Wallingford Regatta Safety Plan (2009)

Regatta Safety

This Safety Plan has been formulated to enable the Wallingford Regatta Organising Committee's responsibilities to be met, taking due account of advice from the Amateur Rowing Association, the Dorney Regatta Centre, the Environment Agency and other interested parties such as the Thames Valley Police and the Royal Berkshire Ambulance Service.

The 2000m course layout in regard to lanes in use for racing, and circulation patterns for other lanes has been inspected and agreed by Dorney Lake Services Ltd.

Regatta Safety Adviser

The Regatta Organising Committee has appointed Ted Bowler as Regatta Safety Adviser. He is a full member of the organising committee and has produced this document and the updated 2009 Regatta risk assessment.

Regatta Race Committee

A Race Committee comprising of Judith Packer, the Start Zone Manager, the Chief Judge and the Head of Control Commission under the chair of Richard Packer will undertake the duties detailed in ARA Rules 2-1-3 and 2-1-4: in particular they will decide if weather conditions are too dangerous to permit racing to continue.

Row Safe: A Guide to Good Practice in Rowing

It is compulsory that all crews attending Wallingford Regatta comply fully with the ARA's current rules of racing in regard to safety (rules 2-2-1 to 2-2-5 inclusive) and all aspects of Row Safe.

All club / crew coaches are to ensure that their crews are correctly briefed on Row Safe in particular in relation to capsize procedures for scullers.

ARA Umpires will randomly inspect boats for safety related compliance, including that boats fitted with hatch covers must have these in place and correctly fitted.

No boats will be allowed on the water if they fail a safety inspection, and in coxed boats coxes must be appropriately dressed and wearing an appropriate life jacket.

Off Water Safety Cover

Dr T Cadoux-Hudson & Dr Emma Hodson have agreed to act as Honorary Regatta Medical Officers on rotation during the day. 1st Aid facilities are provided by Alpha Medical Services Ltd with staff and facilities close to both the enclosure and the boating area.

On Water Safety Cover

Brent Lifeguards are in attendance with 4 fully equipped safety boats (2 in the main lake and 2 in the return lane near the bridges) and they are provided with radios on the Regatta's network. Additional safety equipment as specified by Row Safe will be carried by each Umpire’s launch.

Accidents and Emergencies: 

The Regatta has a network of radios spread along the course, so any Regatta official observing a safety related incident must report it immediately by the nearest available radio link to the Safety Adviser, failing that to the Co-ordinating Umpire.

T he Safety Adviser or Co-ordinating Umpire may assume control of the incident or delegate to the on site Official. Radio silence may be called for except from those involved in dealing with the incident to allow summoning of additional help if required. Racing may be suspended if an incident has occurred anywhere on the course.

The Safety Adviser or Co-ordinating Umpire will also initiate any "999" call by mobile phone should the incident require assistance beyond the scope of that available on the Regatta site. All radio users will be advised when conditions return to normal. All coaches and crews should ensure that they are familiar with the Risk Assessments and actions that they may be required to take.

Regatta Incidents

A Regatta Incident Book is held by the Regatta Duty Controller in the Committee tent. All safety-related incidents, including "near misses" must be recorded in this book.

Distribution of Data

All competing clubs, Umpires and Race Officials will receive a copy of this Safety Plan, a set of Competitor’s Instructions, in addition to these documents being available on this website.

Umpires, Launch drivers & Safety Crews will receive a race day umpire rota, which includes all Umpire mobile phone numbers, radio protocol sheet & any other relevant information prior to the event.

Emergencies for Storms and Lightning

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.
  10. In the event of lightning people are advised to seek cover in buildings or cars (not marquees) and to keep away from trees and the higher parts of the bank.  Using phones and radios when there's lightning about can be dangerous, so all such communications shall be kept to the absolute minimum.

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

 

This page is updated for the 2009 Regatta.

It now includes the procedures for "Emergencies for Storms and Lightning" which used to be on a separate page.

25 April: changed para about Regatta Committee. Added para 10 to Emergencies for Storms and Lightning