Cold Water Policy

Club equipment
will only be used as described below when cold water rowing conditions exist,
defined as water temperature below 55 degrees Fahrenheit.  Remember that PFD’s are always to be worn by
all rowers, make sure to log in and out and an advanced bow certified rower
must always be in a blind boat.  It is
every rower’s responsibility to know the water temperature.  There is a thermometer at the end of the
dock.

Below 45 degrees

When the water
temperature is below 45 degrees, all club-owned boats must be accompanied by a
launch and must remain within 500 meters of that launch. The rowing course is
restricted to a loop between the 5 and 6 buoys.

The “4 oar” rule
is in effect: 4 oars on the water; double is the smallest boat and no pairs. Novices
must not row in any boat smaller than 4 seats and compose no more than half of
any boat. The boats must be signed out in the RMRC log book, listing the name
of the launch driver who is accompanying those boats.

46-55 degrees

When the water temperature
is between 46 and 55 degrees, club-owned boats must stay in groups of two or
more, and must remain within 250 meters of all other boats in their group. The
boats must be signed out in the club log book, listing all other boats in the
group.
Owners of private equipment are strongly encouraged to follow the above
guidelines, and are expected to make responsible and mature decisions in an
effort to promote safe and responsible rowing for all club members.

Cold Shock

In humans, cold shock response is perhaps the most common cause of
death from immersion in very cold water, such as by falling through thin ice.
Shock from sudden immersion in cold water can in extreme cases lead to cardiac
arrest. Shock also usually results in uncontrolled rapid breathing - hyperventilation -
which can lead to loss of co-ordination of limbs, posing a risk of drowning due
to impaired swimming ability. It must be emphasised that cold shock is a
physiological response and is not under any form of conscious control.

These guidelines
establish a minimum safety standard. All rowers are encouraged to use extreme
caution in any conditions that pose a risk of hypothermia.

Low-Light Policy

All boats rowing after sunset or before sunrise are required to display a white light that is visible from a distance of at least two miles.

In addition, all club-owned boats which are rowing more than thirty minutes before sunrise or more than thirty minutes after sunset must be accompanied by a launch unless specifically exempted by the Safety Administrator. Sunset and sunrise times can be obtained from the following web site: http://www.sunrisesunset.com/

The boats must be signed out in the RMRC log book, listing the name of the launch driver who is accompanying those boats.

Owners of private equipment are strongly encouraged to follow the above guidelines, and are expected to make responsible and mature decisions in an effort to promote safe and responsible rowing for all club members.

These guidelines establish a minimum safety standard. All rowers are encouraged to use extreme caution in low-light conditions, including those that exist due to weather conditions.