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Please note that these instructions only apply during the race itself. At all other times you must adhere to the normal circulation pattern outlined in section 3 of Nottingham Rowing Club's Safety Summary.
Between Grove Farm and Clifton Bridge you should keep to the middle of the river, aiming to pass under the bridge slightly towards the County bank. Warning - possible hazards close to the County Bank include very shallow water under the bridge, and a thick patch of weed downstream of the bridge.
Once through Clifton Bridge aim to stay slightly to the right of the river's centre-line, resisting the temptation to cut the left-hand bend that comes after about 500 m.
Once round this first bend stay over to the right of the river (towards the County Bank), but take care not to get pushed into a bay just before 'The Church', at the end of the flood wall.
The Church marks the start of a long right-hand bend - stay in reasonably tight here, because taking this line will help you get smoothly through the wider inside arch of the Toll Bridge. The bridge is a potential pinch-point, so keep your wits about you here if there are other boats about! Warning – start steering in plenty of time as there can be a strong stream here that tends to push you wide (to port), and you definitely need to get through the wide inside arch.
Once through the Toll Bridge stay tight round the inside of the bend then, as it unwinds, gradually move across to the middle of the river as you approach a long, sweeping bend to the left (the 'Bath Bend') that tightens just before the Suspension Bridge. Avoid the temptation to cut the bend too tightly - you should be in the middle of the river underneath the Suspension Bridge.
Between the Suspension Bridge and Trent Bridge you should be slightly to the right of the centre-line, steering a smooth course aiming for the central span of Trent Bridge.
The finish for all boats in Division 2 is at the flagpoles outside County Hall, about 100 m above Trent Bridge. Boats in Division 1 should continue through the central arch of Trent Bridge and follow the instructions below.
Once through Trent Bridge, steer slightly towards the City side (away from the landing stages) and line up a smooth course through the middle arch of Lady Bay Bridge (make sure that you shoot this bridge with the big round metal pillars on each side of you ... this is the middle arch - see the photograph below). Warning - there is a mandatory one minute time penalty if you race through the inside arch, so whatever you do don't pass through the incorrect arch of the bridge, it will lose you the race.
After Lady Bay Bridge you should stay in the middle of the river, passing under the Waterside Bridge after c. 400 m. Downstream of this bridge the river bends gently to the left, and you should move slightly over to the City side (to port).
As the finish comes into view, there are several large modern blocks of flats on the City bank - from the last of these it's about a minute/minute-and-a-half to the finish at T.S. Orion (obv. depending on boat type and conditions). The finish officials are on the bank opposite the T.S. Orion.
Please note the event rule that slower crews must give way to faster crews when being overtaken. This should be done by moving to the left or right as appropriate so that the faster crew can row through without changing its course. Warning - a time penalty will be given to any crew that impedes an overtaking crew.
Have a good row!
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