 as soon as immediate danger has passed, so that if another member of the public has alerted the lifeboats they can be discharged.
Lights
If your outings might take place after dark (or before dawn) then you must display lights on your boat. On the tideway these must be:
- ‘White’ continuous - not flashing lights (except, voluntarily, at the front in conjunction with another continuous one)
- They must display around the full 3600, which in effect means one on the stern (180 degrees) and one on the bow (180 degrees). Ordinary torches with a pointed beam do not comply.They must be fixed to the boat by a permanent bracket and visible for 800 m.
- Do not attach to a person or a rigger
- Launches must have navigation lights as per the PLA bye laws
Water-borne nasties
The tideway can have unpleasant things in it (needles/sewage etc). You should never boat in bare feet and should wash your hands and face after an outing particularly if you have open wounds (such as raw blisters).
Please ensure all of your crew know this in advance, and if they feel unwell after the event they should consult their doctor (and state they have been near the water).
Good luck and safe rowing to all visiting Tideway crews.
Chris George