Steering the Head of the Trent

• Start focusing on the race as you pass The Farm, about 300 m above the start and build to race pace as you pass under the overhead power lines before the bridge.

• The start officials are on the right hand bank, just above Clifton Bridge. You should aim to pass under this bridge slightly to the right of the river centreline (to starboard). Warning - don’t go too far over to this side as there’s shallow water before and under the bridge.

• Once through Clifton Bridge aim to stay slightly to the right of the river's centreline, and don't be tempted 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 (the Wilford side), but take care not to get pushed into the bay at the end of the flood wall.

• Stay in reasonably tight around the long right-hand bend that comes after The Church, as taking this line will help you get smoothly through the wider inside arch of Wilford Toll Bridge. The bridge is a potential pinch-point so keep your wits about you here if there are other crews 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 to stay on the racing line.

• That having been said, if it seems likely that you're going to collide with the bridge support (perhaps an overtaking crew has forced you wide on the approach to the bridge, for example) it is possible to take avoiding action by going through the small outside arch of the bridge. While we definitely don't recommend doing this in normal circumstances, it's preferable to steer through the small arch rather than hit the bridge support!

• 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 that tightens just before the Suspension Bridge (the Bath Bend). Underneath the bridge you should be in the middle of the river, so avoid the temptation to cut the bend too tightly.

• From the Suspension Bridge to Trent Bridge you should be slightly to the right of the centreline, steering a smooth course aiming for the central span of Trent Bridge.

• The finish for Division 2 is at the flagpoles outside County Hall, about 100 m above Trent Bridge. Boats in Divisions 1 & 3 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 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 initially stay in the middle of the river and then start to move slightly over to the City side (to port) as you approach the final bend to the left.

• 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 TS 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!

Approximate distances from the start

Toll Bridge 1900 m

Suspension Bridge 3300 m

Trent Bridge 3900 m

Lady Bay Bridge 4500 m

Finish 5600 m