SCCBC Captains' Manual

Flags (River Conditions)

Reviewed: 03JUN24

Funding

Reviewed: 11JUN24

There are various sources of funds:

Heel Restraints

Reviewed 22SEP24

• All boats must be fitted with heel-restraints, ie the heels of the shoes have to be tied down so that it is possible to release the feet from the shoes in the event of capsize without using your hands.
• Heel restraints are routinely checked by officials before racing
• The normally test is to tug the shoes fairly sharply to ensure that the restraint holds, and to check that the sole of the shoe does not rise above the horizontal relative to the point where it is connected to the stretcher. The actual BR requirement is that the heel does not rise more than 7cm from the footplate (ie measured at rightangles to the footplate)

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Insurance

Reviewed 03DEC24

• Insurance of Boat Club equipment is handled by the Bursar, and usually includes transport by road within the UK but (probably) excludes use by other clubs
• Remember to let them know if new equipment is bought so it can be added to the policy
• The Bursar used to expect to receive an annual inventory of equipment, usually at the start of the summer long vacation. It would be good for this to be produced anyway, and made jointly by the outgoing and incoming Captains.

Links

Isis Winter League

Reviewed: 08DEC24

• Introduced in 2003, a series of OURCs-organised timed head races held throughout Michaelmas and Hilary Terms, usually on a Sunday afternoon, with the aim of providing racing opportunities for College and local club crews without the time and expense of travelling, also an opportunity for OURCs to train up marshals.
• The 'League' aspect, i.e. where cumulative results are taken into consideration, only begain in MT 2009.
• The basic course is from Donnington Bridge to the Bumps Finish (about 1200m)
• Typically expect about 2 or 3 events per term, river conditions permitting, for boats of any category (although predominantly VIIIs). Doubling up is also allowed.
• 2024/2025 entry fee was £20 for an VIII.

Links

Keys

Reviewed: 17FEB25

Lights

Reviewed: 21FEB25

• Lights must be white, fitted to the stern and bow, visible from the side as well as the front.
• Lights must always be used in 'twilight hours', i.e. the hour before sunrise and the hour after sunset, as well as in limited visibility.
• Lights are often required for the last couple of divisions of the IWL and Torpids, so make sure that you have enough sets ready (so, two sets if crews are racing in adjacent divisions).
• NB no one may row if visibility less than 100m, earlier than one hour before sunrise, or later than one hour after sunset, even with lights.

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Mailling Lists

Reviewed: 11MAY25

Marshals & Umpires

Reviewed 15MAY25

• OURCs relies on Colleges to supply marshals for all events and, for bumping races, umpires as well.
• OURCs will distribute timetables before each event saying when each college is required to supply marshals and umpires
• Marshals are generally responsible for the conduct of crews on the water before/after racing, which means that they generally stand in one place and have a radio
• Umpires generally cycle alongside crews during bumps racing to observe what is happening during racing and report to the Race Desk between divisions. An exception is the Saturday of Eights when the towpath is too busy to cycle, in which case umpires are stationed at various locations along the bank with individual colleges required to maintain an umpire at a particular location throughout the day.

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Membership

Reviewed 09AUG25

Michalmas Novice Regatta, or Tamesis Regatta

Reviewed: 11AUG25

• The main rowing event in Michaelmas Term, for novice eights, usually held Wed-Sat of 7th week
• Also includes a "repechage" system so that (most) first round losers get to race again
• Used to be run by Christ Church Boat Club (as "Christ Church Regatta") but, since 2022, run by Linacre.
• Entry fees (2022) £70 per crew, but with discounts for colleges who provide marshals.

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Nephthys Regatta

Reviewed 08NOV25

• Nephthys Regatta was an even held at the end of 6th week of Michaelmas Term organised by the University Lightweight crews as a fund-raiser.
• It had events for a range of categories although the novice VIIIs was by far the most popular.
• It was discontinued in 2023 after the merger of the Lightweights into OUBC.

