BungALOW BOATS & Safety

GENERAL 

• We are guests at the Cygnet bungalow and your behaviour on the water and around the property should reflect this. Please respect our neighbours
• Always leave the bungalow and its boats in the clean and tidy state that it was found in
• The bungalow operates a strict no-smoking policy

BOATING

Getting afloat

• Use appropriate footwear - sandals or trainers are ideal
• Take care when carrying boats - it's easier to ask for help than to repair a damaged boat (or person)
• Beware of motor boats and wash when boating, particularly from the left (downstream) side
• What little stream there is runs right-to-left across the landing. Always boat and land with your bows into the stream

Signing out

• We do not operate a signing-out board at the bungalow like we do at the boat club. Therefore you should always tell someone that you are going afloat, for how long and where you plan to go.
• Novice scullers should adopt a 'buddy' system whereby they always go afloat with at least one other sculler
• Carrying a mobile phone (in a waterproof case) is recommended, especially if going out alone

LOOK OUT - every 3 to 5 strokes
There are many more pleasure craft on this stretch and the river is generally narrower than the Tideway. There are also rowers from four other clubs, canoeists, sailors, fishermen, ferries, water fowl, weirs and bridges so keeping a good lookout is still extremely important even if steering off the bank is easier.

Clothing
Avoid wearing bulky items that make it hard to swim should you fall in. Scullers should wear normal rowing kit. It is possible that novice scullers may experience multiple capsizes during the weekend. Do not go afloat in your last dry set of clothes, always save something to change into.

Capsize

• If you feel that you cannot handle a capsize situation on your own then do not go out of sight of the landing stage
• In the event of a capsize: don't panic; stay with the boat, get on top of it as a float if possible, call for help and try to paddle the boat towards the shore. You may find it shallow enough to stand in many places near the edge.
• Always shower as soon as possible after a capsize to prevent cold injury and infection from water-borne disease

Swimming
Swimming is not recommended, particularly if it is cold or if there is a strong stream running. There is also a small risk from water-borne disease