Chapter 2: Rules and Regulations Relating To Conduct of College and University Boat Clubs

Last Updated 09th Feb 2010

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R1. Scope of these Rules

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R2. Equipment

1. carry a valid EA Registration/Exemption plate.
2. have a bow-ball that meets British Rowing standards securely screwed to the bow (except tubs). In the event of losing a bow-ball, boats should replace it immediately or return, at light pressure, as directly as possible to their boathouse while keeping within the rules of the river.
3. if fitted with shoes, have intact heel restraints set to prevent the heels rising above the lowest fixed point of the shoes. (In practice, heel restraints can be set much shorter than this.)
4. have water-tight seals on all buoyancy compartments.

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R3. Rowers and Coxes

1. ensuring that all rowers and coxes have passed a swim test demonstrating their ability to meet the standards laid out in RS, section 1.9, or have provided evidence of an equivalent swimming ability. Prior to the taking of such a test, College Boat Clubs should seek to ascertain the swimming ability of their members by signed declarations, and act accordingly. Non-swimmers are not allowed on the water. A weaker swimmer (but not a non-swimmer) may row wearing a life-jacket until OURCs swim tests are held. After the last of these in the Michaelmas term, all those who have not taken the test, or who have taken and failed it, may not go on the water.
2. ensuring that only those rowers who have taken an OURCs capsize drill, or can prove that they have taken a similar one elsewhere, may use singles, pairs or doubles.
3. giving safety briefings to all rowers and coxes at the start of their rowing careers encompassing: the local navigation rules; the College code of practice; local hazards; safety provision and procedures on the water and in the boathouse; how to prevent, recognize, and deal with hypothermia; and what to do and look out for in the instance of cold water immersion (see RS, section 1.8).
4. maintaining a safety notice board in a prominent place in the boathouse, according to RS, section 1.1.
5. conducting risk assessments at appropriate times (see RS, section 1.2), and specifying a code of practice based on these (see RS, section 1.3), which should be available on the College Boat Club’s website and followed on a day-to-day basis.

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R4. General Rules of the River

1. Crews must, at all times:
   1. be aware of what is happening around them;
   2. travel at a speed commensurate with that awareness; and
   3. be ready and able to take whatever action is necessary – steering, slowing or stopping – to prevent a collision, even if they have right of way. (In the instance of a head-on approach, both crews should move to bowside.)
2. Crews must keep as far to the right-hand side of the river as is safe and practicable.
3. Overtaking crews should:
   1. only do so having first checked that the river is clear;
   2. move to the centre of the river to go past; and
   3. not impede the crew they are overtaking.
4. Crews must not slow or stop in locations or at times that impede other crews.
5. Coxes must wear a securely-fastened life-jacket at all times when on the water, worn on top of all other clothing (see RS, section 2.1).

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R5. Scheduled Closures

1. Earlier than 1 hour before sunrise, or later than 1 hour after sunset.
2. Between 8.30am and 1.00pm on weekdays from Sunday of 1^st week to Saturday of 8^th week, unless from a graduate college or in a single scull, or with the Proctors' permission.

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R6. Extreme Conditions

1. Regardless of the subsequent rules, all crews must make their own assessment before boating (see RS, section 1.7). For instance, the fact that the flag status allows a crew to boat does not mean that it is safe for that crew to do so.
2. Fast stream:
   1. Crews using the Isis and Godstow stretches must abide by the flag rules defined in R7.6 and R8.3, shown by the on-line flag when operational. If the grey flag is showing crews should conduct their own assessment on whether it is safe to boat, part of which could include calling the EA or the relevant lock keeper.
   2. In fast stream conditions, crews rowing on stretches other than the Isis and Godstow should make their own risk assessment based on advice from the local club and the EA. If red boards are displayed on the local locks crews should consult their Insurance Policy to clarify their position with regards insurance. In this instance crews are not allowed to navigate these locks.
3. Limited visibility:
   1. In limited visibility (which encompasses low light, fog, even heavy snow and rain), all boats shall carry bright white lights attached to the stern and bow, which together are visible through 360 degrees. (See RS, section 1.7.)
   2. If fog is dense enough to bring visibility down to below 100m crews are not allowed to be on the water.
4. High winds: The Isis and Godstow flags do not generally take into account the wind strength. In the instance of high winds it is the duty of the cox (or the coach if the cox is ‘novice’ status [see R10]) to decide whether or not it is safe to boat. Particular notice should be taken with regard to the direction of the wind in relation to the direction of the water’s flow.
5. Lightning: No crew may row during a lightning storm.
6. Ice: No crew may row if ice has formed on the water.

