Whether this is whilst on the water or in the clubhouse safety is something that all of us must consider. There is no room in any sport these days for letting the issues slide. Many of you older rowers may consider that we never had all this in the past. Are you sure?
   Safety may not have been so highlighted but there are many aspects of safety that are a natural part of the way we approach our sport.

Assessing Risk

   We have been carrying out risk assessments for years! Even back when even your club senior members started. For some they would call it common sense. (Yep I know, common sense aint that common.) Do you check the weather every day to see if its going to be rowable? Who turns up in the middle of winter and rows in a singlet!
These type of questions that we ask ourselves everytime we go out form part of a risk assessment. Indeed, everyone taking part assess there safety every time that they train.

    Each of the considerations on the left is something that each of us has carried out for ourselves to some extent. Where more diligence is required is when we have new people or minors involved in the crew. In this case someone else takes the responsibility and makes a decision for them. This is usually a coach or club rowing official. The "ARA Guide to Good Practice in Rowing " denotes the responsibilities for individual, coach / official, club region and governing body. For the first time it even includes a section on coastal rowing.

    Having looked through this guide I feel that most of the way we practice our rowing on the coast complies. Certainly the Club Mark clubs will be pretty close and will require a few adjustments. Most will be in our documentation and more frequent checking.

Beware of Your Surroundings

   One of the first things that you should have been told at your local club would be about the surrounding hazards on and off of the water. Whether thats rocks, groins, outfalls, tides, mud or even structures like piers.It could be that you were given so much information that you didnt digest this information. This is not so much of an issue when yor a novice and there is someone looking out for these things or you. This will all change when you wish to single scull or pair!
   As part of your clubs plan there should be a designated rowing area map that includes these hazards. These should form part of your risk assessment and include what action should be taken should you capsize near rocks etc.

   One hazard that doesn't always leapt to mind when your merrily rowing along is how far away from the shore you are. Its something that I see on a regular basis despite warnings. Hopefully your club carries out periodic capsize drills and part of this will be swimming with a boat. 25m in a pool doesnt seem so bad when its still water with no tide and you can see the side. Now consider you will probably be at least twice that if you have drifted out. I have seen scullers further out than if they were drawn no. 12 at a regatta. sometimes 150m and thats a fair way to swim with a boat.
Keep as near to the shore as practical

If you capsize or sink. ALWAYS STAY WITH YOUR BOAT!!

   New people sometimes say to me, "I'm a good swimmer, I could just swim ashore if I was in trouble". Whilst they may be a good swimmer this would be a bad plan. People dont consider that they may get cramp by being suddenly immersed in cold water or swept away by the tide or wind. The boat has a number of things in its favour:
1. It will float (even if its just under the surface).
2. You can get on top of it to get out of cold water as much as you can.
3. The boat is much bigger than your head (This is all that would be visible of you in the water) and can be spotted eaiser by rescue services or launches.

Launching & Landing

    Launching

Preparation, Preparation, Praperation!!!

    Preparation is everything! Making sure that you have checked your boat before you go afloat, Set your feet to the right positions. Checked your seats, oars and shoe heal restraints are in place and secured. Checked the bailers are up and bungs in place. Have you got the appropriate clothing and liquid? Discuss your launch and rowing plan before you go afloat and make sure all are happy to go in the conditions. There is nothing worse than finding out someone has left something behind especially when its rough or cold!

    The number of crews that get launching and landing wrong always amazes me. The basics rule is always to launch and land with the "Bows" of the boat pointing into the waves. Why? The main reason is that the bows of the boats are designed to lift as they meet the waves. This way the waves run under the boat keeping the water out. We can lift a boat with no water in it. If you launch sideways then more often than not you will end up with water in the boat and unable to lift it. In heavier weather you may find yourselves back on the beech with the boat having knocked crew members over with the force of the wave. You could damage the boat or worst case injure a crew person.

    This doesnt always mean pointing the boat head on into the waves. Generally at an acute angle to the waves will be best making it easier for the crew members at the bow end to get in. The main rule I use when coaching is that they crew members on the seaward side of the boat get in first while the others hold the boat off of the shore at an angle. Once the waterside are in and ready to row the shoreside rowers jump in while the boat is rowed from the shore. That doesn't mean that the waterside rowers should take forever. If its big waves directly into them may be the only choice. You should consider whether the crew is competent for these conditions!

    The other reason to launch bows first is that the coxswain is usually the smallest and most inexperienced person in the boat. It seems common sense to me for them to be nearest the shore! They will be in shallower water and as a consequence of this not get so cold.

    Landing

    This is where the valuable time spent, teaching a crew to go backwards as well as forwards comes into play. Didn't do it? Something that was part of the old IA coaching award was to teach rowers to stop and back up. I always get new novices to do this even when its flat. That way they get to learn when they have time and dont feel that they are under any pressure. Worked in my favour one day when out with a complete novice crew for the first time and the wind direction changed causing a big sea with a difficult landing. If you can't back in on that then you will be in trouble! (it sometimes pays to "loosen" the gate fixing before reaching the shore. Not completely undo or the boat will roll!)

So learn to back in together in a calm manner, easing off one side or the other to keep the bows into the waves!

Experience counts big time when the conditions get to the rougher water. If the waves are large it helps to have little water in the boat. Back in with the bows directly to the waves. Wait for the best wave frequency, run in on one and jump out quick and carry boat and blades out with the bows still pointing at the waves. Even the best crews may need help and usually the more the easier it is.

If you need time to undo blades etc then another trick is for the bow pair to sit in the boat and keep it pointed into the waves while the stroke pair remove oars and seats etc. Again this really depends on conditions but its easier to keep the bows into the waves when you have the leverage of an oar.

    Swamping

    So what happens if the boat gets swamped while getting in or landing! The above landing technique still applies, back in keeping the bows into the waves. There will still be some buoyancy in the boat to assist you. When the stern gets near the shore get the coxswain on land. Undo the oars and pass them to the cox along with the seats. Don't try and pick the boat up! Keep the boat in the water with the bows out and spin the boat in the water. That way when you pick up the boat you wont be trying to carry water. You will need to overcome the water suction when you lift.

Emergencies

   Contact numbers for the emergency services should be displayed clearly in your clubhouse. I would suggest taking a mobile phone on rowing outings. There are plenty of waterproof covers on the market. Every sitiuation is different but usually 999 has the required contacts including Police, Ambulance, Firebrigade and Coastguard. Remember this is for Emergencies only where lives are at risk!!
   Many coastal clubs have walkie talkie radios for assistance for club members in difficulty. Make sure they are charged! I would recommend sending them with Novice crews or Juniors.

Oh! did I mention: ALWAYS STAY WITH YOUR BOAT!!