These notes are to help in the safe running of the Bumps.  They do not cover your club’s customs on the countdown, bumping signals, note Air Horns are not allowed, or where to steer etc. 
During the races there are two overriding dangers(a) losing your head and (b) following the boat in front. 
Make sure that you have read and understood all the rules particularly in Sections 4 & 5, also the Bumps Safety Code.

Before you leave the boathouse check your bow ball, lifejacket and heel restraints are all in order, and you and bow have your crew numbers pinned on and remind the crew that they MUST listen to you,your coach and the marshals during the race.

You must be at the Railway Bridge twenty minutes before your race.

You must go from there to the start in reverse order. There will be a marshal to help.At the start you must let other crews go past you before you turn.All you do is delay everyone if you ignore every other crew and hold them up when turning. You must be opposite or on your chain four minutes before your race.

You must have a person on the bank, who is there to help you generally and particularly with safety. Make sure that you and your crew know who that person is.Your crew must do as you say, but they must also do what your coach or a marshal says.It is often too late to give orders through you and the person on the bank can see much more than you can. If the coach gives an order you must get your crew to do it immediately.

At the start initially hold the chain away from the bung to give some slack and keep your hand above the water.Watch for a gap two in front, because if there is then the crew in front of you will stop, having got a “bump” as soon as they pass that position.

Know where your finish is and that the second half of the division may go on to get a bump (or overbump).Do not easy until your stern is well past the finish.

If during normal racing the river appears congested, aim for the widest gap, even if it means using a lot of rudder, and if necessary pulling in blades, the definition of when the river is blocked is not clear and will vary by the second but within reasonable safety limits it is up to you to get through. You cannot do this alone, with only the rudder - it is up to your crew to listen and help by one side or one or two only rowing.

However if the river really is blocked and to keep going would compromise the safety of individuals (not just boats or oars) then hold it hard and keep a watch for any following boats.

When the marshals or umpires consider that the river is blocked they will sound an air horn and wave a red flag. You must stop racing immediately. If you are nearly involved in a bump, you must stop and the marshals may award a bump otherwise all crews are deemed to have rowed over.

Bumping
 You must acknowledge a bump as soon as you are hit, or as soon as you see the bows level with you or you know a bump is inevitable or you have orders to acknowledge from your coach or the marshal, but do not wait for the marshal to speak. When acknowledging hold your hand well up and make sure that the cox behind has seen it before lowering it. Before the Plough an overlap to coxes seat is a bump, you must acknowledge it.
 When your crew is bumpedthey must keep going and go into the bank as smoothly as possible. If you go in bows first your stern will swing round and you may block the river. Some members of your crew will ignore you shout at them.
 As soon as you see the cox in front acknowledge, or you hear your coach or the marshal say that a bump has been made - your crew must hold it hard then immediately restart rowing again, going into the nearest bank as smoothly as possible.

You must shout at the crew members who feel that celebrating is the first thing. Safety of everyone comes first.

Try not to impede following crews, see which side they are of your stern.

When involved in a bump get in and parallel to the bank BEFORE letting you crew relax Pull your blades in and also keep them off the towpath. Try not to impede the crews behind.

You must avoid the bows becoming attached to one of the other crew’s riggers, as this often leads to a blocked river.

Accidents happen to the following crews, you may be one. You must listen to your coach, who can see much clearer than you can how close you are to a bump. If you have little or no hope you must start taking avoiding action early and head for the open side. If you are bumped because you followed the shortest course regardless of the slow or stationary boats in front, then that’s your fault. If you find that you have not got clear water, then your crew must hold it hard and hopefully almost immediately start off again, as a gap will soon open up so you can get going again. Don’t just stop, unless you hear an air horn or see a red flag waving.

Get it through to your crew that they must listen to orders and do them regardless of what they think (As in the army they are not paid to think)

If you want to dispute a bump tell the marshal immediately.

Record your bump after the race at ’99 Boathouse.