Safety

To ensure the safety of all who attend the Ashburton Rowing Club we have endevoured to:

• Identify all hazards, both off and on the water, and the chance of it occurring
• Mitigate those risks
• Establish procedures should an accident occur

The best method to minimise risk is to avoid accidents completely.

Hazards — Off water

Identified as Fire, Collision, Slipping, Cuts, Lifting, Traffic

Fire

• Exits —The building has at least 4 exits. Access to those exits must be always kept clear
• Fire alarm — If you hear the fire alarm, leave the building and assemble outside. The assembly point will be the tree on the edge of the concrete slab.
• No smoking — In or outside the building
• No refuelling — Of coaching boats inside the building
• Fuel containers — to be stored in the fuel cabinet

Collision

Most of the boats are stored fully rigged so there are many riggers and obstacles to walk into.

• No running in the clubhouse
• Keep the floor clear of junk
• Before unracking a boat observe which rack it is on and which way it is pointing
• Stop talking when carrying boats in and out of the clubhouse

Slipping

• Wet concrete is slippery
• No running inside or outside the clubhouse
• Make sure you have enough people to carry boats in if the concrete is wet

Cuts

It is a good idea to wear footwear when launching and retrieving boat. Other people use the area outside the club when we are not there. Look for glass and needles in the launching area. A First Aid Kit is located in the gym area.

Lifting

Some boats are heavy, particularly big boats. Make sure you have enough people to lift and ask for help if necessary. Stop talking and turn boats over in an orderly manner.

Traffic

The roads around Lake Hood are treated as public roads. Obey speed signs and be careful moving on and off the road. In case of accident causing injury call the police.

Hazards — On water

Identified as Launching, Collision, Capsize, Hypothermia

Clubhouse preparation

Rowing a boat is harder than rowing an erg. Use the ergometers to help improve technique before going on the water.

As lake users we must comply with the Lake Hood Lake user guidelines [PDF] — Powerboats may be on the water after 7:30am and traffic is to be anti-clockwise.

We have a Lake Hood Traffic Plan Map on the wall of the clubhouse which shows:

• anti-clockwise flow of rowing boats
• boats to stay off the rowing course on the way to the start
• boats to stay out of lane 1 when training
• rowers to be aware of their position on the lake at all times
• rowers to be aware of other boats

As stated in Rowing New Zealand Rowing Water Safety Code 2016 [PDF]

• All learners shall be in supported craft under the supervision of a coaching boat
• All rowing boats shall carry flotation belts for all rowers
• All coxswains shall wear a PFD
• All boats shall comply with safety rules ie. Heel tie downs in place, bow balls fitted, and boats to be buoyant when swamped​​​​​​​

Emergency Procedures

Supported rowing

All learners will be under the supervision of a coaching boat. In case of a collision or capsize stay with the boat and await the arrival of the coach boat. The coach will then assist by assisting the rowers into the coach boat if the water is cold, help right the row boat and assist the rowers back into the boat, or instruct the rowers to swim the boat the shore where it can be righted and relaunched .

Boat inspection

Before launching the row boats need to be checked. The coach will help you identify the boat parts, lift and turn big and small boats and check fittings inside the boat. The coach will show you where you can step in a boat and how to release your feet in case of capsize.

Launching

All boats to launch in direction of start.

Boats are heavy. You will be instructed how to lift together, turn together, lower together.

Collision

• Be aware of your position on the lake at all times
• Be aware of other boat
• Keep off the rowing course on the way to the start
• Leave lane 1 empty when training
• Use lights at night
• Call out in case of danger

Capsize

Capsize can occur, with or without collision, particularly in small boats.

We can make this less of a problem by checking the following:

• the shoes are tied down as per rules so you can get out of them
• you can swim 50m in rowing clothing
• you practise capsize drill in warm water

All learner rowers will be in supported boats under supervision of a coach boat. In case of capsize they will be assisted by the coach boat; to  enter the coach boat if the water is cold, to re-enter the rowboat after righting it or swimming the rowboat to shore to recover it.

Experience rowers may be unsupported in which case their options are re-entering the row boat or swimming it to shore.

Hypothermia

Rowing is a year long sport for some rowers on Lake Hood. The water can get very cold in winter. Wear appropriate clothing for the season. Wet cotton is a terrible insulator. In the cold months consider synthetic or merino tops and tights and hats.

Be aware of the forecast and look around before launching. If bad weather arrives cancel training and head directly back to clubhouse. You can always finish your session on the rowing ergs.

Help everyone off the water. Make sure you know every one is safely back at clubhouse.

Skills for racing

It is difficult to control a rowing boat during a race, particularly in bad weather.

The following skills are the minimum you need to enter a race.

• Unrack and rack a boat. Check the boat and oars are ready before use
• Launch and retrieve a boat
• Start, stop, turn and back a boat
• Complete a lap of lake with a held start and floating start. A coach boat can help with a held start
• Race a boat 1000m during training

Culture

• The Club has a Code of Conduct Policy in place
• The Club has a Training Safety Plan in place
• The Club has a Complaint and Dispute Resolution Policy in place
• The Club complies with the safety rules laid down by Rowing New Zealand and Lake Hood