Competitor Information

Site Access and Car Parking

Via Aragon Avenue, Thames Ditton. If you are unfamiliar with the area, avoid Kingston. Aim for Hampton Court Bridge as shown on the map. From the west or the south get to the ‘Scilly Isles’ roundabout where the Kingston By-pass joins the A3. Take Hampton Court Way north, turn right at the first roundabout (Ember Court Road) and then the first left under the bridge (Speer Road). There is no right turn from Hampton Court Way into Summer Road.

Due to limitations of space and local council by-laws only vehicles with trailers and / or boats will be allowed into Aragon Avenue. Some parking should be available in Speer Road and there are public car parks available at Hampton Court Station and Hampton Court Green.

Please remember that Aragon Avenue is a residential area with families and children. Please drive slowly. The residents will have parked their cars off the road to help us, but we rely on you, the drivers, to say thank you.

Boat Storage

No racking is provided. Please park trailers as directed, as far back from the river as possible without blocking emergency access through the centre of the trailer parking area and as far upstream (towards Hampton Court Bridge) as possible. Boats may be left at your own risk on Friday night, but the site must be cleared as soon as possible after the regatta.

No boats should be stored in the Kingston Grammar School (KGS) boathouse area unless prior arrangements have been made directly with KGS.

Changing

Upstairs at the KGS Boathouse. Please take your clothes and belongings from the Boathouse when changed to avoid overcrowding and the risk of theft.

Racing

At the time of writing we expect racing to start at 8.30 am and to continue at 3 or 4 minute intervals throughout the day until around 6.30 pm. We have endeavoured to accommodate all requests and no further changes can be made to the racing programme.

Reporting and boating

Please collect numbers and weigh in coxes at race control which is situated close to the finish. Marshals will endeavour to call up crews but each crew is responsible for their own timekeeping and must be on the water well before their race time and ready to be attached to the start 2 minutes before their due race time. Crews late on the start will be given an official warning.

Please remember that boats and equipment may be checked by Umpires before boating to ensure that they conform to the water safety code and rules of racing. Any boat (or crew – which includes racing kit and crew composition) which does not comply will not be allowed to boat until it does comply – this is entirely at your own risk in relation to timing so check your boats and equipment before trying to go afloat.

Boating will be under the supervision of the control commission Umpires. There are no landing stages in the main boating area as it is a gently sloping beach – you may get your feet wet so we suggest bringing Wellington boots. All boats must be launched and return to the boating area after racing facing upstream (towards the finish) and must follow the circulation pattern described below. It is very important that these rules are drawn to the attention of all competitors, coaches and helpers.

A one way system operates in the boating area as shown on the plan. All crews are requested to disembark quickly after their races to avoid congestion in the boating area.

With the agreement of KGS crews may boat from the KGS landing stage but should still comply with the circulation pattern described below.

Circulation Pattern on way to start

THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. Please ensure that coxes, steersmen, scullers and all other competitors are fully aware of these instructions. Control Commission Umpires will occasionally test crews when boating to confirm their understanding.

Although the regatta has exclusive use of the racing channel all other areas, particularly the navigation channel alongside the racing course, is shared with other traffic, including some commercial traffic.

Here is the circulation pattern at start and finish. Crews (apart from those boating from KGS) should embark from the upstream end of the boating area and return to the downstream area as shown on the plan.

Crews boating and disembarking from KGS should follow the same pattern and take great care when passing the main boating area.

Once boated, crews should proceed carefully upstream (towards the finish) until clear of other boating crews. Crews should then ensure the course is clear of races – which will be coming towards you from behind – and then, when clear, turn and cross the river quickly turning into the coxes’ right hand side of the navigation lane. The navigation lane will be separated from the racing course by a line of buoys.

Crews should proceed to the start on the Middlesex (Enclosure) side of the navigation lane – coxes’ right hand side, green blade side, bow side. PLEASE DO NOT PROCEED THROUGH THE NAVIGATION LANE ON THE WRONG STATION.

