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River
Safety Rules The following document designates standards for Charles River traffic patterns and safety procedures for sweep / sculling shells and accompanying coaching launches. These safety standards are not intended to constrain workouts, but rather to ensure a safe training and recreational environment for all rowers and coaches. The reconvening of a Charles River Rowing Committee follows from renewed safety concerns with the vast increase in river traffic over the past several years, including a marked increase in the number of ‘incidents’. This committee represents all major private boat clubs, university and high school rowing organizations, and signals their commitment to maintaining a safe and cordial rowing environment on the Charles. The committee hopes to address safety issues, foster a broader community among the various clubs and programs, and participate in a unified fashion in the upcoming renovations of the Charles River Watershed. At this time, the committee proposes to serve as a coordinating, rather than a governing, body. Rowing organizations on the Charles are expected to train, monitor and enforce these standards with their own crews and scullers on their own honor. The committee provides a mechanism for achieving a common understanding of how to safely use our precious resource together. Charles River Traffic Patterns for RowersThese traffic patterns apply to all crews and scullers using the portion of the Charles River that extends from the Newton Yacht Club to the Charles River Dam at the Museum of Science. Refer to the accompanying photos or map for a visual representation of this document. Other water craft may follow different traffic patterns as designated by the MDC or the Coast Guard. General Principles The following general principles apply at all times, in pressure pieces and on the paddle.
General Traffic Flow The traffic pattern is described from Watertown to Boston in both directions. For all bridges except two, traffic is limited to one-way only in every individual arch; boats use right-hand arches except where noted. Arches are counted in each direction from the shore towards the center of the river. Note that heavy traffic, bad water or the presence of a launch is no excuse to use the wrong side or arch at any time. Newton Yacht Club Channel: Upstream crews and scullers shall stay to the north or Watertown side of all channel buoys. The channel between the buoys is reserved for downstream traffic. Downstream crews and scullers should be careful of the shallow depths in the channel. Crews and scullers are urged to proceed with caution near the docks for Community Rowing (CRI), the vast majority of whose coxswains and scullers are novices. MDC Boat Launch Ramp: All crews and scullers should be aware of motor boats launching or landing. Downstream crews and scullers shall stay clear of the ramp. North Beacon Bridge: Downstream crews and scullers may use either the right-hand or center arches. Upstream crews and scullers shall use the right-hand arch. Sandbar: Roughly 1/3 of the way downstream from the North Beacon Street bridge is a sandbar on the downstream side, marked by a stump. Downstream crews and scullers must venture into upstream traffic to avoid this obstacle, but shall not cross over excessively. Upstream crews and scullers must be aware of this awkward traffic pattern. Arsenal Bridge: Crews and scullers shall use the right-hand arch in each direction. (*) Eliot Bridge: Upstream crews and scullers shall use the center arch to avoid crews launching from Cambridge Boat Club, BB&N and Belmont Hill. Downstream crews and scullers shall use the right-hand arch. Just downstream of the bridge is the Eliot turn. Downstream coxswains shall use their rowers to keep a tight course to shore, and exercise extreme caution in multiple boat situations. Upstream crews and scullers shall stay right to leave room for downstream boats for whom this turn is a challenge. Note that the HOCR race course is now double buoyed, so practicing crews or scullers need never cross the center line. Anderson: In each direction, crews and scullers shall use the right-hand arch. The center arch is for upstream crews and scullers only to avoid boats launching from Weld Boathouse. Weeks Footbridge: Downstream crews and scullers shall use the right-hand arch, turning sharply through the bridge to starboard (Boston) to avoid upstream crews. Upstream crews and scullers may use the right-hand or center arches, while not crossing the center line. (*) Powerhouse Stretch / Western Ave. and River Street Bridges: This area is used heavily by crews racing side-by-side, for 1500m high school races, and seat racing. Racing crews have right of way in this stretch. Non-racing crews and scullers, both upstream and downstream, shall use the right-hand arches of both bridges to avoid interfering with races. Crews and scullers who drill upstream shall proceed single file along the Cambridge wall through the right-hand arches. The center arches are two-way to accommodate racing, with one crew in the right-hand arch, and the other to the right-hand side of the center arch. (*) From Labor Day through Thanksgiving, from 5 am until 1 pm, the center arches of Western and River street bridges are upstream only, to accommodate crews and scullers training for the Head of the Charles regatta. In the afternoon, the regular traffic pattern prevails, and the center arches are bi-directional. Note that both ends of the ‘race course’ begin and end just onto the ‘wrong’ side of the river (see Race Course description below). Crews pausing to turn shall proceed well into the corners at the Weeks Footbridge (Cambridge) and the Railroad Tracks (Boston), being alert for and notifying approaching crews. Crews and scullers approaching these areas must be alert for stopped boats. Coaches are urged to choose their time openings