1. Prior to stepping into a boat to row, or using any club facilities and equipment you must have completed a Membership Application Form preferably online and paid membership and RCA/RO fees to the Club.  This applies to all crew members, cox and coaches.
   
2. You must familiarize yourself with, and adhere to Safety and other Club Policies. All policies are posted on the web site.
   
3. All club boats (8+s, 4+, 4xs, 4-, 2xs, 2-s, 1xs) must be accompanied by a coach boat from “docks in” in the spring until at least May 1st.
   
4. There must be lights on all boats before sunrise and after sunset: white on bow, red on stern.  Coach boats must have lights as well.
   
5. Coach boat drivers must possess the Toronto Port Authority Power Vessel Operator’s Permit. After September 15, 2009, a Pleasure Craft Operators Card will also be required.
   
6. The logbook must be completed by each crew launching (this applies to 8+s, 4+, 4xs, 4-, 2xs, 2-s, as well as 1xs).  The log is located inside the doorway off the dock by the squash courts. Anyone launching from the dock must sign out and again sign in upon return.
   
7. Damage to any equipment (this applies to 8+s, 4+, 4xs, 4-, 2xs, 2-s, and Club 1xs) must be reported by recording it in the log book. Crews are responsible for all equipment assigned to them. If you break a boat, you are responsible for making arrangements to get it repaired by consulting with the Head Coach.
   
8. Parts must not be removed from any boats. Members found removing or borrowing parts from boats will be suspended. If a boat is discovered that needs repairs before it can be rowed, it must be placed on stretchers and repaired or placed back on racks. If repairs are needed, inform the Head Coach.
   
9. Crews can only row in assigned boats at the assigned times. Crews wishing to row other Recreational boats or at other times must have the prior approval of the Head Coach. Crews wishing to row non-rec program boats must have prior approval of the Head Coach.
   
10. Boats cannot be launched until the full crew is at the dock and ready to row.
    
11. BOATS CANNOT BE ROWED WITH EMPTY SEATS, unless they are LTR boats.
    
12. Look carefully at the map of the course that hangs on the wall outside (between the bays).
    
13. Put in and take out all boats with bows facing towards the Humber River (i.e.: west).
    
14. Keep to the right at all times; when passing other boats, must pass them on their port side (i.e.: passing on the left, towards the middle of the waterway).
    
15. When turning, be extremely careful, particularly if you must turn before the course's eastern- or western-most ends. It is up to the crew that is turning not to obstruct boat traffic.
    
16. NO COACH BOATS ARE ALLOWED EAST OF THE END OF THE NEW BREAKWALL (toward Ontario Place). Coach boats create a wake churning up the water. In this restricted area, the wave action does not dissipate for a long time, making passage dangerous for singles and other small boats.
    
17. Coach boat drivers must reduce their speed to no wake, and give way to other crews as they approach. If you must pass a crew, wait until you can swing wide so as not to wake them. Coach boats may not wake the boats moored at the TSCC and the Boulevard Club. If you must race to catch up with your crew, go outside the breakwall.
    
18. Watch out for the drainpipe; break wall abutments, the narrows, floating moorings and all boats. Look at the map if you are unsure where these trouble spots are.
    
19. Only experienced crews are allowed outside the breakwall, and ONLY when accompanied by a coach boat.
    
20. Boats landing have priority over boats going out.
    
21. When under sail, sailboats have the right of way; when boats are under motor, rowing shells have the right of way.
    
22. NO CLUB BOATS ARE ALLOWED ON THE HUMBER RIVER.

ARC SAFETY RULES

"CHAIN OF COMMAND"

If you are involved in an emergency on or off the water, the first person you should contact is your coxswain (or bowperson/crew captain).  S/he will contact your coach who will contact our Head Coach of Club Official (Board member), who will contact the EMS and parent/emergency contact.  The chain of command is listed below.

