Safety Regulations

  1. That each College Boat Club and each Women's and Men's Captain be required to have a copy of this Handbook for general reference. Further copies are available from the Hon. Secretary of the CUCBC. Any Club not in possession of three copies of this Handbook, a BR RowSafe Booklet/poster and displaying a Ten Golden Rules Poster renders itself liable to a fine.
  2. That all coxes must wear a lifejacket or buoyancy aid, as approved by British Rowing, which is to be worn over the top of all other garments.
  3. That each College Boat Club appoint a Safety Officer and that his or her name be notified to the Secretary of the CUCBC and the CUCBC Safety Advisor at the start of each academical year.
  4. That each Club's Safety Officer must submit a written statement to the CUCBC at the start of each academical year confirming the following information:
    1. The appropriate third party insurance cover is in place for the Club. NB. It should be noted NO crew or individual from the Club will be allowed to boat when they return for the start of the Michaelmas Term until and unless confirmation that a valid insurance policy is in place has been received.
    2. Contact information for the Club's Safety Officer and Senior Treasurer.
    3. That the Club has a detailed list of the boats it operates, and that each boat conforms to current BR regulations in respect of bow balls, footplates, heel-restraints, registration and buoyancy. [NB. All boats purchased since 30 April 2003 must have inbuilt buoyancy, as defined by British Rowing. Any boats that do not have inbuilt buoyancy must have it added unless they will NOT be used off Cam, in which case it is advised. Clubs should consult the CUCBC Safety Adviser for guidance on this matter.]
    4. That each rower in the Club has signed an individual statement clearly specifying their ability to swim a minimum of 50m.
    5. That the Club has a recording system in place for the number of outings undertaken by each crew to ensure that all crews meet the CUCBC twelve outing requirement (Regulations for Racing, Rule 18.a).
    6. That the Club has copies of Ten Golden Rules Poster on display in its Boathouse and that the Coaching Principles document has been distributed to all coaches.
    1. That any Club that has failed to submit the written statement referred to above by the end of Week 4 of the Michaelmas Term will be banned from using the river until the CUCBC Safety Adviser has confirmed receipt of the statement from the club concerned.
    2. That any club that has failed to complete and return the BR Annual Safety Audit by the due date will be banned from all CUCBC events (including the Lent and May Bumping Races) until confirmation has been received from BR that the audit has been completed and submitted.
  6. That every boat display its BR alphanumeric registration code on both sides of the boat, as defined in the following BR rule: The Boat ID must be a three letter code, together with a three digit fleet number (including zeros) as determined by the club. (e.g. CUB802). Lettering shall be in capitals, in a regular sans serif (Arial-style) font, with a minimum height 6cm and clearly readable (in a contrasting colour) on both port and starboard bow saxboard or vertical surface. Failure to do this may result in the disqualification of the boat from racing, at the discretion of the Chief Umpire.
  7. That all boats (except tub pairs for coaching purposes) be obliged to carry, securely affixed to the bows, a solid ball of rubber or material of similar consistency with diameter of not less than four centimetres. This protection may be afforded by a specially shaped bow of suitable material.
    1. That the definition of a restricted boat be as in the BR handbook.
    2. That a clinker-built boat be defined as one with not fewer than five strakes a side, none of which shall exceed four and a half inches (outside measurement).
  9. That all College Boat Clubs must have a valid insurance policy to cover bodily injury to third parties and their craft to the level currently recommended by the Environment Agency; all club craft must also be registered as required by the River Cam Conservancy.