carefully and proceed expeditiously. (*) BU Bridge and Boathouse: Upstream crews and scullers shall use the second arch from (Cambridge) shore, as the shore arch is shallow. Downstream crews and scullers may use the second or third arches from (Boston) shore to avoid sailboats launching from the BU sailing pavilion. Note that all large motor boats use the second arch from the Boston shore to pass both upstream and downstream through this bridge, to accommodate their size. Extreme caution is required when approaching the lower basin at the BU Boathouse. This area is the busiest on the river, where Union and MIT lanes cross regular traffic patterns, and crews are turning to begin Head of the Charles pieces or 2000m race pieces in the basin. Crews and scullers pausing in between pieces shall do so downstream of the boathouse where the river widens on both sides, and pull to shore. Noting that the Head of the Charles course begins at the downstream corner of the BU balcony, racing crews and scullers shall line up at least 50m downstream of the boathouse sufficiently out from shore to have a straight point through the second (Cambridge) arch, to avoid the MIT lane. Basin and Mass. Ave (Harvard) Bridge: Upstream crews and scullers shall follow the 6 lanes designated for the 2000m race course along the Cambridge shore, pointing at the targets through the arches that mark lanes 3-4-5. The wide, painted arch (6th arch from Cambridge) comprises lanes 3-4; the narrow arch (7th arch) to its left contains lane 5; the narrow arch (5th arch) to the right of the painted arch contains lane 2, and the next wide arch (4th arch) toward the Cambridge shore marks lanes 0-1. The wide arch to the left of lane 5 of the race course (8th arch from Cambridge) remains unused in either direction, to avoid any accidental cross-over of lanes in this area of poor visibility. Upstream crews and scullers shall not steer further right (Cambridge) than lane 0 to avoid the MIT lane. Downstream crews and scullers shall proceed along the Boston shore, using the 10 arches from the 5th arch from the Boston shore through the 3rd arch to the left (Cambridge) side of the lighted platform. The first four arches from the Boston shore comprise the upstream Union lane (see below). Note that crews shall proceed with extreme caution when approaching sailing vessels in the basin, as they are often less maneuverable. The green sailing buoys are intended to provide lanes for crews on either shore, keeping turning buoys for sail boats to the center of the basin. Longfellow (Salt & Pepper): Both downstream and upstream crews and scullers shall use the arches to the right of the center arch. The center arch between the towers is not used to avoid crews crossing over. Downstream crews taking extended 2500m pieces shall proceed well into the corner at the bridge, and must exercise extreme caution when turning upstream so as to merge properly with other upstream crews emerging from the bridge. Downstream crews must also be alert for Union crews exiting from the lagoon near the bridge. Special Lanes Several areas on the river have special traffic patterns to accommodate crew safety, which require special attention by all crews approaching these areas. MIT Lane: The MIT lane allows crews to launch and land from the MIT Boathouse without crossing the middle of the basin. The lane extends out from the Cambridge shore to the outer boundary of the MIT Boathouse, and crews passing upstream on the race course shall stay left. It extends from the MIT Boathouse to the footbridge over Storrow Drive, where MIT crews should rejoin the regular traffic patterns. Crews and scullers in the lower basin should watch for MIT boats crossing in and out of this lane. Union Lane: The Union lane allows scullers launching from Union Boat Club to pass upstream through the lagoon, or along the Boston shore in poor weather conditions, to avoid crossing the basin. It also allows crews to proceed upstream when wind conditions do not permit normal use of the 2000m race course. The lane includes the 2nd through the 4th arches from the Boston shore (the shore arch is impassible), and runs from the lagoon at the Hatch Shell to just past the 2000m finish, where upstream crews and scullers shall cross quickly to the Cambridge shore. Crews and scullers in the lower basin must be alert for boats crossing out of this lane. Note that the lagoon, which is generally accessible only to single sculls, is a no pressure zone. Scullers must be constantly alert for scullers approaching in the opposite direction. Charles River Race Courses The following race courses are used regularly by crews and scullers throughout the rowing seasons. As racing crews and scullers have priority on the courses on race day, crews and scullers are urged to consult the race schedule to be aware of racing events. Race hosts are urged to forward copies of the Charles River Traffic Standards to race participants, and are strongly urged to designate formal warm-up patterns that conform to these standards. Local crews and scullers are particularly urged to be aware of visiting crews on race days; visiting crews are requested to respect local traffic patterns. Collegiate 2000m Course: The 2000m race course is used extensively by college crews on Saturday and Sunday mornings from mid-March through mid-May, with races beginning as early as 6 am and continuing through the morning. The race course allows for 6 lanes running upstream on the Cambridge side of the basin, though usually only lanes 3, 4 and 5 are used. The starting line is marked by orange stripes on the overpass on the Cambridge side, roughly 100m upstream of the Longfellow Bridge. On the starting line, crews shall position themselves by pointing at the orange targets through their designated arch on the Mass Ave Bridge, to ensure a straight course. Note that on race days, stake boats are anchored here to facilitate fair starts. Painted