Crews should not stop in the navigation lane unless in an emergency or unless instructed so to do.

Occasionally, one of the larger commercial pleasure cruisers will pass through the navigation channel. These will be escorted by the Umpire’s launch. In these circumstances you may be given specific instruction on navigation which you must obey.

NO CREWS ARE TO PADDLE FIRM IN THE NAVIGATION CHANNEL – ANY CREWS IGNORING THIS RULE WILL BE GIVEN AN OFFICIAL WARNING.

Crews may proceed beyond the navigation channel below Dittons bend (just below the start) where you then may paddle firm provided it is safe so to do. If crews do proceed downstream of Dittons bend then they should revert to the normal navigation rules of the non tidal Thames and keep to the right hand side of the river.

IF CREWS DO GO BEYOND DITTONS BEND THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN TIMING AND MUST BE IN THE START CONTROL AREA AT LEAST 5 MINUTES BEFORE THEIR RACE TIME AND READY TO BE ATTACHED 2 MINUTES BEFORE. LATECOMERS WILL BE AWARDED AN OFFICIAL WARNING.

Start

Crews should announce themselves to the Start Marshal when they arrive at the start area. Crews are responsible for being in the start marshalling area at least 5 minutes before their scheduled race time. Crews should pair up with their opposition, follow instructions from the Start Marshal and line up, in race order, with bows facing upstream (in the direction of racing) just below the start. Novice and Junior crews should ensure that they are able to use the ‘two paddling with bows blade’ technique. We wish to ensure that there is no crowding nor delay at the start and would ask for the co-operation of all crews and coaches in this regard.

Races will be started by an Umpire from the bank and, as far as possible, will be started on time and without regard to absentees.

The Race

Races will be umpired by an Umpire in a launch. Please ensure that all crews, particularly the younger crews and coxes, understand the instructions they may be given by the Umpire in the conduct of the race, particularly the relevance of white flags (directional instructions) and red flags and bells (stopping the race).

Circulation Pattern after the finish

Once a crew has passed the finish line they should paddle upstream a small distance, clearing the finish line as quickly as is reasonable, and then turn to the Middlesex bank moving back into the navigation lane on the coxes right hand (green / bow) side.

Crews should then proceed carefully along the navigation lane to the point shown on the circulation pattern at which point they should ensure the racing lane is clear, turn, cross the racing lane, and return to the boating area (or KGS boathouse).

General Rules and Safety Plan

Please ensure that your crews, coxes, coaches and helpers have read and understand the Safety Plan.

Particular attention is drawn to the designated casualty landing places identified on the course map shown as points Alpha, Bravo and Charlie.

First aid will be stationed at the Enclosure area and safety launches will be on the water at all times before, after and during racing.

Umpires and Marshalls will be equipped with radios via which they are able to communicate with the rescue and safety services. If you have any issue of safety then please bring this to the attention of the nearest regatta official, who will deal with the matter.

Prizegiving

This takes place at intervals during the day. Crews who win their semi-finals should bring their ARA registration cards to the Control Tent before they boat for their finals. Winning crews will have their cards stamped where necessary. Please note that individual crew members who do not have their registration cards will not be able to collect their prizes. Trophies may not be taken away, but in circumstances where a guarantee is given, they may be taken for club functions.

Further Information

All information and the complete rules will be found in the programme, on sale in the Enclosure. If the regatta has to be cancelled because of dangerous conditions or any other reason, notice will be posted here on the web site.

Thames Ditton Regatta tries to provide a service to the rowing community but we are not based on any one club. We operate with a limited number of helpers and are always looking for more. It would be of great assistance to us if you could leave the Enclosure as you find it, taking your rubbish with you.

You are invited to become a member of the Regatta, which entitles you to receive guest tickets, and to sponsor events next year, as well as being part of a historic Thames rowing event. Please enquire at the Secretary’s tent.

We hope you have an enjoyable day’s racing.