These Safety Rules and Regulations replace and supersede any previous Safety Rules and Regulations.  The primary purpose of these Safety Rules and Regulations is to provide a safe and enjoyable environment for all members of our Club. Rowing can and will be a pleasant and satisfying experience if the right equipment can be matched with the skill level of each rower. Our Club is able to provide the right equipment for most rowing situations. It is very important to do our best to maintain and preserve this equipment.

When you use Club equipment, you are 100% responsible for the boat and oars: including riggers, foot stretchers, seat and slide. Check to make sure that all equipment is functioning properly before leaving the dock. If you are not sure, please ASK!

ARC stores both private and Club equipment in two boathouses and a cage. DO NOT use private equipment unless you have the explicit permission of the boat owner. The racks of private boats are marked with a label which includes the name of the boat and the name of the owner. Private oars are labeled with the owners name or initials. The racks of Club boats are marked with a label with the name of the boat and the skill level to which it has been assigned. Club oars are stored in racks labeled “Club Oars”. If you are not sure what is available for your use, please ask the Boat Captain or the Equipment Chairperson.

A. RULES FOR CLUB EQUIPMENT USAGE

1. Club Equipment: Is to be used only by ARC members in good standing (dues current).

2. Guests: Members in good standing may bring guests to use club facilities and/or equipment at no charge. Guests must be experienced rowers; at least 18 years of age, and must sign a waiver of liability form. Guests may use club recreational level 1 or 2 boats for two or more rowers when accompanied by an experienced member who make up at least 50% of the level of the boat. Guests may not row club singles. Guest may not bow ARC equipment. Guests may visit up to three times per year before being asked to join the club, at the discretion of the board. Guest must sign a waiver each for guest row.  Any damage to club equipment or facilities is the responsibility of the inviting club member.

3. Check-out: All members must be checked out to determine that they are qualified to use Club equipment. This requirement may be waived by the Coaching Chairperson if it can be established by
other means that the member is qualified. Scullers must be checked out to determine which equipment they may use. You should contact the Coaching Chairperson if you have not yet been checked out, or if you feel you may be able to move to the next level.

A member who has not passed their Level 1 checkout (i.e., they are Level 0) may only use club equipment if a coach is present.

When rowing with others, (1) at least HALF of the ROWERS in a boat must be at least the level assigned to the equipment, AND (2) a member may only row ONE LEVEL UP from their current check-out status.

Examples:

• Two Level 2 rowers and two Level 1 rowers may take out a Level 2 4x.

• Two Level 3 rowers, one Level 2, and one Level 1 rower may take out a Level 2 4x.

• Level 1 may row in Level 2 but not Level 3

If rowing in a sculling shell, the BOW PERSON must be at least the same level as that assigned to the equipment.

Examples:

• Two Level 2 rowers and two Level 1 rowers may take out a Level 2 4x. A Level 2 member is in the bow seat of the 4x.

• Two Level 3 rowers, one Level 2, and one Level 1 rower may take out a Level 2 4x. A Level 2 or Level 3 member is in the bow seat of the 4x.

If taking a sweep boat without a coach, the COXSWAIN must be approved by a coach for that level of equipment. Recreational coaches may approve a coxswain for Level 1 and Level 2. Competitive coaches may approve a coxswain for Level 1, 2, or 3.

You may only use the equipment you have been checked out for by the Coaching Committee. Use of any equipment you have not been checked out for, will initially result in an official warning from the
Coaching Chairperson. Repeated use will result in an official warning or temporary suspension of your membership or termination of your membership by the Board of Directors.

4. Equipment Reservation: All Club equipment may be reserved (scheduled in advance) subject to the following rules: No more than seven days in advance and no more than three times per week (if available, club equipment may be rowed, but not reserved, more than three times per week).

EQUIPMENT RESERVATION FOR REGATTAS

6 weeks before the first sprint race and before the first head race, boat captain solicits racing intentions from members and programs

4 weeks prior to each regatta, members need to confirm their intent to register for the regatta. Multiple crews requesting the same boat may be asked to make concessions

2 weeks prior to trailer loading, boats will be reserved in What's Open and the list of equipment that will be traveling will be posted in the weekly newsletter

Any boat requests that do not have a matching entry by the regatta’s registration deadline will be released from What's Open

The club will do its best to ensure there is adequate equipment in the boathouse for all use while away and some exceptions may apply. The weekly communication will serve as the primary means through which members and programs are notified of equipment that will be taken for travel. When an exception occurs, the Boat Captain will communicate directly with impacted programs at least 2 weeks in advance.