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R7. Rules specific to the Isis

1. Scheduled Closures

1. Between 8.00am and 1.00pm on Sundays.
2. After 7.00pm on Wednesdays.

2. Scheduled Restrictions

3. Boating/Landing

4. Full complement

5. Special Rules Applying to the Gut

6. Spinning

1. Under green flag boats may only spin at the following places from Sunday of 1^st week to Saturday of 8^th week:

2. Under blue and amber flags crews must spin between the red and white posts 100m downstream of Donnington Bridge and upstream of Haystacks Corner and may not spin at Longbridges, except to land.
3. Boats must turn singly in order of arrival at the spinning area, unless prior crews have granted permission to spin.
4. Having spun, boats must immediately leave the spinning area so as not to obstruct other crews.

7. The Isis Flag

8. Coaching Launches

9. Coxes
   
   Coxes of crews on the Isis between Sunday of 0^th week and Saturday of 8^th week of each term must be registered members of OUCS.
    
10. Iffley Lock
     
    1. Crews may go through Iffley Lock only under a green flag, and during the hours between sunrise and sunset.

2. Crews who intend to transit Iffley Lock should wait for the lock to fill below the white Isis Boathouse post.      
   

   11. Quiet Zone

From an hour before sunrise to 9am the Isis has two quiet zones where coaches and crews should make all reasonable effort to remain quiet and the use of loud hailers or megaphones is prohibited (except in an emergency) out of respect for neighbouring residential areas. These areas are:

• 1. Between the most downstream part of the most downstream bridge at Longbridges and the first red safety buoy upstream of the house next to the Longbridges House (this includes all of the Longbridges spinning area)
• 2. Downstream of Haystacks corner.

 

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R8. Rules specific to Godstow

1. Scheduled Closures

2. Spinning
   
   
   1. Crews spinning from downstream to upstream above Rainbow Bridge must do so before or opposite the Medley Sailing Club.  The stretch opposite Bossoms Boat Yard is not to be used for spinning or coaching.
   2. Under the Godstow amber flag, all crews must spin upstream of Rainbow Bridge.
   3. Boats must turn singly in order of arrival at the turning point, unless prior crews have granted permission to spin.
   4. Having spun, boats must immediately leave the turning area so as not to obstruct other crews.

3. Fast Stream Conditions

4. Coxes

5. Coaching Launches
   
   
   1. All launches must carry a valid EA Registration plate.
   2. All launch occupants must be wearing a life-jacket.
   3. All launches must carry the specified safety equipment, as set out in RS, section 2.4.
   4. All launches must display the correct lighting in poor visibility.
   5. All launch drivers must use a kill-cord at all times when on the water.

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R9. Rules relating to rowing on other stretches

1. Crews must adhere to any local rules and restrictions particular to the stretch they are rowing on.
2. Crews rowing on stretches other than the Isis and Godstow stretches do so entirely at their own risk when either the Isis or Godstow flag is red, and are advised to abide by the advice of local boat clubs and the EA regarding whether it is safe to do so.

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R10. Registration and Status of Coxes

1. A member of OURCs, as defined in C3, may only cox a crew once in possession of an OUCS coxing permit.
2. The Captain of Coxes shall keep a register of all College coxes with a coxing permit, which shall detail for each cox:
   1. the date of their registration.
   2. the number of terms of active coxing experience they have had.
   3. their status: ‘novice’, ‘experienced’ or ‘senior’.
   4. any penalties imposed on the cox by OURCs.
3. Newly-registered coxes with no previous experience shall be designated ‘novice’. The Captain of Coxes shall assign newly-registered coxes with previous coxing experience an appropriate status.
4. Coxes will achieve ‘experienced’ status after 3 full terms coxing, upon confirmation from their College Captain. Early promotion to ‘experienced’ status may be considered upon written application.
5. Coxes wishing to be accorded ‘senior’ status must apply in writing to the Captain of Coxes, detailing their experience. Applications will normally only be considered from coxes with at least 6 full terms coxing.
6. Coxes with ‘novice’ status may not cox an outing unless accompanied by a coach, who shall be held responsible for the safety of the crew.
7. Coxes with ‘experienced’ or ‘senior’ status shall be held responsible for the safety of their crew.  An ‘experienced’ or ‘senior’ status cox who puts their or any other crew in a situation where damage or danger results is liable to have their permit endorsed or suspended.

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R11. Definition of a Senior Crew

1. Within these rules, a Senior crew is defined as an eight or a coxed four with a cox classified as ‘Senior’ under Rule R10.5 and at least four rowers with three full terms rowing experience, and not containing any rower with less than one full term of rowing experience.
2. At the discretion of the OURCs committee, other crews may be also be designated ‘Senior’.  Application should be made in writing to the OURCs Secretary.

