When in Doubt, Don’t Go Out! If you are unsure about the rowing conditions, your ability to safely launch, or that you have the proper gear, don’t put yourself and others at risk. Stay off the water until it is safe.

YOU – THE ROWER – ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY!

Responsibility

1. ANY rower, crew member, kayaker, or canoer launching from the Hanlan Boat Club docks (referred to as “Member/Rower” for the rest of this policy) is ultimately responsible for his/her/their own safety.

2. ANY rower, crew member, kayaker, canoer or other person launching from the Hanlan Boat Club docks is ultimately responsible for:

• Following, abiding and complying with the boating safety guidelines and codes set out by Transport Canada, Rowing Canada Aviron and Hanlan Boat Club (Section 3 below).

• Ensuring they carry the appropriate safety gear (listed in Section 15) in accordance with boating safety guidelines and codes set out by Transport Canada, Rowing Canada Aviron and Hanlan Boat Club.

• Ensuring the water and weather conditions are safe for practice according to the boating safety guidelines and codes set out by Transport Canada, Rowing Canada Aviron and Hanlan Boat Club.

• Ensuring that they are fit and healthy while rowing, and that they carry any required medical equipment, such as an asthma inhaler or EpiPen, to address any known medical conditions.

• Members must inform Coaches, Club Manager and other crew/relevant Club members of any medical condition that may present a risk to themselves and/or their crew. In the case of Juniors, parents have a duty to advise the Coach/Club Manager.

• Members must inform their Coach and declare on the member registration form if they are unable to swim and must wear the appropriate PFD (see Section 3B).

3. Failure to follow, abide and comply with the boating and safety guidelines from Transport Canada, Rowing Canada Aviron and/or the Hanlan Boat Club Local Safety Code may result in suspension of dock access and/or complete revocation of membership and/or club access after two (2) written warnings.

Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide. Section 222 covers the equipment that should be carried by rowing shells and by accompanying coach boats: https://www.tc.gc.ca/en/services/marine/documents/TP-511e.pdf

Rowing Canada – Safety Guidelines. RCA's official safety guidelines can be downloaded at: https://rowingcanada.org/uploads/2019/05/safetyguidelinesrcav2.pdf

3A. Every rower, member and guardian MUST review the RCA Safety presentation CAC RCA (rowingcanada.org) every year when they register and pay their membership fees. Further RCA safety information is available on YouTube. Chapters 1-4 are a good place to start: RCA Safety Video: Chapters 1-4.

3B. Every rower/member must attest every year on the registration form to i) their ability to swim or ii) if they can’t swim, then they must attest to wearing an appropriate PFD, for instance an inflatable vest type PFD (see Section 4 below) while on the dock and while rowing, and to inform their coach and cox, as applicable.

Safety & Gear

Life Jacket 

4. Effective in 1999, Canadian Coast Guard Regulations require rowing shells to have life jackets aboard unless:

• It is attended by a safety craft carrying an approved PFD or lifejacket of appropriate size for each member of the crew of the largest vessel being attended; or

• If it is competing or training during a provincially, nationally, or internationally sanctioned regatta or competition.

5A. This means you must have a life jacket in the rowing shell with you (one per person) or the coach boat beside you must carry them. It is also highly recommended that single and double scullers, especially, wear a belt or vest inflatable PFD.

5B. According to the RCA Safety Guidelines, for rowers under 16, their PFDs must NOT be the inflatable kind but inherently buoyant.

6. If the coach boat is more than 250 m from the rowing shell during practice, the rowing shell must carry enough PFDs for all participants in the rowing shell.

Whistle

7. At least one person per rowing shell must carry an easily accessible whistle.

Emergency Cell Phone or VHF Radio 

8. At least one person in a rowing shell and one person in the safety boat must carry a cell phone or portable waterproof VHF radio to be able to call for emergency or rescue services.

9. All crew members must be familiar with the emergency phone numbers to call in case of an emergency on the water.

10. ALL crew members must be familiar with the layout of the Toronto Outer Harbour (landmarks and names of places) to be able to direct rescue efforts to the exact location without hesitation.

11. ALL crew members must be familiar emergency/safe landing areas and be able to direct the rescue, emergency service crews to a proper safe landing area.

