Coxing

Check-list

This is a list of items which coxes should check prior to an outing. These checks must be carried out regularly, and prior to every night-time outing, to ensure that the boat is fit to row and is unlikely to break down during an outing.

• Bow-ball must be fitted and secure, not split or perished.
• All hatches must be covered (hatches can be taped over in an emergency but arrange to have the cover replaced)
• Rigger bolts and top-bolts should be tight
• All heel-restraints must be fitted and secure; the sole of the shoe must not lift above the horizontal.
• The rudder should move freely, there should be no fraying or chafing of the rudder lines, and the rudder top-bolt should be tight.
• The cox must wear a suitable life-jacket or buoyancy-aid; life-jackets must not be worn under other clothing. Note that only a manual life-jacket may be used in a bow-coxed boat.

For night-time rowing only

• White lights must be securely fitted to bow and stern, each with at least 180 degrees of illumination. Fit a lanyard if lights are fixed using suction cups.
• A flashing red light must also be shown at the stern
• Cox and Bow must wear reflective clothing
• Thermal blankets must be carried, at least three in a four, five in an eight
• A throw-line should be carried unless there is a bank-party who should be carrying one
• A first-aid kit must be brought to the boathouse; it can be left behind or taken in the boat
• A mobile phone must be carried by cox, a crew member, or the bank-party
• Cox and bank-party (if present) should be able to communicate via radio-link or telephone
• In the absence of a bank-party, the cox should have arranged for someone to be on-call in case of emergency