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Cygnet
Cygnet Rowing Club
on the Tideway since 1890
CSSC Sports and Leisure

SteerING BOATS

Approved steers (the term includes coxswains) in any boat with a CYG ID (including privateers) are obliged to adhere to the requirements and conditions detailed below which have been agreed by the committee and captaincy. Steers must also understand that they are the "Master of the Vessel" and therefore legally responsible of the conduct and safety of their crew – even when under the instruction of a coach.


REQUIREMENTS

  • Be a paid-up member of Cygnet RC 
  • Read the most recent Tideway Code
  • Passed the club steering and navigation test*
  • Completed a capsize drill and swim test.
  • For club boats: have a British Rowing licence. 
  • For private boats: have a British Rowing licence or be otherwise insured against any accident causing damage or injury to a third party while afloat.

*To take the steering and navigation test contact the Safety Asvisor, who will arrange a time with you to take the test. The test is not available on-line


BOAT CLASS

There is no specific restriction on the class of boat an Approved Steers may be the master of. The captain is may refuse permission if he considers the steers to have insufficient experience in a particular boat class. While gaining appropriate experience, of a particular boat class, a steers should be supervised by someone who does have that experience until they are confident in their ability to safely handle the class of boat. 

It is recommended the same principles of Experience Levels (below) are applied to the class of boat - i.e a steers should not use a boat (unsupervised) if it exceeds the limit of their previous experience in that boat class.


CONDITIONS

  • If a steers does not navigate on the Tideway for more than 6 months, they must accept that they may be required to drop down and regain experience to achieve their previous experience level (see below).
  • If a steers does not navigate on the Tideway for more than 18 months they may be required to re-take the steering and navigation test before steering a club boat.
  • Grandfather rights will be extended to steers that join from another Tideway club but they must still complete the Cygnet steering and navigation test before steering a club boat.
  • If a steers is involved in an incident they may have restrictions imposed on them by the captain, which they must accept.
  • Novice coxes should never steer entirely novice crews without a launch alongside.

EXPERIENCE LEVELS

The essence of this system is that a steers should venture no further unsupervised than the limit of their previous experience.

In order to venture further they must be supervised (by an experienced steers or coach) for a minimum of the first three outings so as to gain the necessary experience safely. There is no specific time limit on achieving each level. Steers should remain long enough at a level to gain the water time they need to master the minimum requirements of the level and to feel safe, comfortable and confident doing so. They can then ask to be moved up to the next level.

The captain will consult the opinion of experienced club steers and/or coaches to help decide if a particular steers is competent to move up a level. Generally this applies across the whole fleet (including private boats) and steers are strongly encouraged to keep a log of their water time including the range of any outing and in what class of boat. 

The experience levels refers specifically to Tideway Navigation. See here for navigation up-river at the Bungalow


QUALIFICATIONS

Extensions and restrictions

At the captain's discretion, particular steers may be allowed specific (but limited) extensions to their range if the captain considers the steers to have gained sufficient (supervised) experience in that area to be competent – e.g. above Richmond Lock

Equally, a steers may be signed-off but only allowed afloat strictly under supervision – i.e. not solo

Any qualifications are shown (in brackets) on the approved steers lists.

LEVEL 1 Novice

Level 1• Novice

All outings limited to between UL and Harrods (a.k.a The Playpen)

L1_map

Click on image to enlarge

Single scull must always go afloat with another boat, either a buddy (preferably Level 2+) in another single, and/or with a launch/coach alongside.

Crew boat must always go afloat with an experienced steers (preferably Level 2+) in the seat in front (at 2 or stroke) and/or with a launch/coach alongside.

Coxing must always go afloat with a minimum of an experienced steers at stroke or at bow (preferably Level 2+) and/or with a launch/coach alongside for guidance.

All boatsa minimum of three supervised outings before considering going solo. At least one of those outings must be upriver against the ebb tide as far as UL. At least one of those outings must be downriver against the flood tide as far as Harrods

Strictly no outings after dark.Cygnet's Rowing in the Dark Policy

LEVEL 1 • Solo/unsupervised

Having completed the requirements of Level 1, steers may paddle unsupervised in a single scull or a crew boat (including cox'ns) but outings are limited to the section of the river of which they already have experience i.e. between UL and Harrods.

LEVEL 2 Intermediate

Level 2 • Intermediate

All outings limited to between Richmond Lock and Putney Pier

L2_Map

Click on image to enlarge

Having completed the requirements of Level 1, steers may only go above UL or below Harrods when:

Single scull with another boat, either a buddy (preferably Level 3+) in another single, and/or with a launch/coach alongside.

Crew boat must have an experienced steers (preferably Level 3+) in the seat in front and/or with a launch/coach alongside.

Coxing with a minimum of an experienced steers at stroke or at bow (preferably Level 3+) and/or with a launch/coach alongside for guidance.

All boats a minimum of three supervised outings before considering going solo. At least one of those outings must be upriver against the ebb tide as far as the Richmond Lock At least one of those outings must be downriver against the flood tide as far as Putney Pier

Outings after dark
Cygnet's Rowing in the Dark policy must be strictly observed at all times

LEVEL 2 • Solo/unsupervised

Having completed the requirements of Level 2, steers may paddle solo in a single scull or unsupervised in a crew boat (including cox'ns) but outings are limited to the section of the river of which they already have experience i.e. between Richmond Lock and Putney Pier.
Strictly no solo outings after dark.

LEVEL 3 Advanced

Level 3 • Advanced

All outings including above the Richmond Lock and below Putney Pier (but never beyond Chelsea Bridge)

L3_map

Click on image to enlarge

Having completed the requirements of Level 2:

Must have at least one outing in either direction with another steers or coach who has previous experience and knowledge of those sections of the Tideway above Richmond and below Putney. If no such person can be found then the steers may not proceed beyond the limit of their previous experience unaccompanied.

Outings after dark 
Cygnet's Rowing in the Dark policy must be strictly observed at all times. Boats should be accompanied by a launch unless otherwise agreed by the captain
(see below).

LEVEL 3 • Solo/unsupervised

Outings between the UL and The Mile Post after dark but unsupervised by a launch may only take place with the captains' express permission and after a thorough risk assessment.

Solo single sculling after dark is not permitted. Scullers must be accompanied by at least one other sculler and both must be Level 3 steers. A supervising launch is preferred.

In all cases boats afloat after dark must carry means of attracting attention in an emergency (mobile phone, torch and whistle) and must ensure that someone knows they are afloat and also when they have returned safely.