OURCs

Reviewed 12NOV25

Outing Times

Reviewed: 30SEP20

• No rowing is allowed at the following times
  • Earlier than 1 hour before sunrise or later than 1 hour after sunset (2.7.o) ('Opening' and 'Closing times, 2.1.a.) — safety grounds
  • Between 8.30am and 1.00pm on weekdays during 1st–8th week of each term (2.7.o), graduate colleges and single scullers exempt — Proctors' Ruling
  • On the Isis on Sundays between 8am–1pm (2.9.a), or after 7pm on Wednesdays (2.9.a) — out of courtesy to local clubs
  • The Isis is generally also closed on the Saturday morning if a regatta is scheduled for the afternoon (out of courtesy to other river users)
• The following restrictions also apply on the Isis during 'Peak Term' defined (2.1.b) as from Thursday of 0th week to the end of Ch.Ch.Regatta/Torpids/Eights — to prevent congestion
  • Weekdays before 8.00am: only one crew from each college (2.9.b.i), increases to 2 crews in Trinity Term
  • Sunday mornings (before 8am) two crews max, Sunday afternoons (1-7pm), only one crew from each college (2.9.b.ii), single sculls excepted (although taking out a single scull on a crowded river is probably not such a good idea)
  • 'Extra slots' can be applied for (2.9.b.iii)
  • Weekdays 5.00pm-7.00pm in Trinity Term, basically just 1st VIIIs. (2.9.vb.iv)
• A separate set of restrictions applies to the Godstow stretch (2.10)

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Racing

Reviewed: 02OCT20

Rowing On

Reviewed: 03OCT20

The Rowing Society

Reviewed: 04OCT20

The Rowing Society Committee

Reviewed: 05OCT20

• The Rowing Society Committee meets termly, usually on the Sunday at the start of 2nd Week, at 11am in one of the meeting rooms above the lodge.
• Apart from half a dozen or so alumni members of the Rowing Society, the current Boat Club President and Captains are automatically on the RS Committee by virtue of their office, as are former Captains still in residence if they wish to attend. You may also invite other members of the Boat Club Committee if you feel that their input would be useful.
• An agenda is distributed by the RS Secretary a few days beforehand and minutes are circulated afterwards.
• Two standard agenda items to which captains are expected to contribute are
  • Captains' Reports - a brief, verbal, and preferably honest, assessment of the current situation and prospects for the term
  • Funding Requests - a detailed costing of money that is requested from the Rowing Society for the term and/or year (don't feel too nervous about always asking for money, it's the RS committee's job to provide it for you).

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Safety Audit

Reviewed: 06OCT20

Sculling

Reviewed 07OCT20

• In order to scull, you must complete an OURCs 'capsize drill' - usually run a couple of times a term.
• We have two singles (Janousek, "One of the Fiercer Animals", and a light blue, unnamed Win Tech boat) plus a double (Janousek, "Tiddley Pom"). (The Janousek single "Time for a Little Something" is privately owned by A Dudhia and not for club use!).
• We have 4 pairs of cleaver blades, two with normal Catz colours and either one or two double yellow stripes, a pair of zebra-striped sculls (originally for use with the unnamed single) and a pair of dark blue cleaver sculls. (Again, the cleaver sculls in Catz colours without yellow tape are also owned by A Dudhia and not for club use).
• You are advised that until you are well-practiced in sculling, you take a bankrider who can also help you take the boat out. Only go out under green flag conditions and when the water is reasonably warm until you are much more confident on the water.
• You may take out single sculls under any daylight hour, except for the Wednesday 7pm and Sunday am closures. The double does not count as a single scull, and therefore not only counts towards your morning boat limits, but also is not permitted during Trinity term's 5-7pm 1st boat restriction. If you are new, *don't* go out between 5-7pm, nor go through the Gut at a busy time, in case you get in the way. Be advised that any ex-members of Catz using Catz equipment must adhere to the Sunday and Wednesday restrictions.
• Racking: single sculls should be placed on the racks so that
  • The bows rest in the V-shaped former on one cross-beam of the racks
  • The shoulders nearest the stern (where the diagonal rigger-stays attach to the hull) rest on the other cross-beam
  (The scull should never rest on the centre of the bow or stern canvas)
• Sculling oars should be racked tips-downwards (to preserver the rubber grips on the handles).

