Marconi Harkers Yard Rowing Race – Sunday 7th January 2018
EVENT CANCELLED DUE TO STRONG WIND FORECAST
Marconi Sailing Club are looking forward to welcoming you all to our club for the a round of the Harkers Yard Rowing Race series on Sunday 7th January 2018.
Here is some essential information about the day and what you can expect.
Essential Info
Race Officer – Peter Clayton (and assistants)
Assistance from Mersea and Brightlingsea Rowing Clubs
OOD (Officer Of The Day) – Commodore Michaela Dowley
Our OOD will wear a Hi Viz vest and be ready to welcome you be in the area of our main Flagstaff or the Hard/Sea Wall gates.
We will have a Launch Marshall to co-ordinate launching order and trailers etc.
A separate team will be on hand to operate the electric winch with more dressed to help the wet end of launching. Responsibility for launching will remain with the Gig Team’s own crew.
Support Boat co-ordinator(s) – Pat Shaw/Dave Clarke
Entry Form – Download Registration Form
Directions
Marconi Sailing Club
Stansgate Road
Steeple
Essex
CM0 7NU
http://www.marconi-sc.org.uk/about-marconi-sailing-club/find-us/
At the end or the road there is a blue gate which will be open on your arrival (at other times it requires a club member with a key card for entry or departure)
When arriving by car to the Marconi site, please note that the speed limit on site is 5mph. A parking co-ordinator (Richard Robarts) will be on hand to direct you to a suitable parking location (please avoid driving on the wet grass fields unless advised otherwise, as they will get rutted and you may get stuck!). They will also suggest where cars towing gigs should prep their boats. Launching boats please roll launching trolleys or trailers by hand to sea wall gate to our Hard/Slipway. The OOD will be between the flagstaff area and the hard / Sea Wall gates and direct you to the Launch Marshal
Cars are not allowed on to the hard unless directed by the OOD or Launch Marshall. – please park as directed, and wheel your trailer or launch trolley, where you will be assisted down to the water by lowering on a winch.
Schedule for the Day
EVENT CANCELLED DUE TO STRONG WIND FORECAST
Low Water 09.38
09.30 Trailers c/w boats to the hard, queue as directed, we hope to be able to get a good number of trailers down the Choc-block of our hard using our electric winch assistance will be provided by Marconi Club Members (Colin Wardell and his team)
The boats can stay on trailers on the gravel (ready for teams to launch boats later after briefing – i.e. from 10.45) as it is low tide
Please be aware of very slippery conditions caused by Ice if cold, and seaweed, plus trip hazards of blocks, wires, and winch ropes.
09.30 Also Registration commences, in the clubhouse (the Galley – upstairs)
The Galley will be available for food and hot drinks from 9.30 until approx. 14.30 to enable everyone to get breakfast rolls and lunch. A vegetarian option will be provided. (the galley is upstairs in the clubhouse)
Changing facilities with toilets and showers on site, room to leave bags and coats etc. there too for easy access through the day.
Our site is easily accessible to people of all abilities, with level access to the club house, special toilet and shower facilities, and a stair lift to access the galley (where views of most of the race can be attained)
Our sewage system is “Off Mains”, powered by our own pumps. Please only flush human waste down toilets (to avoid blockage and associated unpleasant tasks).
Dogs are allowed on site, but must always be on a lead (please clear up after your dog). Dogs are not permitted in the clubhouse (mooring points are provided)
We will arrange suitable places to moor Gigs, if necessary RIBs can take boats or crews to/from these designated moorings.
10.30 Briefing for all in the clubhouse (the Galley – upstairs)
We will highlight our facilities, risks and local conditions to all here.
A Chart/Map of the course will be demonstrated at the briefing, and the course marks pointed out (through the window)
10.45 Launching commences from (note; below half tide).
Please be aware of very slippery conditions caused by Ice if cold, and seaweed, plus trip hazards of blocks, wires, and winch ropes.
The floating pontoon is currently part dismantled under repair – do not use without permission from the OOD (Lifejackets must be worn by all on pontoon and to and from boats. Please be careful to avoid overloading or unbalancing the pontoon. No unsupervised children)
Races
12.00 – Ladies
12.45 – Mens
13.30 – Mixed
14.15 – Retrieve boats on to trailers will be at mid tide. Please recover your boats with the assistance of our OOD / Marshal to road trailers. Hoses are provided to wash down. You can then attend the clubhouse for refreshment and results / Prizegiving
Only bring cars to collect boats & trailers as you leave site please
15.00 – Prizegiving
16.34 – High Water
The bar will be open from approx. 12.00 (until it goes quiet!), it is located below the galley.
We would gladly receive any prize donations for a raffle in aid of the RNLI
– this will be drawn after prizegiving.
Rules
Entry Fee – £ 10 per boat, per race
Harkers Yard 2017/8 season Rules to be adhered to. The following will be highlighted at briefing
Collision regs apply
“Gigs Pass Port to Port if head on”
“Overtaking Gig keeps clear (including at the start), Overtaken gig maintains course”
“4 boat length overlap rule at marks” – Coxswain to call “Overlap Established”
Signing On
When Registering / signing on the team captain or responsible person will assess capability of coxswains and crew for the prevailing conditions and course, and is responsible for briefing his cox’ns and their crews accordingly. It is the responsibility of each individual to decide whether he/she should race, that they understand all rules and weather conditions, and retire or withdraw if unhappy.
Please radio check to “Marconi Race Office” on VHF Channel M2/P4 before casting off to race.
The Course
An exciting Massed Start race course will be set on the day, and will be dependent upon conditions – we are aiming for approx. 1 ½ miles, and to be in view from the clubhouse & sea wall, most of the time, coming close by to finish.
The start will be from the race box, which is about 300m to the East (to the right if looking from the hard) of our Hard / slipway
The start line will be by alignment of Flagstaff Mast behind the race box with the Mete (Post) in front of the race box
All boats must start outside of the aforementioned post, and inside a distance mark (to be identified if required in the race briefing)
Timing will be 5-4-1-GO, for info – the sequence of the hooter is pre-set.
Radio will relay countdown with addition of a 10 second countdown – please use VHF Channel M2/P4
Retrieving
Will be towards high tide, please recover your boats with the assistance of our OOD / Marshal to road trailers. Hoses are provided to wash down. You can then attend the clubhouse for refreshment and results. Push boats on trailers back through the seawall gate please, only bring cars to collect boats & trailers as you leave site
Contact Details
Any queries, please feel free to contact me for help.
I look forward to welcoming you on the 7th.
Kevin Stubbs, Rowing Captain (Gig Elettra)
Marconi SC Rowers
07957 797099
Rowing@marconi-sc.org.uk