Bumps Instructions for Coxes

There are separate sets of marshalling instructions according to where you boat from. Colleges are approximate - please read the right ones:

• Top Boathouse stretch (St. Hugh's, St.. Anne's, Wadham, S.E.H., Pembroke, Corpus, St. John's, Jesus, Keble amongst others)
• Lower Boathouse stretch (Exeter, BNC, Oriel, Lincoln, Queen's, Balliol, New, Worcester, Merton, LMH, Magdalen, Trinity, Christ Church and others)
• Univ Raft (Univ, Linacre, St. Peter's, Wolfson etc)
• Long Bridges Boathouse (St. Catz, Hertford, Mansfield, St. Hilda's, St. Benet's, Green Templeton etc)
• Falcon/City/Isis Boathouse (not in current use by colleges)

MAIN BUMPS HANDOUT

Safety

• check lifejackets (on top of all other clothing), no buoyancy aids,
• bowball securely attached,
• heel restraints
• EA licence plate.
• In Torpids, crews in the last 2 divisions should have lights with them, but there will be no racing in the dark - the lights are only in case of decreased visibility at the end of the day.
• Coach on the bank, or at least a representative. Novice coxes must have a competent coach with them at all times.

Timing

• you need to be at the river at least 1 hour before your race time, so on the first day, meet in the lodge 1.5 hours before.
• Rowers should not eat lunch less than 3 hours before racing.
• Check the cox and coach have accurate watches - the coach's should have seconds as well as minutes and hours.
• As the division 2 before yours comes past, the division just before yours will push off, and you can put your boat on the raft, blades drawn in.
• Psych up and warm up over the next 25 minutes.
• As the division preceeding yours goes past, crew get into the boat, and as the last racing crew goes past, push off and start your warmup.
• Ideally be near your bungline as the 5-minute gun goes, and at least you MUST be through the Gut by this point.
• As the 1-minute gun goes, you should be attached and ready.
• 60 seconds later the start gun goes.
• If for any reason the start gun does not go within 10 seconds of its scheduled time, the start sequence begins again and the next gun heard (however soon) is the 1-minute gun again.

Warm-Up

• Top half of the river (Head to Long Bridges) is keep-left, ie onto strokeside. You do not need to go right up to the Head to spin, but you must give way to crews rowing along, and make sure you have space before you turn, without impeding anyone. As race time draws near, sensible crews will turn with each other, so be ready to communicate with other coxes.
• CRUISERS WILL TAKE THE MIDDLE WATER on the top stretch - make sure you leave space for them.
• Try to avoid dashing up to them and then stopping - they do not understand about practice starts.... See particular marshalling instructions for your boathouse.
• As you reach the top of the Gut, move to bowside and then through the Gut and on the bottom stretch down to Haystacks, keep-right (to bowside) as for normal rowing. You do not have to go right to Haystacks.
• After turning and when you are ready to go to your bungline, give way to crews coming down, before you cross to your position by the towpath.
• Beside the bunglines, you may have to move either way to avoid spinning crews, but if you have to move to your strokeside, give way to crews coming in the opposite direction, as they are in the correct place.
• Crews who warm up mostly on the top (boathouses) stretch of the river must go straight to their bunglines when they reach them, do not go past. In Torpids, start spinning by your number, no lower, as the stream will move you quite a long way. You can spin in either direction by the bunglines.

Problems

• If you have an equipment problem or clash of crew members or shells, please inform OURCs at the earliest opportunity, if necessary by talking to the nearest marshal.
• If there is reasonable cause the Senior Umpire may delay a division for your crew, but s/he will NOT do this if not told as early as possible about your problem.
• For breakages, pull in to the nearest boathouse to borrow tools etc. or get down to the bunglines where the boatmen may be able to help you fix the problem.

Racing line

• The best, where possible, is up the towpath side to the Gut, straight line as much as you can through the Gut and onto the Green bank, up two-thirds of the Green bank then cross to the towpath, up past OUBC to the Head. However, you may want to delay crossing to OUBC or go over early for strategic reasons.
• Crews for the next division on all rafts MUST NOT let their shells or blades impede crews racing past - if necessary they should lift boats out to avoid a problem.

Bumps

• [A] In Eights, BOTH CREWS STOP RACING.
  The eight getting the bump should wind down as soon as they get it, and move out of the racing line.
  The eight being bumped should wind down after a couple more strokes, and move away, without stopping.

  [B] In Torpids, THE CREW BEING BUMPED CARRIES ON RACING.

  The eight getting the bump should wind down as soon as they get it, and move out of the racing line.

  The eight being bumped should just continue, moving away without stopping. Crews being bumped in Torpids may choose to acknowledge early, which will probably help them. If they do, the cox should keep their hand up for 4-6 strokes to make certain the cox of the chasing crew sees it.

  When you get a bump, stay clear of all racing crews and only start to return to your boathouse after the last racing crew passes. But do start moving back as soon as the safety launch passes you, don't delay.

  Bumps with blades-on-blades are the most effective, and boat-on-boat hardest to get. Blades-on-boat are the most dangerous since they risk you hitting people. Avoid them if possible.

  Coxes should acknowledge with the hand furthest away from the crew chasing them, or with their left hand if in doubt.

  Hold it up and out clearly (45 degrees), straight arm, and keep it up for several strokes. Penalties may be awarded for late concessions, or for crews ignoring acknowledgements.

After racing

• See instructions for your boathouse.
• General rule is that if you are beyond your boathouse, you join the circulation pattern to return.
• If you bumped out before it, you can probably go straight in as soon as the last racing crew passes you, but don't delay or it may be too late.

Coxing

• Penalty bumps or fines may be awarded to crews for dangerous coxing, either during or between divisions.
• The status of coxes may also be altered as part of the penalty, at the discretion of the Captain of Coxes, for short or long periods.
• All novice coxes must have a competent coach on the bank with them at all times.
• It is suggested that coxes inform coaches and stern pair of the current marshalling and racing rules and ensure that they are certain of what to do before they go on the water.
• Coaches please avoid telling your coxes to make dangerous or illegal manoeuvres.
• Coxes should also have an idea of who the last few crews in their division are, so that they can spot the last racing crew if they bump out.
• Coxes MUST stop as soon as a klaxon is sounded, as the rescue launches may have to move quickly to help people. It is the cox's responsibility to stop as soon as a klaxon is heard, not wait to have it confirmed.

Technical/Penalty bumps

• Technical bumps are awarded against crews who do not start in accordance with the rules.
• They will normally be one bump but may be more if the crew attempted to race and was bumped, or if OURCs feel the crew never intended to start.
• Penalty bumps are awarded against crews for dangerous conduct or illegal interference.

Disputes

• You must get your bank representative/coach to talk to OURCs either at the desk or via a marshal, as soon as possible.
• There is not necessarily enough time for the cox or rowers to go to the OURCs desk at Long Bridges.
• Only one representative per crew.
• Read the rules on disputes very carefully before you try to lodge an appeal - there are time limits.
• If necessary you can ask a marshal to contact the OURCs desk by radio if you are disputing a decision.