• Emergency Services (and parents/emergency contact, if they can be notified)
• Head Coach and/or Club Official
• Coach
• Coxswain (or bowperson/crew captain)

SAFETY ON THE DOCK

1. All gear and equipment must be removed from the docks as quickly as possible following a practice. Shoes and other equipment left on the dock constitute a hazard to other crews using the dock, and should be stored off the dock or taken in the boat.
2. Crews docking have priority over crews launching.
3. Coach boats and safety launches must be ready to run before the crews leave the dock.
4. A properly equipped rescue launch must be available at the dock or on the water at all times.

INJURED ATHLETE / ENDANGERED CREW

At the beginning of the season, crews should establish who on the crew (if anyone) is capable of administering mouth-to-mouth, CPR, or other First Aid. This should be done at the same time as the swim test (or whenever the crew is at least asked if they can all swim). In straight (coxless) boats, the bowperson and/or another should be established to take the position that a coxswain would normally have in the "Chain of Command" should an accident occur. All Club directors, coaches, coxswains, and individual crew captains must read the entire Safety Manual and must make sure that their crews are informed.

ROWER OVERBOARD

If a rower goes overboard, such as when a crab is caught:

1. The coxswain gives the command to stop rowing and then to hold water.
2. The stroke removes his/her oar and directs, but does not throw it, to the person in the water.
3. The crew backs the boat to the person in the water.
4. The coxswain gets hold of the person or lets him/her grasp a rigger. Another rower may be required to enter the water to assist with first aid. Generally, it should be the person who was seated in front or behind the rower who is now in the water.
5. Do not attempt to bring the person aboard if the launch is near.

6. Provide assistance as needed to get the rower out of the water.

ROWER UNCONSCIOUS

If a rower has lost consciousness, support him/her in the water until a rescue craft arrives, or help him/her to the bank as fast as possible if no rescue craft is at hand. All rowers should know life-saving procedures. If necessary, resuscitation should be applied immediately, even while the rower is still in the water. An ambulance should be summoned by the quickest method available.

BREAK-UP OR SINKING

Procedure:

1. The crew must remain in a group, using oars as PFDs, or putting on PFDs if available.
2. No one leaves the group, shell, or flotation device until they are at shore or at the rescue boat. Crews may leave the shell if they can touch bottom and wade to shore, but this must only be done as a group.
3. Use the buddy system, distribute crew evenly on the remains of the hull, encourage one another, and share flotation devices.
4. Account for all crewmembers; keep numbering off.
5. NO ONE SHOULD ATTEMPT TO SWIM TO THE SHORE. Visual perception is dramatically altered in the water and distance seems much shorter than what it really is. Even at the ARC in cold water in the spring and in the late autumn the distance from the break wall to the shore is in many cases too far to swim. Await the arrival of the rescue launch, unless the crew can touch bottom and safely wade into shore.


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SAFETY INFO FROM ROWING CANADA
Rowing Canada Aviron promotes rowing in a safe environment at all times. Nothing is more important in the sport of rowing than your safety. Here are some basic rules about safety:
• Always have an approved PFD (Personal Floatation Device) and a sound-signaling device (such as a whistle)
• Stay with the boat
• In an emergency, use the oar or boat as a floatation device
• NEVER row alone or in the dark.

SAFETY IN YOUR EQUIPMENT

Bowballs: Attached to the bow of every shell should be a white rubber ball. The bowball provides protection against the sharp prow of the boat in the event of a collision. Boat manufacturers include the bowballs as part of the boat at the time of purchase, but sometimes they can be knocked off. The bowball must be replaced immediately. Rowing without a bowball is a violation of rowing safety rules.

Safety straps for shoes: Shells fitted with shoes rather than clogs must have a very important safety precaution in place. Attached to the heel of each shoe must be a string or a shoelace that is secured to the footstretcher. This tie should be loose enough to allow the heel to rise at the beginning of the stroke but strong enough to hold the shoe down in case a rower has to pull the feet out if the boat capsizes.

