News & Events
Captain's Log: Issue 10
4th December 2021
Good Afternoon Cygnets, this is your Captain speaking,
Several important messages below - I know it's long, but please read to the end.
Some of you are beginning to drift away for Christmas – safe travels to those of you travelling - we are approaching end of term and the final weeks of training in 2021.
Please do keep up the training on land and on the water as much as you can between mince pies and around you Christmas parties. With Omicron on the rise, keep it sensible and stay honest with precautions – masks and LFTs encouraged.
The SGM last weekend approved the purchase of a new launch and changes to Subs for the new year: more details on both to follow. And the exciting arrival of new Shed Equipment, just around the corner. Good news on all fronts!
Training Sessions
We’ve got a couple more weekends of training before Christmas and New Year will interrupt our outing plans.A big plea from me to get signed up and if you are signed up to take responsibility to show up and to do so on time, so your crewmates aren’t left high, dry and cold waiting on the hard. We’ve let our good habits slip in recent weeks – let’s get back to best practice please: Once crews are set make every best effort to attend and on the day, get to the club early, so you’re ready to row on time. From the new year there will be zero tolerance for no shows and late arrivals.
In the depths of winter – conditions and weather won’t always play in our favour. Rest assured the Coach and Captain both keep a very good eye on the forecast – we will update you if plans change, please bear with us and if you know the weather is bad, keep a good eye out for comms about outing changes. If we end up not going on the water, you are still expected to attend a training session you are signed up for on land. If you hear nothing, assuming we are proceeding as planned (be prepared with back-up land training kit if it looks borderline).
Christmas Eve Row: Seniors and Vets joint outing
For those of you not escaping London, we thought a joint Vets/Senior outing would be a great way to spend Christmas Eve. Please sign up on FitClub (*or in the usual way if a Vet). Please do sign up if you fancy a row, followed by some festive cheer in the Boathouse afterwards. OTW 1000.Racing
We are now shifting our focus to Eights Racing with racing planned for Quintin Head (29 Jan), Hammersmith Head (27 Feb), HoRR (26 March). Please look ahead and update your availability for those races (especially Quintin) so we can start lining up entries.Navigation
On the water:
· Barnes Bridge: Many of you will have noticed the inside arch of Barnes Bridge is now open again, which is good news and less carnage. Please continue to proceed with caution and avoid the underwater works and debris, which isn’t particularly visible and easy to spot at some states of the tide.
· Shoals: Shoals are on the move again and getting worse in places (especially the usual places), so as ever keep a good look out and at the lower end of tides, please be cautious. Any incidents or damage to be reportedOff the water:
With serious work on the footbridge about to start, the footpath has now been diverted around the back of the boathouses and temporary access to the bridge. Allow a bit more time and take care on the unlit road in the dark.FINAL FINAL CALL: BBL Christmas Party and Cygnet Waddle – Sat 11th Dec. Final details to follow from Megan, next weekend we will be all decked out in our Black Tie garb for the Christmas Party in Chiswick, preceded by the Cygnet Waddle. If you haven’t signed up yet – this is your final, last call.
THE USUAL QUICK REMINDERS:
· BOAT LOG: Please ensure all outings are logged in the boat log – good to see it in good use, please keep it updated with club boat usage.
· LIGHTS: In poor light / dark mornings, please make sure you're using the correct lights and high-vis clothing.
· WINTERY (TIDEWAY) CONDITIONS: The weather and water is getting colder and wetter, and it's a particularly risky time of year for hypothermia: make sure you are well layered up and have spare clothing after outings. Stay dry, stay warm.
· OUTING CANCELLATIONS: On occasion the weather or river conditions may mean we can't go afloat or a land session is required: If the forecast is poor, come prepared for both but wait for the call from Coach or Captain before assuming the outing is not going ahead.
· LAND TRAINING: Great to see the shed in good use and the approval of the new equipment means this will soon be getting a makeover. Please make sure you're signed up to sessions and if you're signed up, show up.
· BOAT CARE & MAINTENANCE: Please make sure boats are properly washed, left in good condition and any defects or damage appropriately reported. Our fleet is precious and must be looked after properly. More to follow on this one.
