News & Events
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.)
Sign-out procedure for club boats
8th November 2021
I am writing to update you on a new procedure for the signing out and usage of Cygnet boats being introduced from today, 7th November 2021. Please read below in full which explains the new Boat Log and the responsibility of crews, steers and coxes.
NEW BOATING SIGN OUT PROCEDURE: CYGNET BOAT LOG
You will now find a Cygnet Boat Log book in the Cygnet Changing Rooms (to be kept on the set of drawers by the door) which will be used for the signing out of all club boats during organised and independent outings from today.
The Boat Log applies to every class of club boat: 1x, 2-/x, 4 - / x / +, 8 + and will be used in addition to the Boatshop Whiteboard that will continue in the usual way.
It will be the responsibility of the Boat Steer / Cox to ensure the boat is signed out in the Boat Log before going afloat, and for signing back in once the boat has been cleaned, checked and returned to the rack.
The purpose of the new system is to allow the Captaincy and Committee to monitor club boat usage and for logging any issues, problems and damage to any boats for the awareness of other users. It will help us to keep track of when boats are in use to assist the maintenance of the fleet and keeping equipment in good working order. Any usage of club boats that is not logged in this way will be considered to be unauthorised usage.
The Log is self- explanatory and records all the information you would expect. It includes a section for recording any issues, incidents or damage to boats that have occurred or been noticed during the outing to flag to other crews of potential issues and problems.
Any damage or safety incidents that occur must also be brought to the attention of the Captain and recorded in the appropriate way:
- Safety Incidents: https://www.cygnet-rc.org.uk/spage-safety_matters-file_an_incident_report.html
- Report Damage: https://www.cygnet-rc.org.uk/ssform-facilities-the_fleet-report_damage.html
- If you are unsure which of the above to use or whether you need to make a report, simply contact The Captain for guidance or to flag an issue. I would much prefer to be notified and be made aware of minor or major issues than discover them or hear about it third hand.
It is the responsibility of all boat users to ensure that equipment is well looked after and left in an appropriate clean and usable condition and for any issues to be reported. The Steer/Cox as the named individual takes ultimate responsibility for this, in the same vein as responsibility for the safety and conduct of the boat whilst afloat.
Whilst the requirement to sign out using the Boat Log is mandatory for the usage of all club boats, this requirement does not apply to Privately Owned singles, but voluntary usage of the Boat Log is welcomed and encouraged, particularly for flagging any issues that happen on the river for the benefit of others.
As a timely reminder, there is a helpful section of the Cygnet website which provides an aide memoire for checks of boats that should be conducted pre- / post- outing.
I am grateful for the assistance from all club members in following this new procedure - I hope this will help us in keeping track and maintaining the standard and condition of our fleet for the benefit of us all. If you have any questions or concerns in the meantime please do ask.
A copy of these instructions will be placed in the changing rooms for reference and included on the Club Website.
Best wishes,
The Captain
Spring 2022 Training Camp
27th September 2021
Dear all
By popular demand, I am very excited to announce plans for a Spring 2022 Training Camp, which we will be looking to hold between the Winter Heads and Summer Regatta Seasons in April next year on 6th-10th April 2022.
More details are below, along with instructions for signing up / expressing interest.
This will be a chance for four days of rowing, training and coaching with multiple outings to build fitness, develop as a squad and as crews and to refine technique for the summer season. A springboard for our regatta racing campaigns if you will.
We have an excellent venue lined up for the camp on quieter stretches of the Thames on the Berkshire-Oxfordshire border between Goring and Pangbourne. A chance to treat ourselves after the long slog of a winter of tideway rowing with the opportunity to enjoy some rowing a bit further afield and away from tideway conditions with training and coaching on and off the water.
The site is about an hour and a half from the club, just over an hour from central London by public transport, so very accessible. We plan on this being a residential training camp (as the name suggests). To get the most out of it, we are really looking for people to attend for the full camp period (rather than dropping in for a couple of days), so will require a couple of days annual leave / family cover. The camp is open to all abilities and would really encourage you to come along and join in.
Key Details
Arrival
Weds 6th April (Evening Arrival after work)
Training Camp Programme
Thurs - Sunday 3 and half days of training, rowing together with coaching on and off the water, developing as a squad and as crews
Return to Club
Sun 10th April (Afternoon)
Location
Pangbourne College Boat Club. Lovely quiet stretch of the Thames away from London with plenty of water time
Costs
Precise costs tbc. Less than £500 all inclusive
Sign up
What I need from you at this stage is an expression of interest to get a good idea of numbers to guide costs and accommodation requirements which will help us to firm up all the relevant details for you.
Please use the link to sign up / express your interest. If you know that you definitely cannot attend, please also complete this so we can get a good estimate of our likely numbers.
https://forms.gle/L5dRAWkjhnPD2yQGA
Any questions, please log via the form or email me directly to find out more.
Really hope as many of you as possible will be able to join in and participate in an enjoyable few days away with the Club and some great rowing. If you've read this far and would like a bit of a sneak peak and some inspiration, check out this link from a previous TSS training camp to get an idea of the waters and scenery on the Pangbourne waters.
Look forward to hearing from you.
Rupert
Rowing and Racing Calendar
