A FEW THINGS TO KEEP US SAFE AND KEEP US ROWING IN 2010

1 - Check The White Board 2 – Read Barge Placement and Daily Arch Use 3 - Check in with coach to confirm traffic patterns and lane use Look at the river – actual barge placement Does it match the board? Are there lights on the barges? Can you see your launch path? Lights – you must have NON-BLINKING lights on all boats RED/GREEN light in the bow and SOLID WHITE in the stern Make sure you have working lights – do not use weak lights Suggested to wear light colored or reflective colors on the water PRE-LAUNCH PREP

Traffic Pattern: Stay as far to starboard as safely possible. Lane 0 for launching and landing only Barge Placement/Construction Before you launch, the coaches will confirm traffic patterns, including which  lane will be used for upriver travel and which lane will be used for the downriver travel.   All ACBA programs will be following the exact same pattern. If a barge moves during practice time, the lanes may change without warning. In this event, crews/coaches should choose the most starboard open lane. A coaching launch must closely accompany a crew through the bridge. ACBA 11th Street Bridges Traffic Pattern Policy During Construction

Crews must be on the paddle at least 100 meters before arriving at the bridge. Crews must paddle through the11th Street bridges Single file at all times. Be alert for moving barges and approaching crews. Try to limit travel through the 11th street bridges Recommendation is twice during a practice outing Once - departing the dock to begin practice AND Twice - returning to the dock at the conclusion of practice If the barges moved and the traffic pattern changed while you were on the water, upon returning to the Boathouse, your coach must update the White Board and send email notification to the ACBA Coaches listserv

When crossing the river, do not angle across.  Crossing must occur quickly.  Turn your boat perpendicular to traffic, cut straight across the river and then complete your turn.  Never stop in the perpendicular position. Always avoid turning or crossing the river near a bridge.   If you want to change directions in the vicinity of the 11th Street Bridge, you must make sure your boat is first outside the construction zone.  This means turns must occur north of Eastern Power Boat Club and south of the large No Wake buoy.   Because buoys can move, make your turn close to the naval ship, "The Barry”. ALWAYS RETURN TO THE REGULAR RIVER TRAFFIC PATTERN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE UPON EXITING THE BRIDGE ARCH. SIGN UP FOR TWITTER ACBA RIVER ALERTS TO GET UPDATED TEXT INFORMATION ABOUT BARGE LOCATIONS. If you use Twitter, you can follow ACBA River Alerts directly - http://twitter.com/ACBARiverAlerts Or you can text "Follow ACBARiverAlerts" to 40404.

Up River Direction Down River Direction 0 Divided Arch - Lane Assignment Map

10 TIPS FOR ROWERS WHO FIND THEMSELVES IN THE COXSWAIN SEAT

1) KNOW THE ANACOSTIA RIVER’S TRAFFIC PATTERN AND PROPER ARCH USAGE - STAY OUT OF THE MIDDLE OF THE RIVER.* 2) CHECK THE POWER ON YOUR COX BOX AND TEST IT WITH THE MIC BEFORE TAKING THE BOAT OFF THE RACK. 3) BRING A WHISTLE WITH ATTACHED TOOLS AND GLOW STICK. 4) LIGHTS: IF IT’S DARK, OR FADES TO DARK, WHEN YOU ARE ROWING, TURN THE BOAT LIGHTS ON BEFORE LEAVING THE BOATHOUSE OR DOCK. 5) KNOW WHICH DIRECTION YOU ARE GOING FOR PRACTICE & ESTABLISH A PLACE TO WAIT AND MEET UP WITH YOUR COACH *Traffic patterns determined daily – middle of river could be used at 11th Street Bridge span ARE YOUR LIGHTS WORKING?

6) TURNING YOUR BOAT: HOLDING THE RUDDER LINE WITH BOTH HANDS RIGHT HAND TURN = RIGHT HAND MOVES FORWARD LEFT HAND TURN = LEFT HAND MOVES FORWARD MAKE YOUR TURN ADJUSTMENTS VERY SLIGHT DRAMATIC USE OF THE RUDDER LINE LEADS TO POOR STEERING 7) STEER FIRST - TALK SECOND: SAFE STEERING IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE. ONCE YOU ARE SUCCESSFUL WITH YOUR STEERING THEN YOU CAN BEGIN TALKING AND ENCOURAGING YOUR CREW. 8) HEAD UP - EYES FORWARD - EARS OPEN - ALWAYS BE ON THE LOOK-OUT FOR OTHER BOAT TRAFFIC AND DON’T FORGET TO LOOK BEHIND YOU - ASK YOUR STROKE OR BOW SEAT TO ALERT YOU TO BOAT TRAFFIC APPROACHING FROM BEHIND YOUR VESSEL.

9) COMMUNICATING TO YOUR CREW: BE CLEAR, SPEAK FIRMLY AND CONFIRM THE CREW CAN HEAR YOU AND THEY ARE READY TO EXCUTE YOUR COMMAND. 10) IF YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO, ASK AND ALWAYS PUT THE SAFETY OF YOUR CREW AND BOAT FIRST! Have fun & Be Safe!!

WHAT IS WRONG IN THIS PICTURE? Use life jackets or shoes to elevate your body if you don’t fit into a coxswain seat. DO NOT sit on the boat deck.

A Special Request If you have a problem with another crew either docking or on the water – please try to minimize the amount of on water scolding you serve. If the situation is not resolved to the satisfaction of safety, then please report the incident to your coach and allow your coach to contact the other crews’ coach with concerns.

LOCKING UP:  The first coach to arrive this morning found the street-side gate to the back lot open, the back door to the boathouse open AND the center boathouse bay door wide open.  None of our equipment was secured, and in the dark, this group had to enter the facility knowing everything was exposed and accessible to unwelcome visitors.    We must be vigilant about making sure all compound gates and boathouse bay doors are shut and locked.   Please close the compound gates and lock the boathouse when your practice is over.   Even if others are around – still lock up.  All groups (coaches and small boaters) should be going out on the water with a set of boathouse keys, so no one should be in jeopardy of getting locked out.   

USE OF BACK LOT:  Please ask your program participants to minimize parking in the back lot unless they have a direct need (dropping off heavy supplies, access to tools, etc.)  This area is primarily a Rigging Yard, not a parking lot.  Stop parking in the backlot if you are going to practice.    During regatta days, personal parking is prohibited in the back lot. When member organizations "reserve" the site for a large-scale event, they have the right to restrict personal use on the eve of their event until the event concludes.  This is for the safety of their participants and equipment.  If you are a trailer driver - we ask you to schedule your trips to and from the boathouse so that they do not conflict with the special events.  Please don't expect to have access to the back lot while another event is in full swing.      And one other thing, when one does have to park in the compound be sure to leave plenty of space in front of the dumpster so the truck can get in to pick up the trash.  The dumpster is full to overflowing because the truck couldn't get in last week, the dumpster was blocked.  The driver won't wait.  So…keep the area in front of the dumpster open!!

Don’t forget to turn in your emergency medical information and USRA wavier forms before you get on the water! THE END