Rules
FAIRMOUNT R.A. ROWING RULES 2023
The following rules apply to Fairmount members and guests using club equipment, as well as for all boats leaving the Fairmount dock, including private shells:
ROWING RULES
All members/rowers/coaches/coxswains must know how to swim.
All members/rowers/coaches/coxswains must be familiar with “Schuylkill Navy Rules of the River”. These rules apply to any boat leaving the Fairmount dock.
Log-out in logbook (laptop computer) before leaving, log-in when back, safety! Bow-man/Cox is responsible for logging row
No Club single/gig or pair shall leave the dock if the outside temperature is below 46F by the time of attempted launching.
If the temperature is below 46F at the time of attempted launch, the following boats are allowed to row : two doubles, 1 or more quads, 1 or more fours, or an 8.
Any FRA member who borrows private equipment shall comply to the rules herein.
No Club boat shall leave the dock if the water flow is above 12,000 cubic ft/s, or if the Captain has closed the river due to unsafe conditions to include flood, debris, races, and/or high winds. This includes private equipment. Following link will be posted : https://waterdata.usgs.gov/usa/nwis/uv?01474500
No rower shall launch with ice around the dock or in any portion of the channel.
The FRA Launch and/or other equipment shall not be used to clear ice for any reason, unless it be an emergency.
No rower shall launch with known or visible debris ‘field’ present in the river (exceptions include visible inspection by an accompanied coach, or verbal permission by the captain)
Boats returning to the dock have the right of way. DO NOT put a boat on the dock if there are boats waiting to return.
No boats are allowed to leave the Fairmount dock in the dark without lights ! All FRA club shells have bow and stern lights attached.
Never row a boat for which you exceed the weight limit, never! The opposite is OK.
If you have a collision, accident, hit an obstacle on and off the water, the following action is required:
Carefully assess damage.
If there is any damage, no matter how small, put a note on the boat and
on the board
If the boat is deemed not rowable, then place sign on boat “OUT OF
SERVICE
Email or call the Captain immediately (within 24 hrs)
Twin Stone Bridges: No club boats are permitted above Twin Stone Bridges without an FRA coach or a coxswain, who knows the local perils.
The Captain shall take disciplinary action against members who violate these rules for safety and equipment usage.
NEW MEMBERS
Each new member must have a sponsor.
The sponsors responsibilities include making sure the new member is capable of rowing.
No new member is permitted to row a single or gig without the sponsor and/or coach being with him or her until the Captain has approved them. The Captain will not approve a new member to row a single/gig until they have rowed a minimum of 48 (8 x 6 miles) with the sponsor. General use shells should be used during these trial periods.
The captain will not sponsor new members.
GUESTS
Guests are not permitted to row club singles.
Guests may row team boats as long as a qualified club member is in the boat with the guest and is willing to take responsibility for the guest.
Guests are not permitted to bow (steer) a club boat without the Captains permission.
Guest are not allowed to row at FRA more than 5 times per calendar year. Club members always have priority use of club equipment.
RULES FOR RACING
If you reserve a boat and can’t race please let Captain know as soon as possible so another crew may use that boat.
If you reserve a boat and don’t race without letting Captain know prior to not racing, your future requests for boat reservations may be suspended.
Crews will be responsible for re-rigging all boats after an away race. Re-rigging is to be done within 24 hours of the boat being returned. Straps and slings are to be accounted for.
USE OF EQUIPMENT / MAINTENANCE
The boathouse is our most precious equipment. Boat bays shall remain closed when you leave for rowing, and shall be closed and secured before the last person leaves the boat bays.
Club lights are not for use on privately owned equipment.
All oars, club and private, should be painted FRA colors. You belong to the club. Be proud of it! Please, if you own your blades, put your name on them.
No club equipment is to be loaned or rented, to anyone without the Captains permission.
No power tools to be used on club boats.
No re-rigging is allowed without the Captain’s permission. Exception: Oarlock heights where “quick clips” are in use. (In sculling boats be careful not to upset the Starboard/Portside spread in oarlock height)
A boat usage list is set by the club Captain and posted in the boathouse. This list shows which boats are restricted, practice restricted, or general use.