Lifejackets: Wearing a normal, bulky lifejacket does not allow someone to row properly. A lifejacket can get in the way of necessary hand and arm movements, as well as blocking the elimination of heat from the body. This could be a major health concern during the summer months.

Effective in 1999, Canadian Coast Guard Regulations require rowing shells to have life jackets aboard unless:
• it is attended by a safety craft carrying an approved PFD or lifejacket of appropriate size for each member of the crew of the largest vessel being attended; or
• if it is competing or training during a provincially, nationally, or internationally sanctioned regatta or competition.

In general, you should have a life-jacket in the rowing shell with you (one per person) or the motor boat beside you must carry them. RCA's official safety guidelines can be downloaded at www.rowingcanada.org.

2002 Rowing Canada Aviron – Reprinted with permission

COACHING RULES

All Coaches Must:

1. Have defined preparation, knowledge, and, ultimately, certification in rowing coaching, and safe boating. This includes NCCP coach certification and the Toronto Port Authority Power Vessel Operators Permit. CPR and First Aid certification should be encouraged, if not required;

2. Know the physical capabilities and limitations of their athletes and the equipment they are using;

3. Be aware of each athlete's level of swimming ability--in the case of an emergency, a non-swimmer (or a weak swimmer) would have to be rescued first;

4. Check that all equipment is safe, and that crews have proper clothing and fluids appropriate for the outing and weather conditions before they shove off. Coxswains should carry basic tools (wrenches, black tape, screwdriver) in case of equipment failure;

5. If practices are held in the predawn darkness, or as the sunsets, then it is up to the coach to attach a white light to the bow of his/her shell (suggestion: inexpensive flashing bike light) and a red light to the stern.  Bowpersons and coxies should also be encouraged to try to wear reflective (or white) clothing;

6. Not leave the dock with the coach boat until his/her crew has departed;

7. Should wear life jackets at all time when in launches (i.e.: if you are "pulled over" by the Marine Police, the Club will not pay your fine for you!). Ensure your coach boat contains all required safety equipment: PFDs for all crew & cox, bailer, rope, hailing device (whistle) and light.

8. Attempt to be close to your crews at all times, but do not wake moored boats at the Boulevard Club or the Toronto Sailing andCC.

9. Strictly limit the number of crews and athletes they supervise (ideally, a coach should not have more than 2 crews on the water at a time);

10. Watch for hazards on the water. It is often easier for the coach, who is higher above the water, to see hazards ahead--particularly those lying low in the water. The coach first informs the coxswain or steersperson of the hazard and then directs them to stop or how best to avoid the hazard (try to remove or mark such hazards to help other crews);

11. Not load the coach boat such that if they are operating it from the stern seat they do not have adequate vision over the bow of the boat (i.e.: use weights in bow of boat if necessary);

12. Know how to make and recognize standard distress signals and how to take appropriate action if signals are given by crews or by other launches;

13. Realize that they are legally responsible for the well being of their crew whenever their crew is at the Club. Arriving late, and leaving early before the crew is safely back on the dock, as well as not properly monitoring crews all constitute possible risks;

14. Be aware of and show consideration to other water users. They must ensure that neither their launches nor the crews they are supervising place anyone else using the water in jeopardy. They must always be alert to give help to other water users who may be in danger and without assistance;

15. Know the rules of the course;

16. If an accident happens, file an incident or accident report promptly with the club safety Director (who will then take immediate action to prevent a recurrence). This is important, not because of sanctions, but in order to assist the safety Director in identifying potentially unsafe procedures, and how accidents may be averted.


Note #1: All crews whether coached or not, must list their names, and their time of departure (as well as their expected return time, particularly if they are planning a long row) in the logbook in the boathouse. Obviously, this must be done before they row.

