Rowing recreationally and safely

On the organisation’s web page www.rudern.de/fisatour2014 basic criteria are indicated for individuals wanting to take part in a rowing tour:

• You must possess a good experience of rowing (double sculls and sweep oars)
• Good experience in coxing
• You must be in good health and have the physical condition necessary for rowing the full distances, be able to handle dangerous situations on your own and not depend on help from others
• You must be capable of swimming distances of at least 300m
• You will be responsible for your own medical and personal insurance arrangement(s)

Tour organiser Werner Rudolph has been a tour rower for several decades, having rowed an estimated 70,000km recreationally. During this time he has encountered a range of situations, from bad weather to sinking boats to crashes and injuries or illnesses. While all of these incidents ended well, they also provided him with valuable understanding of what type of safety measures should be taken into account when planning and preparing for a rowing tour.

“We must have good information about risks on our tour for every participant to create a safe and disciplined behaviour of all participants,” says Rudolph. “And we must be prepared.”

While not exhaustive, the overview below gives valuable tips on what aspects to factor in and look out for when touring. As Jens Kolberg, member of FISA’s Rowing for All Commission states: “We cannot prepare for every risk possible, but the most important issue is to have clear responsibility and command lines, and experienced people at the helm.”

Experience
While rowers with no previous touring experience are welcome to take part in a rowing tour, experienced recreational rowers are needed in each boat. Each boat should have a captain, and each captain should be experienced in tour rowing. Rowers with good knowledge of the local conditions expected along the planned route should also be present in the boats. As for coxswains, not only should they be experienced in tour rowing, but they should also be familiar with the itinerary and local water and traffic conditions.

A leader on any trip, however large or small, needs to understand the risks and take action to minimise or remove these risks. Even if it is difficult to tell an excited group of rowers, you may need to make a decision to not go out onto the water. Any boat captain and tour leader needs to do an assessment of the risks every time a group takes to the water. 

With today’s technology there are some great tools out there to help improve safety, from radios, to mobile weather apps, to guidance on making effective risk assessments, but none of these outweigh the importance of experience and good judgement. 

Safety equipment
Each boat must be equipped with safety materials that can be resorted to immediately in the case of an emergency. Equipment such as tow straps, hooks and cables, buckets, pumps, sponges, basic repair tools and a First Aid kit are must haves.

Equipping the boats with wave protections on the bow and the stern helps to limit risk in rougher water conditions.

Simple measures can also be taken, such as bringing your own rain gear and a second set of dry clothes along. Wearing sun protection, sun caps and sun glasses as well as bringing your own safety vest can also go a long way in safeguarding everyone’s personal well-being.

In addition to each participant having his or her own safety vest, the organising committee must be able to provide an additional stock of safety vests when necessary.

Good communication
Communication between the leaders and the groups not only improves the entire experience of the tour, it also helps ensure safety. One member of the organising committee must be designated as the contact person for any and all safety issues and should be reachable at all times.

All participants should know the detailed description of the tour and be aware of the general traffic conditions on the waterways.

Daily meetings are a great way for the captains and participants to discuss the day’s route, foreseeable risks and suggested solutions.

Defining and explaining the command words that will be used by the captains throughout the tour will help minimise misunderstandings and allow for prompt reaction by all crew members.

Assessment of water conditions
Detailed analysis of the route prior to the excursion with the aim of identifying specific risks in particular locations is very important. Tour leaders should be aware of the answers to the following questions.

• How quickly can the water level rise and fall along the itinerary?
• What are the water conditions before and after the weirs, bridges or locks along the way?
• Are there systems in place that measure and forecast the height and flow of the water along the itinerary? Can these measurements and forecasts be accessed? Are there warning limits and how can organisers be informed when the limits are reached?
• How deep/shallow is the river or lake?

Weather management
Being aware of local weather conditions where a tour is being organised will help avoid risk and allow participants to be prepared. Safety guidelines for expected weather can be easily put into place. The tour leader should consult the weather forecast daily and adjust the tour in the event of inclement weather. Certain weather conditions could call for the cancelling or re-scheduling of a tour.

Planning for and handling emergency situations

• Detailed guidelines to be followed in the event of a collision or a sinking boat must be defined and communicated to all participants.
• An on-land team must follow the tour and be prepared and equipped to assist with whatever situation might arise.
• All participants must carry the numbers of nearby emergency services on them (ambulance, police, water police, fire brigade, helicopter, etc) and of the captains of the other boats.
• All mobile phones must be turned on, charged and able to be heard.
• Each participating boat must have enough free space to be able to take rescued individuals on board if necessary.

Other general safety precautions

• All boats must stay within visible distance of each other.
• Participants who have medical experience and are able to administer First Aid assistance must be identified.
• Participants with repair skills shall be identified in advance and tools should be handily available.

Tour rowing is a great way to combine physical activity with tourism, meeting new people and seeing new places. The most important is to be safe and have fun on the water.