Thank you for volunteering!

Introductions Chris Lowe – Event Safety Officer Will Burchnall – Event Communications Officer Moira Barson – Safety 1 & Deputy Event Safety Officer (Front third of fleet) Mike Burns – Safety 49 & Deputy Event Safety Officer (Back third of fleet)

Safety Fleet Handbook Sent via Print and bring it along on race day Please read it Timetable of the days events. Contact phone numbers. The plan for the day. Worst case scenario.

Launching your boat – For more information on where to launch your boat we suggest you check out; New to the Thames – The Port of London Authority have produced a video on safely navigating the River Thames. We strongly suggest you view it here;

Briefing and Roll Call – 1.Please make sure you arrive at Masthouse Terrace Pier at 0845 sharp. 2.Please moor on the back edge of the pier & raft up. 3.During the briefing we will hand out; Chocolate Bars & cans of drink Red & White Tape ID flags, Red flags, Call sign Sheets, Bridge silhouette sheets GPS trackers Don’t forget you will need to print out the Safety Fleet Handbook yourself unless you have ordered one!

Safety Fleet Objectives - To ensure all competitors have a safe and enjoyable Great River Race. Marshall all competitors stay close to the NORTH bank Respond quickly to incidents Provide basic first aid Get injured people to the emergency services Recover property ALWAYS spread out along the course & don’t bunch up

If there is an incident what do I do? 1)Attend the competitors boat. 2) Make sure everybody is accounted for and not hurt. 3) Get them to sort out the problem for themselves. 4) If they cannot sort out the problem themselves assist as best you can. 5) If you need more help call on the Event Safety Officer (or a deputy).

If there is an incident what do I do? Continued 6) If you cannot solve the problem tow them to the shore and inform the Event Safety Officer. (They will arrange a tow to the finish.) 7) If anybody falls in call the Event Safety Officer immediately. 8) If anybody is seriously hurt call the Event Safety Officer immediately who will arrange for the emergency services to meet you at an arranged location.

Boats in need of assistance - BELOW LAMBETH BRIDGE – As a general rule, competitors who find themselves in difficulties (i.e. falling into the river, boat swamping or capsizing) that prevent them from safely continuing without help, will be recovered by a safety boat and taken to the nearest safe landing point. This will count as a retirement and they will not be allowed to continue in the race. The competitor’s boat will be towed to the finish line and the crew will have to make their own way to the finish by land.

Boats in need of assistance ABOVE LAMBETH BRIDGE – Competitors who find themselves in difficulties, will be helped to recover by a safety boat and then be allowed to continue in the race. IN ADDITION – A safety boat may instruct a competitor at any point on the course, not to continue if they feel it would not be safe - this decision is final. Remember people come before property. Your personal safety is always your priority

Stopping Racing - If you feel that racing should stop then; 1) Fly your red flag. 2) Competitors know this means to stop racing until they see no more red flags. 3) Inform the Event Safety Officer. 4) If you need to leave boats in the water mark them with red and white tape before your return the crew to the shore. 5) Recover people first boats second. 6) Record the number of people AND which boat they came from if you put them ashore.

Worst Case Scenario If there is a significant incident then Safety Control will instruct all safety boats to fly their red flag and verbally instruct all competitors to STOP racing. Escort competitors as they continue upstream to a safe landing point. Once safely ashore contact Safety Control who may ask you to stay on station or re-task you to help deal the incident. Task boats and safety boats will be called back to an area downstream of the incident and be asked to sweep upstream to recover.

The Start –

Sailing Barge “Adieu” Start Line Competitors Holding Area Restricted Navigation “Wall” of Safety Boats waiting in numerical order

1 st Fixed Safety Boat Location Start Line

Wapping River Police Station Safety Boat Station

Tower Bridge - Arch # 3 Safety Boat Station

London Bridge - Arch # 2 & 3 Safety Boat Station

Millennium Bridge – Arch # 2 & 3 Southwark Bridge - Arch # 4 & 5 Cannon Street Rail Bridge - Arch # 4 & 5

Blackfriars Bridge Safety Boat Station

Hungerford & Charring Cross Rail Bridge - Arch # 5 Waterloo Bridge - Arch # 3 & 4 Safety Boat Station

Exclusion Zone – Westminster Safety Boat Station Westminster Bridge Arch # 5 & 6

Exclusion Area Westminster Bridge - Arch # 5 & 6

Lambeth Bridge - Arch # 4 & 5 Hazard - Numerous Moorings

Vauxhall Bridge - Arch # 4& 5 Exclusion Area

Chelsea Bridge – Arch # 4

Hazard - Moorings Battersea Reach

Albert Bridge - Arch # 3

Battersea Bridge – Arch # 3 & 4 Safety Boat Station

Putney Rail Bridge - Arch 3 & 4 HAZARD - Moorings x2

Hammersmith Road Bridge - Centre Arch

Dove Pier – MAJOR HAZARD Safety Boat Stations Hammersmith Bridge

Chiswick Ait Chiswick Pier

Chiswick Bridge – Arch # 1 & 2

Kew Rail Bridge - Arch # 4 & 3 Safety Boat Station

Kew Road Bridge – Arch # 2 & 3 Safety Boat Station

Richmond Lock – Arch # 3 & 4 Closed Arch Surrey Middlesex

Richmond Railway Bridge - Arch # 2 & 3 Twickenham Bridge – Arch # 2 & 3

Richmond Bridge – Arch # 3 & 4

River Lane Slipway Finish Line Petersham Ait Eel Pie Island Safety Boat Stations

Contact Details We must have the name of every skipper and a mobile phone number before the race. So please check the call sign sheet at the Roll Call on race day. If there are any changes required let us know. Volunteers Party Invitations in the post after the event! Expenses Send you fuel expense claims to me within two weeks. NO RECIEPTS OR KIT RETURNED = NO EXPENSES

RACE DAY SAFETY BOAT ROLL CALL At Masthouse Terrace Pier on Saturday September the 12 th at 0845