Note #2: Those recreational and masters crews that do not have coaches fall under the jurisdiction, legally speaking, of the Club as a whole. Thus, it is the direct responsibility of the Board of Directors, the Head Coach, and the safety  Director to ensure that these crews are well informed and equipped to deal with any potential mishaps.

BOAT MAINTENANCE AND DAMAGE

Once you have been provided with an allocation, the responsibility of boat care and maintenance falls to those crews that share the allocation. It is important that your crew take the time to fully review the boat each outing to ensure that all bolts are tightened, all equipment is safe, and that general repairs are made in a timely manner.

Should equipment need repair after usage, it is your responsibility to notify the Head Coach and the program representatives directly, and to follow-up to make sure the problem has been resolved. Crews are encouraged to participate in all maintenance and repair.

Please ensure that your boat is washed on a regular basis and dried off with a towel after each row.

Please report any boat damage to:
coach@argonautrowingclub.com as well as making note in the Sign-out Book. Outline the circumstances of the incident, level of boat damage and when you are available to assist in the repair.

Remember that a damaged boat does not only impact upon your crew, but also those other crews who row on other days.

Accidents will happen - but negligence will not be tolerated.

NOTE: Because of high level of boat damage, crews of all boats in avoidable accidents may be assessed a fine of up to $100 per rower (depending on level of damage) as determined by the Head Coach. Such a fine can also be levied when other boats (i.e.: moored sailboats) are damaged by an ARC crew.

COLD WATER GUIDELINES

Below are the Cold Water Guidelines for the Club:

When the water is less than 10 degrees, anyone who enters the water (inadvertently) has only a short period of time (matter of minutes) before they start to suffer from hypothermia and shock.

Club Boats:

All coaches on the water in coach boats are asked to be aware of other crews on the water and to assist any crews they see in danger or having difficulties (even of if the coach is not supervising the crew at the time).

Club pairs, doubles or singles should make every effort to be on the water with a buddy boat when not accompanied by a coach boat from the time the docks are lowered until the first weekend of May.

Club pairs, doubles or singles should not go east of the 1000m mark east of the club unaccompanied by a coach boat on the outside of the breakwall from the time the docks are lowered until the first weekend of May.

Junior athletes rowing with the Club must be accompanied by a coach boat from the time the docks are lowered until the first weekend of May with no exception

Private Singles:

It is strongly suggested that all private scullers make every effort to be accompanied by a buddy while on the water. Scullers will also be expected to adhere to all Club Rules including signing out their boats in the log book inside the door to the clubhouse.

WEATHER CONDITIONS

All members are reminded to use common sense and good judgment when deciding if water/weather conditions merit cancelling or cutting short an on-water outing (e.g. excessive wind, significant wave action, threatening cloud conditions, etc). Cold water increases the possibility of inclement weather leading to accidents, and all athletes and coaches are reminded that the safety of their crews must come first. Novice crews and scullers are advised to err on the side of caution.

In the event of questionable weather conditions, the Club Captain/Head Coach/Safety Director has the authority to close the docks and order crews off the water.

All crews are reminded that regardless of water conditions, in the event of an electrical storm/lightning all crews/scullers must dock and remove their shells from the water as soon as possible.

BREAK-UP OR SINKING

In the event that a boat is swamped by waves and is sinking, or has come in contact with an object, which has damaged the boat to the point of break-up, the following procedures should be followed:

1. The crew must remain in a group, using PFDs if available.

2. No one should leave the group, shell, or flotation device until they are at shore or at the rescue boat. Crews may leave the shell if they can touch bottom and wade to shore, but this must only be done as a group.

3. In deep water, use the buddy system, distribute the crew evenly on the remains of the hull, encourage one another, and share flotation devices. Do not leave the boat.

4. Account for all crewmembers at all times; keep numbering off.

5. When all members are accounted for, the boat may be dog paddled to shore. If the boat is undamaged, it may be righted and the crew can re-enter the boat and return to the dock.

As always, the safety of our members is the most important thing! Have a great rowing season!