12. The cell phone must be made waterproof by using a specific waterproof case or a ziplock bag containing a piece of Styrofoam to ensure floatation.

Clothes/Hours

13. See rowing in the dark rules in Section 25 below. It is recommended that all bow persons or single scullers who are rowing in the dark wear reflective clothing.

14. In daylight, it is recommended to wear bright clothing to make yourself more visible.

Safety Equipment Requirements: Coach/Safety Boats

15. All launches must carry the equipment as required in the Transport Canada (TC) Small Vessel Regulations (SVR) at all times.

This includes the following:

• A Personal Flotation Device (PFD) for each person on board the launch. If a person on board is less than 16 years of age, the PFD shall be inherently buoyant;

• PFDs for the rowers/crew members under the launch driver’s supervision. If a person on board is less than 16 years of age, the PFD shall be inherently buoyant;

• A paddle;

• A plastic or metal bailer with an opening of at least 65 cm² and a capacity of at least 750 ml;

• 15 m buoyant heaving line;

• Watertight flashlight;

• Pealess whistle;

• Navigation lights, if operated before sunrise or after sunset, or in periods of restricted visibility; and;

• Each launch driver shall affix the ‘kill switch’ to their person when operating the boat.

It is highly recommended that boats/launches carry a reboarding device (ie ladder), as applicable.

Motors and coach/safety boats must be kept in good working order.

Safety Equipment Requirements: Rowing Shells

15A. Unless exempted as described above (Section 04) rowing shells are required to carry:

• One Canadian-approved personal floatation device (PFD) or lifejacket of appropriate size for each person on board

• One sound signalling device (i.e. whistle)

• Navigation lights that meet the applicable standards set out in the Collision Regulations if the pleasure craft is operated after sunset and before sunrise or in periods of restricted visibility

• One bailer; or a water bottle will suffice.

15B. In order for the rowing shell to be considered safe, it must have:

• A regulation bow ball (white, rubber, no less than 4cm in diameter)

• Shoe safety straps and heel tie downs that conform to RCA's Rules of Racing (Rule 3.5)

• Correct lighting if rowed before sunrise or after sunset

• Appropriate oars and riggers

• Vent covers, if appropriate and important to the type of boat (i.e. vent covers are not so critical to some coastal boats)

• A fin

• A working rudder (except for 1x, 2x and possibly a 4x)

• Extra safety equipment as appropriate (e.g., PFDs, whistle, etc.).

Safety Training

15C. All members must complete RCA safety presentation as part of the yearly registration process (See Section 3A above) and prior to going out on the water for the first time each year, a member must have a safety review with the coach or review the safety procedures and policies.

Safety on the Dock

15D. Prior to using the docks, the rowers must ensure that the docks have been swept clean of any fowl waste. No rowing until the docks have been cleaned. For rowers that have the priority that day, it is their responsibility to clean the docks.

16. All gear and equipment must be removed from the docks as quickly as possible following a practice or row. Equipment left on the dock is a hazard to other crews.

17. All crews must dock and launch their boats within 90-120 seconds as other crews are waiting to dock or launch. Oars should be ready prior to launch.

18. Crews docking have priority over launching crews. If a crew is heading into the dock, please allow it to dock before your crew walks onto the dock with your boat. In the case of novice crews, please be aware that they may have difficulty docking their boat and assist them when necessary.

19. Coach boats containing the safety equipment (listed in Section 15 above) must be ready to run before the crews leave the dock. Do not leave the dock without confirming with your coach where on the water you will meet the coach to begin the practice.

Safety Reporting

20. If a rower, member, or parent of a Junior has any safety concerns, they should report this by completing this form (To Be Developed) or they can speak to the Safety Steward or Operations Manager.

Rowing Under Supervision

When should a safety/coach boat supervise you?

21.A Coached Sessions

Under cold water rules, (Sections 38 to 43), all rowing practices ARE ALWAYS supervised by at least one safety boat. The coach may elect to have a spotter also in the coach boat/safety launch. The ratio of safety/coached boat to shells is variable depending on a number of factors including: the capabilities of the crews, experience of the rowers, size of the crews, number of shells, size of the safety launch, weather; and will be  determined by the coach. Novice crews will have much lower ratios of safety boats to shells/rowers than experienced crews.  Juniors are covered separately in Section 22 below. In ALL cases, it is the rowers' responsibilities to stay together with other shells in the practice group.

