Recommended Operating Procedures
Rowing New Zealand is committed to water safety by offering clubs recommended procedures for operation. Clubs should take these recommendations as guidance and consider the risk of their own training waterways when making decisions on their club procedures. The following list of ROPs is non-exclusive but aimed at assisting clubs in considering their risks depending on the relevant hazards.
Unsupported Rowing
If you are rowing unsupported (without a coach boat within 500m of your skiff), ensure you load your Floatation Belt on board before you head out.
Carrying a floatation belt is a requirement under Rowing's Exemption to Rule 91 of Maritime Law. We need to ensure our sport follows this protocol so we can continue to be exempt from having to wear a lifejacket while rowing.
Safety Reminder for Rowing Regattas
Rowing New Zealand wishes to remind all of the rowing community to be safety conscious on the water at training but also at regattas.
Rowing New Zealand encourages all of the rowing community, including clubs, coaches, volunteers and rowers to ensure that safety is a top priority in our sport. Rowing New Zealand expects all of the community to have high safety awareness during training and also during rowing regattas.
Rowing New Zealand would like to prompt everyone to review the Rowing New Zealand Water Safety Code and all water safety information in the Safety section of its website.
There have been a number of recent incidents which highlight the need to put out this friendly reminder to all of the rowing community. We want to ensure our sport is safe and enjoyable for all.
If there are safety breaches or incidents, please inform Mark Weatherall as soon as possible.
We also would like to remind everyone that Rowing New Zealand rules were passed at the 2013 AGM which now means rowing clubs can face severe penalties and infringements which can be enforced by all regatta organisers if they decide the situation warrants it.