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Swimming

Reviewed: 08OCT20

• Before getting into a boat for the first time all rowers and coxes are expected to sign a declaration that they believe that they can fulfill the requirements of the OURCs swim test, ie
  • Swim 50m in light clothing, and
  • Tread water for at least two minutes, and
  • Swim under water (ie fully submerged) for at least 5 m
• All rowers and coxes must pass an OURCs swim test before their 6th outing
• Anyone failing a swim test is not allowed out in a boat (even if they have not yet completed 6 outings) until they have passed their test
• The swim test is valid for 6 years.
• There are usually 2 or 3 main OURCs swim tests a term, held at the Iffley Rd Sports Centre.
• The cost for the main test is £2.00, but £10 for a extraordinary test.
• You can check whether rowers or coxes have previously passed a swim test by going into your club's page on the entries system and selecting 'rower list' or 'coxes lists' - you'll then see a list of all the rowers/coxes registered at your college. Next to this is a column headed Swim Test. If the light is red, your rower has not done a swim test, or has not had it recorded. In both cases, a swim test needs to be completed. If it is green, the rower/cox has been tested and passed.

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Tank Sessions

Reviewed: 09OCT20

• The Rowing Tank is at the Iffley Rd Sports Complex, access via the main entrance (although you can also walk around the running track)
• The tank can be booked by colleges for £30 per hour.

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Committee Job Descriptions

Captain of Boats

• The Men's and Women's Captains shall:
  1. Organise rowing outings for all crews, including coaching.
  2. Organise selection processes for race crews.
  3. Appoint a captain for each crew at the earliest opportunity.
  4. Find a successor for the post, should he opt to stand for only one term.
  5. Perform the duties of any unfilled post within the Executive.
  6. Appoint a Captain of Training if deemed necessary.
  7. Attend the OURCs meetings, Captains meetings and Rowing Society meetings.
• The Men's and Women's Captains hold separate posts.
• The Men's and Women's Captains may delegate any of these duties to the Captains of individual crews, but he or she is responsible for ensuring they are performed.

As Captain, you will be expected to lead the teams by example. You cannot ask people to do things that you yourself won't do! You need to be organised, committed, able to motivate people and communicate clearly. Good People skills are a must, as well as a huge amount of patience and time management is essential. The weakhearted need not apply!

Captain of Boats is a very important role in the club. You are the mouthpiece of the men's club to the Rowing Society and the College, having to pass and justify spending a large proportion of the JCR budget on sitting down and going up and down a river at silly o'clock in the morning. You are at the head of the sharp end of the boat club, it is your job to make sure the committee is working properly, and to step in and do anything which is not being done. There is a lot of liasing with all members of the committee, and the coach, and ultimately, in terms of the day to day running of the boat club, the buck stops with you. You need to be able to deal with real responsibility, as there are a large number of people who have put a huge amount of time and effort into rowing. Letting them down is not really an option.

• The Chairman shall:
  1. Represent the Club in dealings with persons or bodies outside the Club.
  2. Chair meetings of the Club when present
  3. Endeavour to ensure that the Club functions harmoniously and function as arbitrator in all disputes within the club, unless he is a party to the dispute, in which case the Men's and Women's Captains take up his role as arbitrator.
• The Chairman holds a separate post.
• The Chairman may delegate any of these duties except for iii, but is responsible for ensuring that they are performed.

President

• The Men's and Women's Presidents:
  1. Advise and assist the Captains.
  2. Represent the Club in dealings with persons or bodies outside the Club.
  3. Negotiate coaching for the club.
• The Men's and Women's Presidents hold separate posts
• The Men's and Women's Presidents are not elected, but are comprised of the previous' year's Captains. Their term of office starts when new captains take over responsibility . Their role is mainly advisory and representative, not executive.

Vice Captain

• The Men's and Women's Vice-Captains [now including safety and equipment officer]
  1. assist their superior Captains in whichever way the superior Captains seem fit.
  2. act in place of the Captain in case he/she should be unavailable.
  3. be responsible for safety and equipment, in particular:
     1. Undertake an annual inventory check of equipment,
     2. Be responsible for on-going upkeep of equipment
     3. Collect details of any allergies or relevant illnesses from boat club members and pass these on to the men's and women's captains as necessary.
• The Men's and Women's Vice Captains may divide or delegate the duties listed in iii) among themselves or members of the club, but they are responsible for ensuring that they are performed.

• The Treasurer shall:
  1. Record correctly the financial transactions of the Club in such a manner as to be acceptable to St Catherine's College auditors.
  2. Draw up a termly budget
  3. Be in a position to present a statement, if required in advance, of the Club's financial position at any general meeting
  4. Advise the Executive and the Club on financial matters.
  5. Be responsible for booking tank sessions at the Iffley Road Sports Centre
• The Treasurer holds a separate post.
• The Treasurer may delegate the duties above, but he is responsible for ensuring that they are performed.