Dates for your diary:
- 11th December - Christmas Party
- 17th December - Veterans Christmas Lunch. Contact Lawrence McVeigh
- 24th December - Christmas Eve Row. 10.00 otw
- 29th January - Quintin Head
- 27th February - Hammersmith Head
- 26th March - HoRR
- 27th March - Vets Eights
- 6-10th April 2021 - Training Camp (If you've not expressed an interest but would like to, contact the Captain.)
Captain's Log: Issue 9
14th November 2021
Good Evening Cygnets, this is your Captain speaking,
Great to see so many faces at the club this weekend racking, cheering and volunteering (more on that below), excellent to see the boathouse be alive with excitement of a busy Head Race again and to have our own crews racing hard in the fairway. Hope you're now all resting up and taking it easy.
I will be away for the next week, travelling with work, Martin will be acting in my stead - I'll be back on the 22nd. Training resumes as normal, tomorrow with Charlie in the shed at the usual times.
FOURS HEAD / VETS FOURS HEAD
It's been a busy weekend of racing and hosting at the boathouse this weekend. Firstly a huge thank you to every single one of you who helped out during the weekend - it was great to see so many of you giving a very warm welcome to visiting crews, cheering on our racing boats and helping out throughout the weekend: thank you to everyone who put a shift in. We can't host visiting clubs on race days without volunteers and races can't run without clubs hosting, so thanks to all of you who did your bit. Most importantly we had lots visiting clubs who went home happy and were very appreciative of all your efforts. We'll next be hosting for Quintin Head on 29th January.RACING CREWS
Congratulations to our racing crews competing in Fours Head and Vets Fours - in the end we had three crews racing across the weekend, well done - our first major head race in quite some time and great efforts all round. Chapeau to the 4- crew of Cris, Dom, Pete and Simon for the club fastest time down the course in 21:24.7.Fours Head
#87, 4x- Mustafa Ozyurt, Tom Broadhurst, Chris Jageurs, Rupert Bailey (23:07.2)
#184, 4- Cristobal Cabrera, Dom Marshall, Pete Goldsworthy, Simon Suthers (21:24.7)Vet Fours Head
#163, Masters H 4x- Nick Wylie, Paul Rawkins, Rhodri Walters, Steve Reeves (23:54.7)A good platform for us to build from in the squad and as we look towards the rest of the season we want to build from this and work towards even more competitive entries in the forthcoming Head Races. So please do keep up the commitment to training on land and on the water as we look to move forwards as a squad - we're making good progress here let's keep it up.
(It's never too early to talk about) Christmas with a couple of events to mark in the diary for Christmas this year
Sat 11th December: BBL Christmas Party and Cygnet Waddle
More details to follow, but will follow the traditional pattern of a Christmas meal with Barnes Bridge in Chiswick, preceded by the Cygnet Waddle.Friday 17th December: Cygnet Veterans Christmas Lunch
The time is drawing near for the annual Cygnet Veterans Christmas Lunch which will be held at the RAF Club on Piccadilly. It is hoped that some of our younger members will join us this year. The cost will be approx. £65, including some drinks. If you'd like to come along or if there are any questions you'd like to ask, Lawrence McVeigh is the mat to ask. The captaincy will be able to provide his contact details.OTHER QUICK REMINDERS:
Boat Log: Please ensure all outings are logged in the boat log - good to see it in good use, please keep it updated with club boat usage.
Lights: In poor light / dark mornings, please make sure you're using the correct lights and high-vis clothing.
Wintery (Tideway) conditions: The weather and water is getting colder and wetter, and it's a particularly risky time of year for hypothermia: make sure you are well layered up and have spare clothing after outings. Stay dry, stay warm.
Outing cancellations: On occasion the weather or river conditions may mean we can't go afloat or a land session is required: If the forecast is poor, come prepared for both but wait for the call from Coach or Captain before assuming the outing is not going ahead.
Land training: Great to see the shed in good use and the approval of the new equipment means this will soon be getting a makeover. Please make sure you're signed up to sessions and if you're signed up, show up.
Boat care & maintenance : Please make sure boats are properly washed, left in good condition and any defects or damage appropriately reported. Our fleet is precious and must be looked after properly. More to follow on this one.
