River Conditions - be aware!

If you are in any doubt about whether red boards are in place or not you need to check before boating. You can call the Environment Agency Floodline on 0845 9881188 and press option 1 on the keypad followed by the quick dial short-cut  011131 which will give the latest details of river conditions.

Please bear in mind that Yellow board mean that stream conditions are subject to change and that this may happen whilst you are on the water.  

You can also check the conditions using  this link to the Environment Agency website for flood warning on the Thames.

The following rules, which have been agreed with our insurer, apply when the Captain or Vice Captain judge that conditions are not severe enough to stop crew using the river with care even though Environment Agency “Red Warning” boards are being displayed at the local locks.

·      The Captain (and or Vice Captain) will assess the risk of boating, taking into account the condition of the river and the prevailing weather conditions on that day. A notice clearly stating whether crews may boat and the date will be displayed on the Clubhouse door. The Captain (and/or Vice Captain’s decision is final and binding on club members.

 ·      Under no circumstances will members under 18 be allowed on the river

·     Only double skiffs with experienced oars persons and coxswains will be allowed on the river – this means NO SINGLES!!!!

·      Crews shall not boat between sunset and sunrise i.e. No outings in the dark

·      The Captain (and/or Vice Captain) will decide the limit of the area in which skiffing is allowed based on the conditions. In any case these will not extend further than Shepperton Lock in the upstream direction and the TVSC boathouse

·      No crew should attempt to go through Walton Bridge if the Captain or Vice Captain deem conditions to be too dangerous

·      When passing through Walton Bridge, at any time, crew will use the arch to the Middlesex side of the centre when going upstream and the arch to the Surrey side of the centre when coming downstream. The arches nearest the bank are not to be used.

·      In the absence of the Captain or a Vice Captain to assess the conditions, no crews will boat whilst red warnings are in force

If you have any doubts about stream and weather conditions DO NOT BOAT.

In addition to the above we have some additional guidelines when boating when river conditions are suitable for skiffing but the red warnings are inforce:

Although the Club’s insurance allows adults in doubles to be on the river during periods when EA Red Warnings are in force, there are some important water safety points that you should be aware of too:

• Don’t assume that the conditions are good enough for an outing. The speed of the stream and the wind can combine to make it dangerous to go out. You will need to use common sense to make a judgement but if in doubt, don’t go out. Boats are expensive but replaceable, people are not.
• If you are going out as a single crew please make sure you keep the club informed by writing your name, date and time you boat and when you expect to be back on the white board in the boat house.
• Make sure who ever is coxing knows what they are doing and has enough warm clothes. Someone who is coxing for the whole outing will get progressively colder as the trip goes by and if you are swapping round you will cool down very quickly.
• Give yourselves time and space to do everything. A boat coming downstream in a fast stream could be going at quite a speed so don’t push away from the bank or start to turn unless you are sure you can do so without getting in anyone’s way.
• When you meet other crews on the river, always give way to the crew coming downstream if you have to – it’s easy to stop or slow down heading upstream as you can use the stream as a brake. Even when you stop rowing downstream the force of the stream will keep you moving forward.
• For the same reason, unless the wind is very strong, always come in to the landing stage with the bows pointing upstream – let the stream help you slow down and control the boat.
• Stay clear of weirs as they can have a strong “pull” in flood conditions
• Keep you wits about you when going through the bridges; the buttresses cause eddies in the water and can throw the boat around quite suddenly.
• Watch out for debris in the water; flood stream often pick up all sorts of bits of rubbish.
• If the stream is really strong you will want to stop and start turning before you reach the Valley at the end of the outing or you could find yourself rowing back from Walton Rowing Club!

Environment Agency FloodLine Follow this link to the Environment Agency website for flood warning on the Thames