The treasurers duties are to keep an eye on the spendings and earnings of the boat club. He must draw up a termly budget, liaise with the dean and do odd jobs involving money like booking tank sessions in Iffley Road.

As treasurer, you are the oil that keeps the machine of the club running smoothly. You are the glue which holds the club together. Ideally, a treasurer's job will not be noticed. He mostly works behind the scenes, balances accounts, makes sure that tanks are available, bills are paid. If you enjoy being the invisible hand which enables the club to function, rather than being the frontline on presitgeous jobs, this could be for you.

You will either have the skill to think ahead and be organised or you will in due course acquire it. You need to work together closely with the Captains. It can be deeply satisfying to know that you made a positive impact on the running of the club. You also get a say in all committee affairs and get to improve your CV substantially. It is definitely worth it.

• The Secretary shall:
  1. Advertise and minute all general meetings of the Club, and ascertain whether such meetings are quorate.
  2. Act as a returning officer at elections.
  3. Maintain an up-to-date list of addresses and telephone numbers of all full, associate and life members where possible.
  4. Perform such secretarial tasks as mandated to perform by the Executive, such as the ordering of photographs or kit.
  5. Ensure that all members of the club complete their BR forms
• The Secretary may delegate the duties above, but he is responsible for ensuring that they are performed.

• The Captain of Training shall:
  1. Organise land training for all crews and training squads and draw up training schedules.
  2. Liaise with the club's coach(es) when designing training schedules.
  3. Find a successor for the post, should he opt to stand for only one term.
• The Captain of Lower Boats works in association with the Men's and Women's Captains and the Captain of Lower Boats.
• The Captain of Training may delegate any of these duties to the Captains of individual crews, but he is responsible for ensuring they are performed.

The Captain of Training has to organise all land training for members of the boat club. This includes scheduling gym sessions, ergs, tanks, and circuits, booking the relevant time slots for the last three. You have to attend all training sessions and record results where necessary. It helps to have an understanding of fitness and nutrition issues, and Microsoft Excel.

• The Captain of Coxes shall:
  1. Coordinate training for coxes
  2. Supervise novice coxes
  3. Supply coxes for outings in agreement with the Captains and the Coach(es)
  4. Be responsible for recruiting new coxes.
  5. Be responsible for coxbox maintenance.

The Captain of Coxes main responsibilities are recruiting, training and organisation.

Coxing is not usually seen as a glamorous role but we're the only person in the boat who can do our job, and we have to do it well. In this light, Captains will need to actively try to persuade anyone small in college to have a go at coxing as we always need a surplus of coxes.

Once they've been collared, impart as much coxing information as you know to them over the year. Basic training involves making sure they're safe on the river and can do basic manoeuvres. The majority they will learn in the boat and from the coach. Come race time, motivational training is very important to push the racing crews.

The organisation aspect simply involves getting coxes to tank, training and water sessions. It is the their duty to make sure every boat that hits the water has a safe cox to control it.

It's not a big and very active role in the committee, but is important nevertheless.

• The Captain of Lower Boats shall:
  1. Organise rowing outings for all novice crews, including coxing and coaching.
  2. Appoint a captain for each novice crew at the earliest opportunity
  3. Stand for Michaelmas Term only. If necessary and voluntary, the Captain of Lower Boats can advise and assist the Captains in Hilary and Trinity term.
• The Captain of Lower Boats works in association with the Men's and Women's Captains and the Captain of Training.
• The Captain of Lower Boats may delegate any of these duties to the Captains of individual crews, but he is responsible for ensuring they are performed.

• The Social Secretary shall:
  1. Organise at least one social event per term, including end of term dinners
  2. Work with the Captains to organise freshers' events

Men's Social Secretary is in charge of organising all social events for the Boat Club Men's Teams, (unless boats lower than the first eight delegate their own secretary). He (or she) is to make arrangements with other college's social secretaries to arrange crew dates, with the intention of building team spirit and having a more enjoyable social side to being a rower.

In the process of arranging original and interesting crew dates, bookings and events must be organised, which will require notifying the boat club of any arrangements via email and ensuring payments are carried out. Crew dates typically occur from informal conversations with other crews and through the Captain. It is a fun position with a great scope for promoting team spirit.