The Regatta Race Committee will be in contact with local weather forecasts to get maximum warning of approaching bad weather - gusting wind and/or lightning .

The Event Water Safety Advisor and the Chairman of the Race Committee will decide when to initiate "Lake Evacuation Procedure".

All marshals are to familiarise them selves with this plan.

Once notice of evacuation has been given over the safety radio network the following procedure is to be followed:

1. No more crews are allowed to boat.
2. Crews in the boating area are to clear the area under the direction of the raft marshals.
3. The four safety boats are to be stationed on the main lake:
   • Boat 1 - Start
   • Boat 2 - 500 metres
   • Boat 3 - 1000 metres
   • Boat 4 - 1500 metres
     
4. The umpire launches on the way to the start will divert into the return lake and station at the midpoint and start bridges
5. Races in progress are to proceed
6. Races on the start are to be allowed to start if fully ready
7. All other crews on the water are to proceed as follows:
   • Crews are not to warm down, but to come straight onto the stages using ALL FOUR stages
   • Crews warming down in lane 9 are to spin and return immediately
   • Crews going to the start in the return lake are to go through the bridges and:
     • Crews between 2000m and the 1000m bridge are to proceed through the 1000m bridge and return in lanes 5,6,7 and 8
     • Crews between 1000m and start are to proceed through the start bridge and return in lanes 1,2,3 and 4
8. Crews arriving at stages must
   • Disembark immediately
   • Leave shoes and spare kit
   • Clear the area, with boats, immediately
9. Raft marshals are to mobilise club members to clear blades away to grass areas away from the stages.
   In the event of lightning, ensure that no blade is carried in the vertical position.

Notes:

• The Race Committee will liaise by mobile phone prior to initiating evacuation via the Safety radio network
• If a mobile phone is engaged, use the radio to request calls are cut short and mobiles are freed for use
• Keep calm at all times and do not run around or raise voices
• Talk to the crews clearly and give clear and concise instructions
• Do not allow crews to bunch up and risk collision, particularly if there is a tail wind

Crews are not to start re-embarking until given the all-clear by Event Water Safety Advisor or the chairman of the Regatta Race Committee.

Please see the diagram of the Evacuation Procedure