The Ratios will be set by the coaches each spring and can depend on coaches’ preferences, as well as weather and water conditions. They can be modified as the water and weather warm up and cold water rules are still in effect.

In general, coaches should endeavor to use larger boats for training and move to smaller boats as the temperature warms up. At the coaches’ discretion the following may be used as a guideline and is based mostly on engine/boat speed, number of rowers the boats can hold, and risk profile for capsizing:

Zodiac (40 HP) – rated for maximum of 9  people:

• This boat can keep up with 8+s and faster 4x and 4s. It can physically hold more rowers and it is easier to get rowers onboard. The zodiac creates a larger wake than other boats and the driver must be mindful of other shells when speeding to a rescue. 

• Suggested ratios are:

  • Maximum of one 8+ and one fast 4x/4- or

  • Maximum of three 4x or 4- or 13 rowers, 

  • There may be a limit to the number of singles which could be different from the above, depending on the coach's discretion.

Aluminum Launch (15 HP) – rated for a maximum of 4 people.

• The greater boat speed can keep up with 4x and 4- and fast 2x. 

• All aluminum boats must have a retractable ladder mounted on the bow.

• It is suggested that:

  • Maximum of two 4x / 4- or four 2x / 2-

  • or 8 total rowers.

Aluminum Launch (9.9 HP) – rated for a maximum 4 people.

• This motor can keep up with most fast 1x and 2x, especially if just one person in launch, and can keep up with a medium or slow 4x / 4-. A second person in a 9.9 HP tinny launch significantly impairs speed and cuts rescue capacity in half.

• All aluminum boats must have a retractable ladder mounted on the bow.

• It is suggested that:

  • Maximum of six 1x, three 2x or one 4x and one 2x that are matched in speed and shells must keep together.

21.B During non-coached session under cold water rules the following apply:

If the safety boat is a non- coached boat, then the safety boat shall have two people- a driver and a spotter, each with adequate vision and hearing. As above, the aluminum boats shall also be equipped with a retractable ladder. 

• It is highly recommended that all rowers wear their inflatable PFDs. 

• Those rowing a single 1X must wear at least a belt type inflatable PFD.

• There must be one launch for a maximum of 6 shells, singles 1x and/or doubles 2X, providing these are all experienced rowers.

• The driver of the safety launch and/or the spotter may reduce the ratio of shells to the safety launch, depending on their discretion.

22. All Hanlan Boat Club junior crew (under 19 years of age) practices ARE ALWAYS supervised by at least one safety boat. A coach may grant exceptions only if (1) cold water rules are not in effect and (2) the junior is rowing in a shared boat with a parent or guardian who is also a Hanlan member, in which case the parent is deemed to assume all responsibility for the safety of their child.

How to proceed as a group of rowers

23. When more than one crew is being accompanied by a safety boat these crews must row in a flotilla followed by the safety boat. The lead boat must be not more than 250 meters ahead of the safety boat. It is the responsibility of the rowers to ensure that they remain close to the coach boat. If the coach must attend to a rower or shell in distress or requiring assistance, the remaining shells shall group up.

Safety / Coach Boat Operation

24. For side-by-side coaching, it is recommended to have both a boat driver focused on the traffic ahead and a coach focused on the crew.

When can I/we take out club boats without a coach along in a boat, under non-cold water rules?

25.1 Onshore Supervised rowing in club boats (non-cold water). Members are allowed to take out club boats only during operating hours when the club will have a staff member or a trained volunteer safety steward on site to oversee equipment and safety.  In such case a safety boat must be set up on the dock and rowers must take the site attendants cell phone number or other radio communication. The site attendants must be able to drive a boat and have their Pleasure Craft Operators License.

25.2 With approval of a Head Coach, Club Captain or Supervising Coach, approved experienced rowers may be given permission to take out club boats during unsupervised onshore hours. In such case a safety boat must be set up on the dock. The Hanlan Safety Steward should also be consulted.

