On-River Safety Guide

The board reminds all rowers, coaches, and coxswains that your safety and the safety of everyone around you relies on the responsible behavior of EVERY PERSON. The weather during pre-season, and even during the regular season, on the Hudson River can be unpredictable. The following best practices must be followed and will help ensure safety for all involved:

  1. Prior to any shells being put in at the dock, the coach’s launch must be IN THE WATER, TIED UP and the ENGINE STARTED and IDLING.

  2. The launch must carry a number of PFDs equal to the number of rowers on the water at that time.

  3. Only after the launch has been prepared can any shells be put in. Once each shell is in the water, REMAIN IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE DOCK and wait for the other shell to launch and/or wait for your coach to get the launch out in open water.

  4. The launch and shell(s) should proceed up the river together and remain in close proximity during practice. It is extremely important that the coaches launch be able to quickly reach a shell in distress should an accident occur. If the boats are too far away from each other, the coach will not be able to get to you in time.

  5. When practicing early in the morning, late in the evening, with fog on the water or any other low-light condition – please attach NAVIGATION LIGHTS to the LAUNCH and the SHELLS. Rhinebeck Crew has a large box of LED battery powered lights in the boathouse specifically for this purpose. This is so commercial and pleasure craft can see you on the water.

This is by no means a complete list of requirements or safety procedures. We recommend carefully reviewing the safety section of the USRowing site for detailed safety protocols and videos on best practices for rowing safely.

General Safety Expectations:
https://usrowing.org/sports/2016/5/27/1135_132107060688980085.aspx