• events & competitors
• spectators
• lunches & hospitality
• sponsors & supporters
• photo gallery
• history
• draw and results
• previous results
• contacts
• home

Competitors - Safety

On the Water Safety Instructions

Safety on the water

The river is not closed to other users for the regattas, and this reach carries heavy pleasure traffic in addition to the regatta.  Please read these instructions in conjunction with the map of the course showing the required circulation pattern.

Keep Right at all times when navigating and observe the following rules:-

Boating from the Landing Stages

1. Place boats in the water bows upstream, and proceed directly upstream,
2. Cross the course between races and cutting off the corner of the course, passing upstream of the first large buoy and between the small course markers.

Paddling to the start / warm-up

3. Stay close to the course marker buoys in the navigation channel
4. Do Not Stop or do practice starts in the navigation channel
5. Proceed to the marshalling area above Raven’s Ait and above the start for warming-up
6. Do any practice starts above Raven’s Ait

At the Finish

7. Continue through the finish as soon as you are able
8. If the area above the bridge is congested, then pass downstream through the bridge and turn below, returning upstream through the Middlesex (regatta enclosure) side arch and approach the landing stages as above.

Siren Codes

9. The following Siren Codes are used by the large passenger cruisers:
   These passenger cruisers will be plying from the Surrey bank in the narrow part of the navigation channel and must be given right of way

   Number of blasts	Means I am :-
   1 short	Turning to Starboard (my right)
   2 short	Turning to Port (my left)
   3 short	Going astern
   4 short	Unable to manoeuvre
   4 short + 1 long	Going about 180 degrees to Starboard
   4 short + 2 long	Going about 180 degrees to Port
   5 short	You are not taking action to avoid me

General Safety Information

10. A St John's ambulance will be situated at all times during the regatta on the Middlesex bank between Kingston Bridge and the boating rafts.  Paramedics/first aid assistants will be available.
11. The regatta's medical officer, who will be in attendance throughout the regatta, is Dr Gaynor Lewis, whose mobile is 07720 724237.
12. Safety boats.  There will be two safety boats in attendance throughout the regatta, situated at the start and the finish.
13. The nearest public phone box is on the far side of the roundabout on the Hampton Wick end of Kingston Bridge.  The telephone number of this phone box is 0208 943 2735.
14. The safety adviser for the regatta is Stephen Drury, whose mobile tel no. is 07768 634756.
15. In order to summon help at any time, please contact the nearest regatta official, who will have a radio link to regatta control and the safety launches.
16. In the event of a thunderstorm, whether on the water or in the enclosure area, please follow the directions of the safety adviser who will advise you as to how best to reach a place of safety.

Safety Studies

The regatta safety advisor has produced a Risk Assessment (PDF) and a Hazard Control Protocol (PDF).

Top of page