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The most basic boating safety rule is: In a harbor or channel always stay to your right. This rule helps prevent accidents. Because you are a rower, sitting backwards in your boat, you should always stay to your left. Nowadays almost nobody obeys rules but, as a rowing club, we should set a good example. If you are rowing on the wrong side of the harbor and have an accident, you will be liable for damages no matter who causes the accident. |
A rowing compass (reads west when you are facing east) is a great addition to your rowing shell. Not only can you tell what direction you are going it helps you row in a straight line instead of rowing like a drunken sailor. If you think there is danger of fog rolling over you, row on the square. At Dana Point the harbor channel is due east rowing out. An example of rowing on the square would be: when you leave Baby beach and turn to row out of the channel, row 15 minuets due east, turn right and row 5 minutes due south, turn and row 15 minutes due west. Now if the fog rolls over you, you can row 15 minuets east, 5 minutes north and 15 minutes west and you are back where you started. If your compass is not due east rowing out of the channel, set it to read due east. If you are not rowing on the square but on a heading of 283, you may find it hard to figure out the opposite heading (the opposite of 283 is 103). |
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There are only two kinds of rowers, those who have flipped over and those who are going to flip over. The first thing to do after you have been dunked is to try to get the boat turned upright and the oars in the proper position. Now, hold the oars with one hand and paddle your legs to launch yourself up and over onto the boat, kind of like a sack of wheat. Now throw one leg over the boat and sit up. All you need to do now is to edge your way back onto the seat. If you are unable to get back in the boat, stay with the boat and wait for help or hold on to the boat and start paddling for shore. |
Five good safety tips: 1 - The best thing anyone can do to stay safe in and around the water is to learn to swim. 2 - Always have a Coast Guard-approved life jackets in your boat (easy to get at). 3 - Anytime you go out in a boat, give someone details about where you will be and how long you expect to be gone. This is important because if the boat is delayed because of an emergency you want help to look for you and be able to find you. 4 - Know your local weather conditions before you go rowing. 5 - If you take your car keys with you, when you row, safety pin them to your pocket so that you will not lose them if you get dunked. |
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