Durham Amateur Rowing Club

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Rules of the River Wear

These rules are based on the rules accepted by Durham ARC, DUBC and Durham School that were in force in the 1960's. The rules are set out in a reduced format and represent the essential rules that will ensure river safety. 

Coaches and coxes must make themselves familiar with the rules and the river. Both need to know the marks, the various standard distances and main areas of danger as well as respect the effect of stream. 

One of the major problems is crews stopping on the river. A crew sitting on the water is a hazard. The hazard becomes very dangerous when not pushed right into the bank, when it is on a stretch of the river where crews may well be doing a timed piece of work moving at full speed. Parts of the river are covered at motorway speed and a parked boat in the fast lane may well lead to a lethal situation. You must not stop for a lecture on rowing along the 1000m stretch (below DARC to Royal County) and the Minute Reach (Kingsgate to Count's House) due to high risk of collision with a crew doing a timed piece. It is good practice to inform other crews on the water of any work schedules that may be important to safety and not just do a piece with expectations that others will have to get out of the way - inform others. 

A Map of the River Wear in Durham is available for use with these rules.

Rules of the River 

1. All boats MUST keep to the RIGHT HAND side of the river. The bowside of the boat is close to the bank. This means that boats going upstream keep to St. Oswalds side of the river, taking easy arch (no. 1) of Elvet Bridge and racecourse side to Durham ARC. Boats going downstream to keep to Pelaw Wood, hard arch (no. 2) and Hatfield side to Counts Comer. 

2. The OVERTAKING boat MUST move to the centre of the river. The OVERTAKING boat has right of way over the boat being overtaken. The boat being overtaken MUST keep as close as possible to the bank, 

3. An OVERTAKING CREW rowing downstream has right of way over an overtaking crew rowing upstream. 

4. Crews that are stationary because they are being coached or rested must do so on a part of the river where they pose no major hazard. For crews to be stationary on the parts of the river that are used for timed pieces is not to be done. Any crew stationary MUST be as close to the bank as possible. 

5. As far as possible boats should only be turned at the following points : 

   1. Above Durham ARC landing up around Durham Old Beck, the start and finish of the short course and below the finish of the long course at Counts House. 

   2. The start and finish of the 500m reach provided that the crew is rowing off immediately. 

   3. Where it is necessary to turn a boat at any other point, coaches and crews must do so with great care and circumspection. 

6. Crews should NOT turn between : 

   1. Upstream end of Brown's landing and 100m below Elvet Bridge. 

   2. 50m above and below Van Mildert boathouse. 

   3. Collingwood and Durham ARC unless rowing off immediately. 

7. Crews leaving a landing and crossing the river must do so as quickly as possible. Crews returning to their landing must not crossover until almost opposite the landing. 

8. ALL CREWS BOATING IN DARKNESS OR ARE LIKELY TO BE AFLOAT IN DARKNESS MUST CARRY LIGHTS. The bow light to be white and the stern to be red. The light has to be visible to crews moving in the opposite direction; bow's rigger is not a good mounting position. In the dark the position of a crew on the river is most important, as is the knowledge of other river users including canoeists; extra care is always needed. (Note this is a local rule and is different to that operation on most other waterways.)

9. CREWS ARE NOT TO BOAT IN HIGH FLOOD. For a crew to boat in flood conditions, depends upon the ability of the crew and the judgment of the coach. Senior crews must not go afloat if the water is covering the downstream retaining wall of the city landing and no juniors are to boat if the water is covering the upstream retaining wall. No crews should boat when there are rising flood conditions; this is when the river is high and rising, with excessive rainfall and a high chance of large amounts of driftwood. 

NOTES: COACHING ON THE RIVER WEAR 

Coaches have the responsibility to educate all athletes not only the technical aspects of our sport but also the importance of safety and the rules of the river. All athletes have the responsibility to be aware of and abide by the ARA safety code and the local rules as adopted by the club. 

1. Make sure that your crew is on the correct side of the river. 

2. If you want to stop the crew in order to talk to them, make sure that you do so in a safe place and that the boat is as close to the bank as possible. No crews should be inconvenienced or in danger as a result of your action, such as a coaching stop along the "concrete" 

3. Avoid giving a rowing exercise when it will impede the progress of other crews, this is especially important when approaching Elvet Bridge. 

4. Keep slow moving boats as near to the bank as possible. 

5. Give way to crews that are obviously "Rowing a Course" and coming past. 

6. Turn crews at the most suitable places on the river i.e. Between 50m below Baths and New Elvet Bridge Above Old Durham Beck and Old Ruined Railway Bridge. Downstream of Count's House. 

7. Be aware of other river users and try to anticipate their movements, especially boats that do not have coxes like scullers and pairs. Shout warnings if necessary. 

