Divisions 1 & 3 (modified)

Boating

• CREWS WILL BOAT IN REVERSE NUMBER ORDER (the HIGHEST number boats first).

• During boating, crews may be asked to carry out safety checks, overseen by an Umpire, on bow balls, heel restraints, boat flotation and hatches. Boats that are found to be improperly equipped or unsafe will not be allowed to race until any identified issues are rectified.

• We enforce strict cut-off times at Trent Bridge and Wilford Toll Bridge (see the highlighted section below).

• Suggested boating time cutoffs for each division are given below - these times should be interpreted as the latest that a competent Open crew could take to the water, in average conditions, in order to get to the start on time.

Downstream practice pieces are strictly forbidden anywhere on the course or in the marshalling area. Anyone seen doing such a piece may be immediately disqualified.

Marshalling at the start

• All crews will marshal well above Clifton Bridge and should reach this area at least 15 minutes before the advertised division start time.  Crews that arrive after this time will be held back and required to race at the back of the division.

• ODD NUMBERED CREWS will marshal on the City (north) bank - crew no. 1 will be positioned midway between Grove Farm and Clifton Bridge, bows pointing upstream.

• EVEN NUMBERED CREWS will marshal on the County (south) bank - crew no. 2 will be positioned opposite crew 1, midway between Grove Farm and Clifton Bridge, bows pointing upstream.

• Odd-numbered crews will be upstream of crew no. 1 on the City side of the river, with the highest number furthest upstream.

• Even-numbered crews will be upstream of crew no. 2 on the Club side of the river, with the highest number furthest upstream.

• There will be number markers on the bank to guide your positioning, and marshals on the bank can provide assistance. Note that all the number markers are on the City bank, so even numbered crews 2 upwards should position themselves on the bank opposite the appropriate number.

Start

• Crews will be INSTRUCTED when to turn by the start marshal on the bank. Failure to follow the marshals’ instructions at this stage could lead to disqualification.

• Crews should turn in number order when instructed to do so by the marshal (and not before). He or she may insert gaps into the start order between boat classes in order to reduce the chances of interference on the course.

• After turning, you should paddle towards the start while maintaining number order. Ideally, the gap between successive crews would be 10 to 20 seconds.

• The start marker (a yellow START banner) is on the Club side, about 50 metres upstream of Clifton Bridge.

• You should cross the start line at racing speed. To help with this, use as a marker the power lines that cross the river about 100 m before the start.

• As you pass the start, the starter will call "Number X ... GO!". The timing starts on “GO”.

Racing

• The general rule is to race down the centre of the river - please see the steering guide for more information.

• DURING THE RACE, ANY CREW BEING OVERTAKEN MUST GIVE WAY TO THE FASTER CREW by moving to the left or right (as appropriate) so that the faster crew can row through without changing its course. Observers will be stationed at various points along the course - any crew adjudged to have impeded a faster crew will receive a time penalty.

Finish

• The finish marker (a yellow FINISH banner) is at the flagpoles about 100 m above Trent Bridge, on the Club side.

• After hearing the finish signal DO NOT STOP, but proceed through Trent Bridge until you are downstream of the rowing clubs. 

• If returning to Trentside, spin after the large yellow buoy under the direction of the finish marshals. Only when you have turned will you be allowed to stop and replace kit.  

• Once you've turned, proceed back to your landing stages. Crews returning upstream to the boathouses must keep close to the West Bridgford bank.

• Those crews returning to Holme Pierrepont should continue downstream, following the normal rules of the river - boats should keep close to the south (County) bank and avoid the middle of the river. Importantly, you should pass through the County (inside) arch of Lady Bay Bridge (this is the rightmost arch as viewed by the cox).