Safety & welfare

Responsibilities​​

• Regatta Safety Adviser: The Regatta Organising Committee has appointed Steve Matthews as Regatta Safety Adviser. He is a member of the Organising Committee and has reviewed this document and the Regatta Risk Assessment (available for viewing on the website).

• Regatta Race Committee: A race committee of three licensed umpires will be chaired by the Race Committee Chair (David Porter), the Co-ordinating Umpire and the Umpire at the Start. The Race Committee will undertake the duties detailed in British Rowing Rules of Racing 6-1-2 and 6-1-3. In particular, they will decide (in consultation with the Regatta Safety Adviser) whether it is safe for racing to take place. 

• Attendees:

  • ​It is compulsory that all competitors, coaches and other participants at Lea Regattas comply fully with the guidance in British Rowing’s Rules of Racing and all aspects of Row Safe.

  • It is the responsibility of the competitors to ensure that their boats are safe and are prepared to standards required by those documents. Control Commission Umpires will randomly inspect boats for compliance.

  • In addition, attendees must familiarise themselves with the Regatta circulation pattern as described in the Competitors’ Instructions. They must follow all posted safety notices and obey instructions from Regatta Officials.

  • All club/crew coaches are to ensure that their crews are correctly briefed, particularly in relation to capsize procedures. 

Safety arrangements

• Safety equipment: Umpires will be stationed along the course (at the Start, 200m, 400m and the finish). Each will be equipped with a radio, throwline and thermal foil blanket. There will be a rescue launch stationed in the bay at mid-course, piloted by a competent. Additional safety equipment as specified by Row Safe will be carried in the launch. The driver will have a radio, as will the marshals, the five course umpires on duty and race control.

• First Aid cover: A qualified First Aider will be available at all times next to Registration, and will be signposted. Any child requiring First Aid treatment should be escorted to First Aid by a responsible adult, who will be expected to remain with the child throughout his/her stay.

• Capsize procedure: In the event of capsize, crews should stay with their boat, and climb on top of the upturned vessel to stay buoyant and prevent loss of body heat. The rescue launch will attend to assist capsized crews in returning to shore.

• Cycling: Due to potential incidents, the Organising Committee strongly discourage the following of races on cycles. This is discouraged on safety grounds as the tow path is a busy public right of way. Action will be taken against individuals and clubs reported cycling in a reckless manner and not giving pedestrians the right of way.

• River traffic. Occasionally there may be non-rowing vessels that might want to pass through the regatta area. Prior to the regatta any moored boats that pose a problem for racing crews will be asked to move. Signs will be erected at both ends of the course alerting river traffic to the fact that racing is in progress. There will be at least two Marshals, one at each end of the course. Marshals will ask non-rowing vessels to wait for the course to be cleared, and will advise the Umpires and Regatta Control that there is a vessel waiting to get through. The procedure then will be to finish the race or division in progress then delay further racing and move crews otherwise on the river to make way for the traffic to proceed. The regatta will resume once the marshal at the other end has advised the river is clear.

• Thunderstorm procedure: If the time between hearing thunder and lightning is 30 seconds or less (and the direction of the thunderstorm passes over the Regatta/Course area) then we will react by evacuating all personnel from the river and advising all competitors, members of the public and regatta staff to take shelter. The Race Committee will make the decision once severity and direction of storm is established. Co-ordinators responsible for each area will report back to Race Control when their area has been evacuated.

• Incident reporting: All safety-related incidents, including "near misses", must be reported to Race Control in the bar who will record them and file an incident report with British Rowing.

• Distribution of data: This Safety Plan which includes Competitor Instructions and Circulation Pattern is freely available on the club’s website. All competing clubs, umpires and race officials will receive a link to view the documents. Umpires, launch drivers and marshals will receive a race day umpire rota, which includes all relevant contact numbers, a radio protocol sheet and any other relevant information prior to the event.

• Insurance: The organising committee holds public liability insurance as a British Rowing affiliated competition. It is the responsibility of all competitors, coaches, volunteers and umpires to arrange their own cover. Most attendees will have at least public liability insurance through their British Rowing membership. Note that the Regatta cannot be responsible for interpreting the coverage British Rowing have purchased on your and our behalf. In particular, if there is any doubt about members' UK residence, it is best to clarify coverage with British Rowing.