Reserving boats for races, in or out of town, requires permission from the Captain. The Captain has the responsibility to set up a method for reserving boats and oars/sculls, and ensuring what equipment leaves and when it returns.
All boats not mentioned on the “Boat Usage List” are private and may not be used without the owner’s permission. Contact the Captain for any inquiries.
Do not use private sculls without the owner’s permission.
Restricted boats/equipment require explicit permission from the Captain. In his/her absence the Coxswain or First Lieutenant shall decide. In their absence the coach may grant temporary permission.
Permission to row restricted boats is via email or verbal from the 3 officers listed, and will always be for a set period (practice, week, race) – this is not perpetual approval.
Restricted for Practice boats require Captain’s permission during FRA club practice times. Outside of practice times, these boats revert back to General Use.
After EVERY row, put the boat on slings and wash boat inside/outside with water and mild soap. Thoroughly clean tracks and wheels. Never put a seat on the ground with wheels facing down. Check all hardware and tighten.
If oar handles are soiled with blood or pus from blisters, please wash and disinfect the oar handles before returning to the racks. Detergent and disinfectant are provided.
If rubber oar grips are worn through please inform the captain or a member of the rowing committee to have them replaced. After use, please return all oars to their numbered location.
When taking out a boat, be cautious not to hit or scratch against riggers of the boat above.
If possible, do NOT carry singles alone.
No rigging adjustments can be made to club boats or oars without captain’s written permission. The club standards for club boats is as follows:
ERGOMETERS
Ergs can be used in the locker-room or in the Carlin room.
They are used on a first-come basis.
If you use an ergometer please wipe it down after EVERY workout as listed :
Clean the monorail with towel or paper towel until completely clean.
Clean the seat wheels by pressing towel against back of the wheels and
pushing away.
Wipe off erg handle with towel.
Ensure floor is clean and dry.
Don’t be afraid to replace worn batteries.
CLUB LAUNCHES
1. The launches can only be used by coaches or persons authorized by the captain.
ANCILLARY EQUIPMENT
There is a variety of ancillary equipment stored in the boathouse.
Bow and stern lights are to be returned to their appropriate place after every row. If batteries are running low in lights, please replace or notify a member of the rowing committee.
Cox Boxes are to be returned and plugged into their respective charger and locked after every row. This is the responsibility of the coxswain.
Club stroke coaches are for club practices only. Club stroke coaches are to be returned and plugged back into their chargers after every row. These are the responsibility of the stroke.
The majority of our tools (pitch inserts, height rings, rigging tools, etc) are stored in the closet under the stairs in the main bay. The golden rule is to return them to where you got them!
SANCTIONS
1. Purposeful violations of the FRA Rules will result in sanctions.
2. Sanctions given to any rower for not following club rules (above) will be written in email to that individual, and will be posted to all members for awareness.
3. Sanctions are the responsibility of the Rowing Committee and issued by the Club Captain. Gross negligence cases and appeals will be evaluated by the Rowing committee, and recommendations will be put forth to the BOD from the Rowing committee. The BOD will have 1 week to evaluate the recommendation or appeal once it is received from the Captain in writing. If they do not respond within 7 days, the Rowing Committee decision will be final.
4. Any rower who has had 3 or more ‘self evidently’ at fault incidents (near collisions, collisions, or documented damage) over a 12 months period while bowing during all incidents, shall be permanently prohibited from bowing any FRA equipment henceforth. (exceptions are within a coached practice)
5. Sanction are as follows :
1st violation is suspension of rowing privileges for 1 week
2nd offense is suspension of rowing privileges for 1 month
3rd offense will be termination of your membership (you may re-apply for
membership in 1 full year).
6. Sanctions are not automatically given for boat damage. However, sanctions will be issued for the following :
Failure to report known boat damage.
Gross negligence of equipment or property
Unsportsmanlike conduct to any USRA referee while representing FRA
7. Gross negligence shall be interpreted objectively based on one simple criteria – whether the individual “should have” known better.
8. If a rower is found to cause damage to equipment and that damage was deemed to be the result of negligence, then that rower will be responsible for the insurance deductible or replacement of that equipment.
9. Any rower given a violation may appeal to the Captain and BOD within 2 days of receiving the sanction. The appeal will result in suspension of the violation until the BOD and Rowing Committee determine whether the appeal is valid.
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