Cox Training Powerpoint for bridport Gig Rowing Club

1. B G R C
• Cox Training
• Visual Aids

2. Importance of Trim(List )

3. For and Aft Trim

4. Steering and Manoeuvring
• Lookout!
– Ahead and behind
• Maintain an awareness of
course and others
• Maintain awareness of
navigation rules
• Actions to avoid a collision?
– Emergency stops;
– Hold it up!
– Slap, bury and turn
STEERING and MANOUEVRING

5. • Rudder: (Only works
when boat moving)!
• Oars:
– Use less or more
Pressure
– Use all or some crew
members
– Rowing on, or backing
down
(Alternate or Spin)
• Boat Speed:
- Faster = Rudder more
Effective
• Water:
– Stream/Tide – (Especially in
Narrow Rivers or around
Headlands)
– Direction of Travel:
Upstream or Downstream
– Waves and Swell
– Wash from Other Boats
• Wind:
– Head – Tail – Cross
– Wind:Tide
STEERING and MANOUEVRING
Factors to consider when
steering/manoeuvring
8

6. Steering; when to steer?
• Oars – to manouevre the boat at low
speeds
• Rudder – when the spoons are in the
water, the rudder is less effective but has
less effect on the
– Balance
– Rhythm
– Comfort of the crew
– Speed of the boat
8
STEERING and MANOUEVRING

7. Steering; how much to steer?
• Steer early, little and often (not Late &
alot!)
• Account for the apparent delay between
applying the rudder and the boat changing
course
• Move the strings or toggles 5cm in each
direction
• Avoid repeatedly oversteering and
correcting
8
STEERING and MANOUEVRING

8. 2 - Steering moves
/Skids stern of boat
3 - New direction
1 - Boat travelling straight
forward
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STEERING and MANOUEVRING
Steering

9. Effect of water and weather
conditions on steering
The following will affect the cox’s ability to steer their boat;
• Water
– Stream
– Currents
– Waves
– Wash from boats
– Direction of travel; upstream/downstream
• Wind
– Head
– Tail
– Cross
STEERING and MANOUEVRING

10. Steering a course – NOT taking into
account wind and tide
Direction of
tide or wind
STEERING and MANOUEVRING

11. Direction of
tide or wind
Steering a course – taking into account
wind and tide
STEERING and MANOUEVRING

12. Using the stream/tide to
turn/manoeuvre
Turning from facing upstream to
facing downstream
• Start away from the stream/tide
• Turn the bows into stream/tide
• Stream will continue taking bows around
STEERING and MANOUEVRING

13. b
a
n
k
Stream/tide
Using the stream/tide to
turn/manoeuvre
STEERING and MANOUEVRING

14. • Long swells are fun and
the Cox can aid the speed
of the boat by calling for
faster shorter strokes as
the boat rises on the
wave. In this way the boat
is born along on the crest
of the wave and can
attain high speeds.
• However caution is
required!
Steering in Waves and Swell
STEERING and MANOUEVRING

15. • If the boat is heading
directly into waves it can
become very hard work for
the rowers. The waves
constantly check the speed
of the boat and waves often
break over the bow. In
these conditions it may be
more comfortable and
faster to angle the boat to
the waves reducing their
impact.
Steering in Waves and Swell
STEERING and MANOUEVRING

16. • Short breaking following
seas are much more
difficult to deal with. As the
boat starts to accelerate
down the face of the wave
the rudder becomes
progressively less
effective. In extreme
cases the boat may yaw to
one side and broach into
the trough, tipping the
rowers and the Cox into
the surf.
Steering in Waves and Swell
STEERING and MANOUEVRING

17. Avoid the Broach !

18. • Coxes must make sure
that the boat is kept at
right angles to the
following sea by
anticipating the boat
movement and making
small subtle adjustments
to the rudder. Never angle
a boat down the face of
a breaking wave
Steering in Waves and Swell
STEERING and MANOUEVRING

19. Steering on Rivers and Estuaries
• Make sure you have a knowledge of the river flow
and sandbank formation
With the river flow
• Always keep to the outside of
bends never cut corners
• Stay in the centre of the river
• Be aware of fast flowing and
shallow water
• Stay in dark water
Against the river flow
• Stay out of the main stream (closer to the bank)
• Look for eddies in the current
• Watch out for cavitation
STEERING and MANOUEVRING

20. Tides
The rise and fall of the tide, the direction and the rate
of flow of the tidal stream will affect progress.
The decision as to duration and direction of the
training session should take these factors into
account
SAFETY and RISK MANAGEMENT

21. Visual Aids Only
BGRC Cox Training

22. Note Time zone!

23. The Rule of 12ths

24. One page for each hour of tide
note Spring and neep rate

25. Effect on wave shape in Shalowing
water

26. Effect of wind against tide on wave size
and shape

27. Effect of cross seas on Wave shape and
size

28. Cross Seas, Armchair waves!

29. Measurements of Wind strength and
Sea state

30. Beaufort Scale from your bedroom
window!

31. Cleat Hitch
LIFTING, LAUNCHING AND LANDING

32. LIFTING, LAUNCHING AND LANDING
Bowline

33. LIFTING, LAUNCHING AND LANDING
Reef Knot

34. LIFTING, LAUNCHING AND LANDING
Round Turn and Two Half Hitches

35. Recognising Mild Hypothermia
• Symptoms of Mild hypothermia (35
degrees C and below)
•Blue lips and nails
•Rapid breathing
•Wheezing or cough
•Fast pulse
•Slurred speech
•Irrational behaviour
•Violent outbursts
•Complaints of feeling cold and tired
•Shivering
•Confusion
•Poor comprehension
•Disorientation
•Poor concentration
•Pale
SAFETY and RISK MANAGEMENT

36. Moderate to Severe Hypothermia
• Shivering stops rigid; lack of voluntary
motion
• Muscles become
• Very slow and shallow breathing
• Pulse slow/irregular
• Lack of responsiveness
SAFETY and RISK MANAGEMENT