stripes on the Cambridge wall at the MIT sailing pavilion (500m), the Mass. Ave Bridge (1000m) and MIT boathouse (1500m) mark the 500’s. The finish is marked by white stakes on the Cambridge shore just downstream of the Hyatt hotel. On race days, finish line personnel use red flags to mark boat finishes. High School 1500m Course: This course begins slightly downstream of the Weeks footbridge. The start is usually marked in the spring by florescent orange stakes on both the Cambridge and Boston side of the river. These stakes are roughly 200-300 meters downstream of the bridge and mark a floating start for racing crews. From here the course proceeds through the Powerhouse Stretch to the finish line which is about 50 meters downstream of the Riverside Boat Club dock on the Cambridge side of the river. Generally, high school crews use this racecourse on Wednesday afternoons and Saturday mornings and afternoons in the spring. It should be noted that Riverside Boat Club uses the same course for their two regattas: The Cromwell Cup in mid-May, and the Riverside Sprints in mid-July. High School Junior Varsity Course: This course begins slightly downstream of the Northeastern Boathouse. The start is marked by a florescent orange stake on the Boston/Brighton side of the river about twenty-five meters from NU. From the start, the course runs approximately 700 meters downstream to slightly above the Belmont Hill Boathouse. On race days the finish line will be marked with a floating flag. Please use extreme caution, as all racing boats are novice rowers and coxswains – steering is suspect at best. Head of the Charles Regatta 5000m Course: Crews interested in the Head of the Charles Regatta course are referred to the regatta website for detailed specifications: www.hocr.org Launching and Landing at Boathouses All crews and scullers must launch and land while heading in the same direction that traffic moves on their side of the river, i.e. downstream for boathouses located on the Boston side of the river, and upstream for those located on the Cambridge side.
Rowing Equipment Blades All organizations shall paint blades in their designated pattern, and require that private equipment owners follow suit, to make a crew’s affiliation known to others. Shell Lights Appropriate lighting for shells is essential for safety, as practice hours are constrained much of the year to dawn, dusk and darkness. Shells launching before or after sunrise must be properly illuminated in a manner consistent with MDC and Coast Guard regulations. Two lights – marking bow and stern – are necessary for proper illumination of all shells, including single sculls, to ensure visibility by approaching crews from either direction. Lights shall be attached to the boat rather than the crew to ensure constant visibility. Clubs or university programs must provide lights on club equipment, but may require that private shell owners provide their own.
Clothing Rowers are urged to wear high visibility clothing with reflective strips to enhance visibility to others. In foggy conditions, darker clothing is more visible, while at dawn or dusk, lighter clothing is best. Daylight Times The table below indicates daylight times for the calendar year. Crews launching before or after these times must be properly illuminated.
Coaching Launches The following guidelines pertain to coaching launches on the Charles River. Each rowing organization is responsible for ensuring that all coaches comply with them. These guidelines supplement, but do not replace, US Coast Guard Regulations for small boats. General Launch It is the responsibility of each program to be sure that all launches have current registration, and display the registration numbers and up-to-date stickers in the appropriate places. As for shells, launch affiliations must be clearly marked by name or blade pattern. Communication between all launches and crews or coxswains is essential, particularly when overtaking others or turning. Coaches and coxswains should not be shy, when safety is in question, in communicating their position to other crews and coaches. Launch Traffic Pattern Coaching launches shall follow the same traffic pattern as the crews being coached. When traffic or river depth necessitate moving to the left side of the river, coaches must exercise extreme caution and concentrate on the traffic ahead rather than on coaching. Coaches must be aware at all times of traffic approaching from either direction, and shall yield to shore to allow overtaking boats to remain on the correct side of the river Coaching launches approaching crews in either direction shall reduce large wakes and give other crews sufficient clearance. Coaches are urged to be especially sensitive about waking single sculls. Lighting As with shells, launches must display two lights, with the bow light marked red / green (port / starboard) and the stern light white. It is recommended that launch lights use re-chargeable batteries, or be wired into the launch’s electrical system. Safety Equipment Safety equipment must be carried at all times, and should be checked periodically to be sure it is still operable, legal and most importantly, accessible. Safety equipment must include:
Launch Design Launches should be designed so as to allow the proper conduct of and provide the necessary safety for crews being supervised. Additionally, launches should be operated so as to minimize the disturbance and potential damage to other boats and individuals on the river. Factors to be considered in the design include:
It is the responsibility of each organization on the Charles River to ensure that all aspects of their program are operated in a safe and sportsman-like manner. In order to achieve this basic level of safe conduct, all rowing programs are urged to abide by the following guidelines for preparing all members to use the Charles River.
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