Rowing Before Sunrise Rules

26. Only experienced rowers or crews with permission from the Club Captain or Head Coaches may row in the morning before sunrise in club boats. In such case a safety boat must be set up on the dock.

27. Rowing in the dark in the evening (past sunset) is forbidden unless a Coach or Club Captain gives permission. The shells and safety boats must have the proper lights (See Section 30) and all the proper equipment.

28. Rowing in the dark is forbidden for all Hanlan Boat Club Junior (under 19) rowers, unless accompanied by a coach.

29. Rowing in the dark in club boats is forbidden for all non-competitive rowers, novice rowers and novice crews, unless permission is provided by a Coach or the Club Captain.

30. Rowers that do have permission to launch before sunrise MUST have a dual (red & green) light fixed to the bow and a white light fixed to the stern.

31. It is recommended that rowers be highly visible, with a reflective jacket or a jacket/ vest with reflective bands on the back.

Risks AND HAZARDS

32. Rowing in darkness represents a significantly higher risk and before asking for permission, you should consider the following carefully:

• Prior to launching in the dark, you may not be able to properly assess the rowing conditions, such as waves, wind, and fog.

• You may not see oncoming fast moving weather systems.

• Due to the low visibility, you have a much higher risk of collision with floating debris, land, and other rowers.

• You will not be easy to find and rescue if you capsize, get stranded or have an equipment failure.

• You must be very familiar with the topology of the shorelines, the locations of the buoys, and the traffic pattern.

33. When alone in the coach/safety boat, keep behind the crew(s) to have full view of both the crew(s) and the traffic ahead.

34. Be aware:

• Coach Boats are capable of only a limited number of occupants (aluminum boat 4 person maximum).

• Aluminum boats are very difficult to handle in high winds or rough waters. Place a heavy object close to the bow, to keep the bow down to make it easier to handle.

• According to Coast Guard regulations, operators of coach boats or emergency launches must always wear their lifejackets. Failure to do so may result in a fine by the Harbour Patrol.

• It is mandatory for all coach boat operators to have a valid Pleasure Craft Operators License and Toronto Harbour Power Vessel Operator’s permit or commit to obtaining it.

35. Coaches should carry a first aid kit and basic tool kit with them.

36. Operators can be charged and/or ticketed for careless operation for:

• Operating a craft in a way that could adversely affect the safety of others, considering weather, visibility, amount of traffic, or number of other boats or people nearby, maneuverability, navigation conditions and hazards.

• Operating in a careless manner without due care and attention for the factors listed above and the safety of others.

• Failing to fill portable fuel tanks only while ashore.

37. A list of Hazards that rowers/crews/ safety boats must be on the lookout for include:

• Floating and moored buoys, course markers, sailboat moorings;

• Other rowers/launches out of traffic pattern, especially at “Surprise Point”;

• Other watercraft (canoers, dragon boats, sailing boats, motor boats, paddle boarders, etc) large ships;

• Swimmers, mostly around Cherry Beach, especially those that swim out of bounds and/or without a marker buoy)

• Floating debris- especially in the spring and after a heavy rain or storm

• The water levels usually go down over the course of the sping and summer and certain areas may be more shallow (ie south side of the outer harbour marina and close to the south shore).

Rowers/crews can yell a warning and decide on the prudent action for their shell.

Cold Water Rules

Cold water rules are in effect:

38. In March, April and part or all of May

39. When water temperature is below 10 degrees Celsius

40. When air temperature is below 5 degrees Celcius

41. When so declared by the Head Coaches or Club Captain.

42. Under cold water rules:

• All rowers must have a safety boat on the water within 250 meters (see rowing under the supervision of a coach/safety boat Section 21)

• All club crews must sign Out and In, on the Log Board/Book or equivalent before leaving the club. (Same as non-cold water).

• The last person to leave the club and lock up must make sure all crews are in (Same as non-cold water).

43. During warm water rules, single scullers should endeavor to row with a buddy. If rowing alone, they must follow the traffic pattern and row within 75 meters of the shore.

Approved April 03, 2024. This Document will be reviewed in 2025 and every two years thereafter.