8. Be aware of the possibility of crews approaching landing stages on the wrong side of the river, such as at the landings around Kingsgate and at Bede and Collingwood 

9. Always warn crews, your own as well as others, of approaching danger. 

10. Make sure that your crew is capable of stopping the boat in the case of an emergency. 

11. Try to avoid pleasure boats by getting your crew out of their way. They can do more damage to you than you to them. They do not know the rules of the river. 

12. Try, when possible, to go behind pleasure boats as they can not stop as easily as you. 

13. If you need lights make sure that they are going to last the outing. 

14. Do not take inexperienced crews out in bad conditions. It is better to be safe than sorry. 

15. Novice crews with novice cox should only be on the water with very experienced coaches. 

16. All crews and cox should be 100m swimmers, with a lifejacket for cox. 

17. Show tolerance to novice crews and coxes we all have to learn. 

18. Be aware of "THE PRINCE BISHOP". When moored it narrows the water available and it can cause a hazard as the amount of vision is also reduced. 

Have safe and enjoyable rowing. 

NOTES: COXING ON THE RIVER WEAR 

A cox is in charge of the boat and the first responsibility that any cox has is the safety of the crew of the boat and that the boat does not endanger any other river users. The second responsibility is to follow the direction of the coach and to steer the boat along the most suitable course. The skills of a cox are greatly respected and can be developed by sculling, studying books and gaining knowledge and understanding from the experienced. The cox has the responsibility to be aware of the safety code of the ARA and the locally adopted rules as well as river knowledge as shown on the map of the River Wear. Below are some notes on important safe coxing practice. 

1. It is good practice to boat with the BOW pointing UPSTREAM. This enables the cox to have control over the boat. This is most important when there is a stream on the river. At Durham ARC Landing it also prevents crews leaving the landing and causing problems with traffic coming upstream. After leaving crews can turn just past the Old Beck. If Durham ARC crews turn off the landing it sets a bad example to college crews who if they had the habit of turning around the same place the resulting congestion would cause major problems. 

2. Turning the boat : 

   1. Make sure that you are in a safe position to turn. There are places that other users expect boats to be turning. 

   2. Check to make sure that you are not going to impede other crews. This check will involve a look over the shoulder to determine if there are going to be following crews that will be up to you before the turn is complete. 

   3. Turn as quickly as possible, trying to leave room for any passing crews. 

   4. If possible use the stream to help the boat round. This is done by, if tuning to downstream, then bowside taking a few strokes so that the fast water in the middle of the river pushes the bow. If turning to upstream then part crossing the stream by bowside rowing then leaving the stern in the stream as the turn is completed; this not only speeds up the turn but leaves the boat in a correct position. 

   5. When completing a turn move off or right into the bank. DO NOT JUST SIT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RIVER. 

3. You are not to turn close to Elvet Bridge. If turning above this bridge consider the stream and how much room you will need. The faster the stream the more room is needed. If you feel that you are too close then go through and turn below or back a down until you have a safe distance. The current will push the boat towards Browns. Be decisive, if you hesitate the stream will take charge. 

4. The cox is in charge of the boat even if a coach is present. Responsive action needs to be taken at all times. When asked to easy by the coach: 

   1. Do your check to make sure that you do not impede others. 

   2. Move to the bowside bank and easy. 

   3. Don't hesitate to interrupt if the boat is drifting out into the river. Quietly give instructions to keep the boat in. 

   4. Be on the lookout for other boats. Warn coxless boats. Be ready to ask your crew to pull in the oars. 

5. On a river the boat usually drifts in the direction that the upstream end is pointing. This means that if you are parked up then the upstream end needs to be pointing into the bank. You will be pushed and held close to the bank. The stronger the stream the greater the effect. 

6. Overtaking is a maneuver that needs considerations. a) Is it clear ahead and check over your shoulder for following boats. b) Is the boat that you want to pass close to the bank. If not shout that you want to pass. c) Move out when about 1 length from overlapping (going upstream if you move out too soon you will probably never catch them). d}As soon as you have clear water move back to your side. 

7. The rudder works by creating drag on the side of the boat towards which you want to turn; this means that it also acts as a break and slows the boat down. On a straight stretch of the river keep the boat on course by small rudder movements. Pick a distant steering mark such as the spire on St. Nicholas Church going down the Racecourse, and correct as soon as the boat wanders off. 

   Remember that there is always a response lag both before and after. Once the boat has changed direction it will continue to do so even after the rudder has been put to centre. Permanent zigzags can be avoided by squeezing a little opposite rudder as the boat comes back onto course. 

Durham ARC is a coaching centre and has run a number of coaching courses to all levels. If you need any information then contact the club. (0191 386 6431) enquiries@durham-arc.org.uk