Coxing the Tideway Heads

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Coxing the Tideway Heads

• Rachel Quarrell
• Wednesday 4th March 2009

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Steering

• race steering is not the same as training
• find the fastest line
• steer from the tops of the banks
• big simple sweeps round the bends
• know the overtaking rules for your race

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The Theory
River profile - deepest point maximum stream
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Wheres the depth?
gt The fastest stream is not always in the
middle of the river
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Silting
Lack of dredging - stream slows down and
broadens
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Useful pointers - with stream

• Know where the fastest stream is generally
• Curve with the bends, dont cut them
• You dont need to steer much
• Steer from the tops of the banks, not mud
• Beware mid-stream obstacles

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Chiswick to Barnes Bridge

• Centre of Chiswick Bridge
• Approximately halfway between the banks
• Dont be drawn in towards Middlesex as you
  approach Barnes Bridge
• Angle slightly towards the Mdx pier of bridge as
  you shoot through it

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The view from Barnes - at low tide
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Looking back at Barnes Bridge - rowers view
Very low tide - note shallows on Surrey bank
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Barnes to Chiswick Eyot

• Up to moored boats, stay same distance off Mdx
  bank, past Bandstand
• Parallel to moored boats before Eyot
• approx. 1-2 widths away from them
• As the corner turns, start looking at your BS for
  the guide
• Parallel to Eyot - midway or slightly to SS

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Eyot to Hammersmith

• At end of Eyot, look at Surrey bank BS
• Stay this distance away from it (ignore Mdx
  bank), round to St. Pauls School
• Continue at same distance
• stay parallel to BS bank
• Brings you under second lamppost or v slightly
  to SS of it

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Hammersmith to Barn Elms

• By now youre 1/3 off Surrey bank - no closer
• Keep this distance away from BS bank
• Harrods Depository wall bad water?
• Stay parallel to Surrey bank right to Barn Elms
• By Barn Elms, 1/4 off Surrey bank
• avoids Fulham Flats

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Barn Elms to Putney Pier

• At apex of Barn Elms bend, look to Black Buoy
• (actually half-black, half-yellow)
• Let yourself re-aim to pass it just on its SS
• 1-2 widths off Buoy (pref. 1)
• Stay parallel to moorings until LRC big flagpole
• Then head for centre of Putney Bridge

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After the race

• Obey marshals straight away
• No turning between Putney and Wandsworth Bridges
• Turn before tucking in to stop and do
  kit/water/etc
• You may be called in to have safety checks at
  Chas Newens landing point

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Organise now
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Racing tactics

• motivation/coaching/steering/pushes
• not talking all the time
• getting round other crews
• planning for problems

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Steering

• - during training is different, and much busier
• No following the racing line in training
• Stick to the bow side of the fairway while in
  the middle of the river ie with the stream
• Whats the fairway?

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Steering in training

• Know which way tides going
• Working the slacks
• Crossing points
• Starboard rule in main stream
• Tide turn warnings
• Observe landing and crossing rules

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Useful pointers - against stream

• Point bows slightly to bank in strong stream
• Stick near the riverbanks
• .. but beware mudflats/gravel islets
• Know where to cross
• .. and give way to other crews while xing

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Planning

• weather?
• kit and equipment
• meeting times and locations (parking?)
• READ THE ing RULES (!) incl. marshalling
• start order
• race plan and visualise
• warm-up plan

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Marshalling

• Which station? (bank)
• Near which point?
• Which crews around you?
• What time must you be there?
• gt what time to boat?

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Stuff - useful and necessary

• Tools (i - rigging and ii - in the boat)
• Kit (warm, many layers, wellies)
• Race numbers (on boat and on crew)
• Accurate watch (set to speaking clock)
• Lifejacket, coxbox, mic, headband?
• hat/cap, shades, gloves?
• marshalling map?
• sponge?
• Two black bin-bags and a kind friend

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Boat Stuff - mostly vital

• ARA ID numbers
• Race numbers
• Hatch covers
• Heel restraints
• Bow ball
• Anything else required by race organisers
• check centre joint, fin, rudder, riggers, speaker
  cables and joints

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Timetable

• Get numbers
• Meet up
• Rig and check boat
• Crew chat
• Down to boating area
• Push off and warm up
• In place by correct time

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Warm-up

• Fours
• Short slide work/timing synchronisation
• Steady rowing
• High pressure/rate
• Sitting about....
• Make use of gaps and clear stretches

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Sitting about

• Stay warm (all the time)
• Respond to marshals
• Stay clear of other crews
• Bows slightly to the bank
• Not stopped close upstream of obstacles
• Vary who rows on
• Remember you can back down to get clear
• Clever manoeuvres
• Amusing jokes?
• Check the boat
• Keep an eye on the time

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Turning

• Dont stay too close to the bank - let yourself
  come into mid-stream
• Turn when asked, and turn efficiently
• Stay with adjacent numbers
• Minimal backing-down gets you centre stream
• Think about positioning once turned
• Kit off before you turn (or during)
• Psych crew up to be ready straight away

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Racing

• Know where you are
• Know when you are
• Remember the race plan
• Give rowers time to think
• Use other crews just enough
• Consider overtaking and conditions
• Racing line

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Mental approach

• Stay calm
• Motivate both crew and individuals
• Always sound positive and focused and keen to do
  well
• Track what the rowers need to remember -
  technique, race plan, tactics, waypoints
• And always make steering a priority

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After the race

• Wind down safely and listen to marshals
• Kit on after turning out of the way
• Safety checks?
• Stick to return lanes as you go back
• Stay positive but dont talk too much!
• Cross safely if necessary - check marshals are
  happy first

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Useful links

• Safety
• WeHORR - http//www.wehorr.org/safety-plan.html
• HORR - http//www.horr.co.uk/CoxNote.htm
• TRRC - http//safety.thames-rrc.org/tideway/hor-ad
  vice.html
• Maps
• WeHORR - http//www.wehorr.org/course-map.html
• and http//www.wehorr.org/marshall-map.html
• HORR - http//www.horr.co.uk/CourMap.htm
• and http//www.horr.co.uk/Marshal.htm
• VHORR - http//www.vrc.org.uk/vets_head/2006/Docum
  ents/Marshaling20map.TIF
• Rules
• WeHORR - http//www.wehorr.org/instruct-cox.html
• HORR - http//www.horr.co.uk/Rules.htm
• VHORR - http//www.vrc.org.uk/vets_head/

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Any Questions

• ?

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