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R12. Use of the City of Oxford RC Facilities

1. Avoid using the area at peak times for CORC members, i.e. weekday evenings and weekend mornings.
2. Only use the grass areas for rigging/de-rigging, and for leaving boats unattended. Do not use Car Parking space, or the Hard.
3. The landing stage should be occupied as briefly as possible when boating/landing, with priority given to CORC members.
4. Boat and land pointing upstream whenever possible.
5. Do not leave trailers in the Car Park for more than 24 hours without permission from the CORC Committee.

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R13. Personal Conduct

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R14. Transgressions

Fines and sanctions may be imposed upon a College Boat Club in the event of a breach of OURCs rules. Transgressions witnessed by non-members of the OURCs Committee should be reported to the OURCs Secretary or the OURCs Sabbatical Officer.

 

1. Any member of the OURCs Committee may impose fines.
2. At their discretion, committee members may choose to advise a cox or crew rather than impose a fine.
3. Types of transgression:

a.     Minor transgressions are defined as those breaches of these rules with only minor safety implications or which only minimally inconvenience other river users. The first transgression in each term will result in a caution and will be recorded. The fine for the second minor transgression each term shall be £10.

b.     Major transgressions are defined as those with potentially serious safety implications; those which cause serious incidents; those which significantly inconvenience other river users; those which give significant training advantages; rowing whilst banned (for example by the OURCs flag or a previous penalty); or repeated minor transgressions (as in R14.5 and R14.9 below).

                                               i.     Only a formally convened OURCs Committee Meeting may impose the penalty for a major transgression, the nature of which is at its discretion.

                                              ii.     The captains of the club(s) involved shall be notified 24 hours before the meeting and may present a statement either in writing or in person. The senior member of the club involved may be notified at the discretion of the OURCs secretary and sabbatical officer.

                                             iii.     The committee meeting may impose fines and or further sanctions on the Boat Club involved. Examples include, but are not limited to: banning crews from the river and/or from OURCs races and/or giving time or position penalties in any OURCs event to the crew involved. The decision of the committee comes into effect immediately but is subject to ratification at the next captains meeting.

4. Violations of any of the scheduled river closures (R5, R7.1 and R8.1) or restrictions (R7.2) shall incur a £10 fine for the first offence of this nature in the academic year, but double for each additional offence of any scheduled restrictions within the same academic year.
5. Minor transgressions as set out in 3.a above shall incur the stated fine for the second offence in each term, but double for each additional offence of the same type within the same term, up to the 5^th offence. If a single Boat Club accrues 5 minor transgressions of the same type within 1 term then this will be viewed as a major transgression and acted on as per 3.b. Following the OURCs decision on the major transgression, fining for any subsequent transgressions of the same nature will start at the level of the fine stated in 3.a unless otherwise determined in the penalty for the major transgression.
6. Committee members must notify the OURCs Treasurer of cautions or fines they wish to impose. The OURCs Treasurer will then send the College Boat Club concerned details of the fine.
7. Dangerous or careless coxing may (in addition to a fine) result in endorsement, or in particularly serious cases withdrawal, of the permit of the cox concerned.
   1. Coxes whose permit is endorsed more than 3 times in any 3 consecutive terms shall have their permits withdrawn for the rest of the term in which the fourth endorsable offence occurred and for the entirety of the subsequent term.
   2. Following a period of disqualification, coxes whose permit has been withdrawn shall have to satisfy the OURCs Captain of Coxes that they are competent to cox before they may reapply for their permit.
8. Appeals against fines or other penalties imposed by OURCs should be directed, in the first case to the OURCs Treasurer and on further dispute, to the OURCs Senior Member, who shall have the final say in all such matters.

9.         Fines under 3.a. shall be suspended from Sunday of 0th week until Sunday of 5th week of Michaelmas term. However, transgressions will result in written cautions and be recorded, and repeated transgressions may be treated as a single major transgression and acted upon according to 3.b. Repeated transgressions occurring in the subsequent weeks of term will incur fines at the level it would have been if the offences in the first 5 weeks had been fined.

10.      Clauses R.14.1-9 do not apply to racing or administrative fines.

 

 

River Status*

Isis:
Godstow:

Sun Times

Sunrise:	06:26
Sunset:	18:02

Contents

• R1">R1. Scope of these Rules
• R2">R2. Equipment
• R3">R3. Rowers and Coxes
• R4">R4. General Rules of the River
• R5">R5. Scheduled Closures
• R6">R6. Extreme Conditions
• R7">R7. Rules specific to the Isis
• R8">R8. Rules specific to Godstow
• R9">R9. Rules relating to rowing on other stretches
• R10">R10. Registration and Status of Coxes
• R11">R11. Definition of a Senior Crew
• R12">R12. Use of the City of Oxford RC Facilities
• R13">R13. Personal Conduct
• R14">R14. Transgressions