Fw: (CRAB) Safety first people! A reminder to the rowers out there.

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On Sat, Apr 8, 2017 at 1:56 PM, CRAB via CRAB

<CRAB@groupspaces.com> wrote:

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CRAB Spring may have finally arrived and more rowers (including your friendly fair weather rowers), sail boats, canoes, kayaks, paddle boarders, power boaters, dragon boaters, sight see'ers and gondolas will be joining us on a relatively narrow body of water.  This means that you really do need to be looking out for others.  While we're getting used to the even increasing population, a few things to keep in mind... Those are kids out there. yes, that boat in front of you that you think is in the wrong place, may very well be driven by a kid, sometimes facing backwards.  Be kind.  They are learning and you can help them. If you really feel that they are endangering themselves or others, by all means give a shout of constructive direction.  But if you have harsh words, please save them for the coach.  Passing is easy, right? Apparently not.  Because some of us think that every day is race day and we should be able to cut corners and pass the boat in front of us however we prefer.  Newsflash!  That is wrong.  Passing boats should move to the middle of the river, boats being passed should move to shore.  There really is no debate about it at all.  That is how it is done.  We should all keep our ears open too, for direction from coaches who may be trying to help guide you around their crews.  Not your coach?  listen anyway.  And on the same subject, a friendly reminder to those being passed that you have the better view and really should have plenty of time to move over.  There are, of course, exceptions, but get to shore.  The boat passing you should not have to go around you.  Everybody clear?  The River is only so wide.... Thats right folks.  There really isn't room for 3 boats across anywhere above the BU bridge unless all 3 of the cox'ns or bow persons are really really really good at close quarters and you have more than one coach looking out for oncoming traffic.  And even then....   And the 2k race course really isn't more than 6 lanes wide.  Think you can squeeze in 12 because some of them drop behind? Sure you can.  Except some of the slower crew don't like to row in wake from the faster crew and they move over....into oncoming traffic.  Bottom line...think safety first. The River is a fish bowl. Thats right, there are no secrets on this River.  Think no one will find out that you had an altercation with another crew?  Perhaps you 'exchanged pleasantries' over a traffic dispute.  Perhaps you swapped a little blade paint with another double trying to squeeze through the same arch.  Maybe you hit another boat but don't think that there was any damage.... it all gets talked about.  I cannot tell you how many calls I get in a season about things like this.  Do yourself a favor and make sure that you conduct yourself in a way that you won't be ashamed of when your club captain asks you about it.  Think you were in the right?  ok, but ask yourself if you handled it the best way possible and then give your captain a summary including what you could have done better.  And finally, if there was any contact at all, make sure that your captain hears about it from you before they hear about it from me or another club.  It goes better for everyone that way.  So three cheers for common sense and lets all have a safe rowing season.

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