Boat Allocation Policy – training and racing

A clear process for progression through rowing and assignment of boats is required to;

• Ensure boats appropriate to rowers abilities are used
• Provide new rowers a chance to learn at their own pace
• Allow existing crews to build on skills and continue improving
• Protect the club’s equipment from damage, or misuse
• Provide a clear and transparent process for booking and allocating boats
• Ensure the most competitive crews are entered in races with the equipment most suited to them
• Allow less competitive crews the chance to enter races where possible
• Allow the club to manage the fleet effectively, in conjunction with the Boat Rigging Policy

• This policy provides guiding principles but may not address every possible circumstance.
• All rowers are to follow the Boat Rigging Policy when using all equipment.
• In no case will a boat be assigned exclusively to one person or crew unless the boat is the property of that person or crew.
• ‘Member’ refers to a financial member of the club. ‘Non-member’ refers to non-financial members of the club.
• The captain has the final say regarding allocation of boats.
• The Rowing Committee will remain open to suggestions and available to consult with members.
• Refer to related Boat and Equipment Damage Policy for information on liability and damage to WBRC equipment.

Training

Non-members:

• Non-members may learn to row in activities approved by the Captain.
• Boats to be used are tubs (green sticker) only – sculls, pairs, doubles, fours. Captain’s permission is required to use other boats.
• Non-members are allowed to attend for a maximum of 5 sessions before a membership fee is required to be paid.
• Where a financial member of the club requires equipment (ergo, boat, oars) in use by non-members, the financial member takes priority over the non-member.
• Non-members are not permitted to use weights equipment.

Members:

• All crews must use a tub when first starting. The coach or crew must ask the Captain for permission to use any racing boat.
• Crews may be given one-off permission to use a racing boat, or may be given ongoing permission to use a racing boat.
• When given permission for use of a racing boat, this extends only to the boat/s indicated by the Captain. It does not give the crew access to all racing boats in the fleet.
• Boats must be booked by writing the name of boat, crew names and times in the diary.
• Crews who train regularly should advise the rowing committee of their regular timeslot to inform other rowers of boat availability.

• Speedboats may only be used by appropriately licenced members of the club who have obtained permission from the Captain.
• Speedboat bookings must be written into the diary.
• Speedboats are sometimes rented out to visiting clubs, or may being repaired and may not always be available.
• If there is high demand for the boats the Captain will determine the crews who have use of the available speedboats.