In accordance with ARA recommendations and in the present age of suing, it is vital that all. rowers, coxes, bank parties and marshals know the CRA  safety plan for the Bumps.

To an outsider it might appear that the Bumps are very dangerous and should be avoided,  but,  with all participants well aware of these dangers,  and if they do as they are supposed to do, then the event is as safe as any other on a river, except for a few situations.

The dangers areas are :-

• When three (or more) boats are in close procession
• Boats of a very different standard following one another
• When a crab is caught or a rudder string breaks etc.
• When a crew does not or cannot get to the bank after a bump
• A member of a crew is actually in the water.

It is very nearly impossible to define when the river is blocked and crews must stop rowing (rule 5.4), however racing should continue if possible. If you can get past by pulling the blades in and paddling then do so, even if you have to stop you can usually get going again and avoid a technical rowover, however, if you can only get past by hitting a cox or rower then don’t.  If you are the third boat some distance behind a bump and you clearly go to the narrow side of the crew in front and get bumped that’s your hard luck, if the crew in front heads across your path then the river might become blocked.

Bank parties are there to help, however, it is the marshals who are watching the overall situation, and who must see that the event, as far as possible, remains running, but they must bear safety in mind and quickly weigh one against the other. They have the final say and if they consider that the race should be stopped then they will sound an air horn and wave a red flag. All crews must stop racing, however if the marshals consider that a bump was inevitable it will be given but others crews will be treated as having rowed over.

It is therefore essential that there are sufficient experienced marshals and your club must provide its allocated number to make this work.  If  clubs find it difficult to provide a starting bank party in addition to a marshal, then the jobs can be doubled up as any dangers  (and indeed “umpire” duties) are mostly during the racing.  A static marshal can of course be less mobile and will not need a bike.. The marshal need not be the same person throughout the evening.

Marshals will be linked by intercom and in addition some will have mobile phones.  All static positions will be equipped with throw lines and thermal blankets.  There will be qualified First Aiders at Grassy Corner with a suitable stretcher for carrying on the towpath. They will have a CRA link and marshals will be told their mobile number which will be displayed at the Gunshed.  In the unfortunate situation of the ambulance having to take someone to hospital,  all marshals will be informed and an emergency plan will be put into effect.

All participants must be made aware of the full arrangements and especially the whereabouts of the fixed positions and all phones, throw lines etc. See map (Click on map to see larger size).........