Safety
Please note that under ARA Rules of Racing 2-3-8, crews are responsible for ensuring that their boats are safe and prepared to the standard required by the ARA Water Safety Code. For example, bow balls must be secure, heel restraints of appropriate length must be correctly installed and all accessible watertight compartments must have their covers fitted. Boats will be checked by marshals before boating and crews with boats deemed to be unsafe will be barred from racing and reported to the Area Safety Officer (if appropriate). Please ensure that coxes wear lifejackets which are appropriate to the boat used, i.e. no automatic inflation lifejackets in bowloading fours.
All external clubs (not Oxford college clubs) must also hold third party liability insurance, proof of which will be asked for by the Race Committee, in order to be allowed to race. Any crews who arrive to compete without proof of cover will be immediately disqualified. Valid ARA racing licenses will suffice as proof of third party liability insurance.
There will be a limit of one cyclist permitted to accompany each racing crew. Dangerous, thoughtless or imprudent behaviour by cyclists will lead to the crew they are accompanying being punished with time penalties or disqualification. We strongly recommend that all cyclists wear a helmet.
Crews who break the circulation pattern will receive a time penalty or be disqualified.
Please note that the overtaking procedure is different to previous years - the overtaking crew must go around the crew being overtaken, while the crew being overtaken should maintain its line.
All crews must download and print off a copy of the safety instruction sheets and carry a copy in the boat during the event.