5. Duration Of Usage: A MAXIMUM OF NINETY MINUTES. If the boat is NOT reserved, and if NO ONE is waiting for the boat (which you must verify by docking the boat, by looking around for waiting rowers and by re-checking the reservation book), you may extend your usage in HALF-HOUR increments. If the boat has been reserved after you, you must be back at the docks by the time of that reservation.

6. Club Launches And Motors: Members of the Coaching Committee, members who are providing coaching services for the Club, and members performing on-the-water maintenance such as debris removal may use Club launches and motors. Before using launches and motors, these individuals must have been instructed by the Equipment Committee on how to use the launches and the motors. If you need to use a launch, please contact the Equipment Chairperson.

7. Rigging: All the Club boats and Club oars are rigged for a certain skill level and crew weight. Please refer to the inventory lists posted in the lower boathouse and the boat specifications noted on the boat’s rack and in the boat itself, so that you may use the boat that’s properly sized for you.

IMPORTANT: Under no circumstance should any equipment be used if it is broken, not in proper working condition (loose or missing parts), or if it is marked as "out of service". Willful use of such equipment will initially result in an official warning from the Equipment Chairperson. Repeated use of such equipment will result in an official warning or temporary suspension of your membership or termination of your membership by the Board of Directors.

B. BEFORE YOU ROW

1. Water conditions: Check the conditions of the water. The river is known to carry a great deal of debris and the current can be strong. This is especially true after it has rained and the river is high. Many shells have been damaged due to floating logs; so please exercise caution after a rain.

Conditions on the river can change very quickly. Watch for any change in the weather conditions. If in any doubt, do not launch. If you are already on the water, use any means to protect yourself from adverse weather conditions. DO NOT GO ON THE WATER IF CONDITIONS DO NOT PERMIT A SAFE ROW!

Use of Club equipment is restricted to the following conditions:
(We encourage owners of private equipment to abide by the same restrictions)

• Fog: Use of Club equipment is not permitted if you cannot see across the river.
• Wind: Exercise extreme caution during windy conditions. Do not launch if white caps form.
• Thunderstorms: Danger! Do not launch during any thunderstorm, nor if weather conditions are prone to thunderstorms. If weather is clearing, do not row until at least 20 minutes after hearing the last thunder.
• Darkness: Do not launch before daybreak or dock after dark. This rule, being an integral part of our ‘Use Permit’ from the Park Service, applies to all members, even if they row their own shell.
• Current: Please refer to the river conditions page: https://www.atlantarow.org/page/show/4982584-water-conditions

2. Sandbars: Do not row when the river is low. Most often, that occurs on Mondays. Sandbars have built up, and, while they are not visible when the river is normal, they are visible or are just below the surface when the water is low. Over time sandbars do move. If you have not rowed for a while, ask fellow rowers about the location of the sandbars and check out the map in the lower boathouse.

3. Availability: Check the reservation books to make sure that the boat you want to row has not been reserved by someone else.

4. Log-Out: Log-out before each row. Indicate in which direction you are rowing. Make sure that you log-in when you return.

5. Stretching: Proper stretching of the muscles should be a top priority before one enters a shell. Muscle injury can occur to the lower back, lats and legs when rowing if these muscles have not been properly stretched out.

6. Equipment check: Check all equipment for damage. Many rowers take out shells, only to find that they are damaged or unrowable after they are already on the water. Please report any damage to the Equipment Chairperson. Remember that the Equipment Chairperson cannot make repairs unless someone indicates that damage has occurred.

7. Behavior: Absolutely no roughhousing in the boathouses. Anyone running or playing in the boathouses shall be removed immediately. This is an area that has a lot of valuable equipment and people carrying equipment in and out should not be distracted. Anyone under 18 years old is not permitted in either boathouse without an adult present.

8. Carrying shells: Before carrying coxless boats out of the boathouses (especially singles), set up a pair of stretchers so that you will have a place to put the shell when finished rowing and to wipe it down before putting it back on the rack. The minimum number of people to carry any boat (except singles) is the number of seats in the boat. A coxswain or other oarsman should walk with the boat and give all necessary commands to pick up the boat, to carry it and to put it in the water. He/she shall also trigger the pedestrian light before crossing the road.