Dates for your diary:
- 28th November (12:00) - Cygnet SGM
- 11th December - Christmas Party
- 17th December - Veterans Christmas Lunch
- 29th January - Quintin Head
- 27th February - Hammersmith Head
- 26th March - HoRR
- 27th March - Vets Eights
- 6-10th April 2021 - Training Camp: (If you've not expressed an interest but would like to, contact the Captain.)
Captain's Log: Issue 8
8th November 2021
Good Evening Cygnets, this is your Captain speaking,
I hope this finds you all well and still finding plenty of time to enjoy the river despite longer, darker nights and shorter days. The first Captain's Log for a while but training has been in full swing on the water and on land in the squad.
Thank you to everyone who has been working hard and working together as a squad and as crews, for helping out and getting us on the water on time - we've really been maximizing the time and benefit on the water. It's been great to see the progress in recent weeks - let's keep that up.
My thanks to Beth and Laurent for the coaching on the water in recent weeks and challenging ergs to keep us warm on land and to Charlie for the strength and weights programme for the powerful, painful legs!
Thanks to Social Secretary Megan and the merry band of chefs who have been keeping us well fed at Thursday Supper Club - it's been great to have a sociable crowd each week this term so far and the food has been exceptional!
FOURS HEAD / VETS FOURS HEAD: RACING CREWS
With the big fours racing events next weekend, crews will be putting the finishing touches on race plans and training over the next week, with huge anticipation for more exciting racing on the tideway - promises to be a great weekend and Cygnet will be racing two crews in each event. Provisional starting orders for both events have now been published and race numbers allocated. Best of luck to all crews - please do come down to support the racing crews and cheer on Cygnet. All offerings to the rowing and weather gods gratefully received!Fours Head
Vets Fours Head
CYG 4X: 87
Mustafa Ozyurt
Tom Broadhurst
Chris Jageurs
Rupert Bailey
CYG 4- Masters D: 81
Iain Golder
Brad Bryant
Mike Collier
Martin Drage
CYG 4- : 184
Cristobal Cabrera
Dom Marshall
Pete Goldsworthy
Simon Suthers
CYG 4X Masters H: 163
Nick Wylie
Paul Rawkins
Rhodri Walters
Steve Reeves
VISITING CREWS AND BOATING HELP
With one of the biggest races in Tideway calendar, we are expecting a large number of visiting crews for both races boating from Cygnet / BBL. Please do sign up to volunteer to help with traffic / boating and follow the link below to fill out your time slot. Racing on the Tideway can't happen without hosting clubs, hosting visiting crews can't happen without volunteers-- so whether you are racing or not it will be great to have a full contingent out in force organising the day and giving a friendly Cygnet welcome to the Tideway. Any questions or problems please contact our boating gurus Henrik and Martin.
Sign-up here
My thanks too to Josh and Beth for the marshalling help and driving the Cygnet launch on race days next weekend.OTHER QUICK REMINDERS:
- LIGHTS: In poor light / dark mornings, please make sure you're using the correct lights and high-vis clothing.
- WINTERY (TIDEWAY) CONDITIONS: The weather and water is getting colder and wetter, and it's a particularly risky time of year for hypothermia: make sure you are well layered up and have spare clothing after outings. Stay dry, stay warm.
- OUTING CANCELLATIONS: On occasion the weather or river conditions may mean we can't go afloat or a land session is required: If the forecast is poor, come prepared for both but wait for the call from Coach or Captain before assuming the outing is not going ahead.
- LAND TRAINING: Great to see the shed in good use and the approval of the new equipment means this will soon be getting a makeover. Please make sure you're signed up to sessions and if you're signed up, show up.
- BOAT CARE & MAINTENANCE: Please make sure boats are properly washed, left in good condition and any defects or damage appropriately reported. Our fleet is precious and must be looked after properly. See the new boat logging procedures
Dates for your diary:
- 13th November (10:45) - Fours Head
- 14th November (12:30) - Vet Fours Head
- 28th November (12:00) - Cygnet SGM
- 11th December - Christmas Party
- 6-10th April 2021 - Training Camp: (If you've not expressed an interest but would like to, contact the Captain.)