9. Getting In and Out of a Shell: Although carrying a shell is not very difficult, specific knowledge on  "how to" is needed. Without it, damage to the equipment and possible injury may occur. It is therefore, crucial to ask the Boat Captain, the Equipment Chairperson or a Level III rower to show you how to pick up a boat and carry it to the dock. Once the boat is in the water, please follow these instructions:

 

1. Inboard oar should be placed flat on the dock to prevent damage.
2. Outboard oar should be placed flat on the water, fully extended into the oarlock.
3. Inboard rigger should be off the dock, by leaning the shell slightly outboard.
4. Sculling - Place hands on the ends of the oars so that the handles are together. Hold both handles with your outboard hand, OR Sweep – Hold oars flat and set the boat.
5. CAREFULLY place outboard foot on the center kickplate. Take care not to step into the hull.
6. Place inboard foot on the dock, outside of the rigger. Place inboard hand on the inboard rigger.
7. Carefully place the inboard foot on the center kickplate and sit down. DO NOT STEP INTO THE HULL.
8. Place feet in shoes and tie in.
9. You are now ready to shove off with the inboard hand. Push off and row lightly and carefully clear the dock.

10. Launching: Since our docks are located in the downstream rowing channel, and since the growing sandbars and the low water level are making this channel very narrow, please launch with your shell pointing downstream. If you want to row upstream, row downstream first, then round the sandbar to row upstream on the other (south) side of the island.

C. ON THE WATER

1. Rowing: Row only in safe areas. Refer to the river map in the boathouse. Row only on the starboard side of the river; note that this ‘rowing channel’ winds like a snake down the river, avoiding the sandbars on either side: stay on the starboard side within that channel. Be aware of other users of the river, many of which do not know the idiosyncrasies of our sport (that we’re rowing backwards, for example) and follow very different traffic patterns.

If you are an inexperienced rower, an experienced rower or a coach should accompany you on the water.

Be sure to take drinking water with you to maintain a high fluid level. Sunscreens are a must from spring through fall.

While on the water, keep the noise level down so as not to disturb neighbors along the river. The National Park Service has noise level rules that must be respected.

Vandalism and theft have occurred in the past – so, IF YOU ARE THE LAST PERSON TO LEAVE THE DOCK, OR IF NO OTHER CLUB MEMBERS ARE IN THE AREA OF THE BOATHOUSE(S), MAKE SURE THAT THE BOATHOUSE DOORS AND CAGE GATES ARE CLOSED AND LOCKED. YOU MAY BE HELD RESPONSIBLE IF EQUIPMENT IS DAMAGED OR STOLEN.

2. Landing: Because it is very difficult and dangerous, never land on the dock with the current. Instead, approach the dock against the current. Since you will be rowing in the wrong, that is the downstream, rowing channel when you’re docking, use extreme caution and cross the river as close to the dock as possible.

D. OFF THE WATER

Shells should not be left unattended on the dock or left in the water for longer than 5 minutes. Boats should be kept in slings until the full crew arrives. Shells should not be left unattended while they are in slings. Shells have been thrown out of slings by the wind.

Each shell should be cleaned inside and out:

• The hull should be hosed down and thoroughly wiped dry with a clean towel
• The hull should be checked after each use for cracks, leaks and other damage. Report any damage to the Equipment Chairperson.
• Oar lock and oar buttons should be wiped clean of grease and dirt.
• Seats, wheels and tracks should also be wiped clean. Don’t use the same towel as for the hull.
• Oars should be wiped down and hung in their designated racks.
• All shells should be secured on the racks and not resting on riggers or on the splash box or touching another boat. Do not forget to return the slings to the boathouse(s) after you row, unless another rowing boat is still on the water (check the logbook).

Again – vandalism and theft have occurred in the past – so, IF YOU ARE THE LAST PERSON TO LEAVE THE DOCK, OR IF NO OTHER CLUB MEMBERS ARE IN THE AREA OF THE BOATHOUSE(S), MAKE SURE THAT THE BOATHOUSE DOORS AND CAGE GATES ARE CLOSED AND LOCKED. YOU MAY BE HELD RESPONSIBLE IF EQUIPMENT IS DAMAGED OR STOLEN.