Top tips for steering the Tideway
· Provided you line up to go through the middle of Chiswick Bridge at the start, DON’T STEER MUCH round the first bend. You want to be wide of the centre line (i.e. on the Surrey side) between Chiswick and Barnes, and the stream will mostly take you on the correct line, particularly for the first half of this bend. A common mistake is to start steering towards Middlesex as soon as you can see Barnes Bridge. Don’t be tempted to do this.
· As you go through Barnes, move slightly towards Middlesex. You should be to Middlesex of the centre line for the whole of the next section to Hammersmith. You go straight from Barnes to the Bandstand, though.
· At the Bandstand, you need to move slightly towards Middlesex again so that you will be about 1.5-2 boat widths (that’s including the blades sticking out the side) coming past the line of moored boats, and about the same coming past Chiswick Eyot
· Once you get to the bottom of Chiswick Eyot, resist the temptation to steer towards the famous 2nd lamp post on Hammersmith Bridge, which you will be able to see by this point. Just let the boat come round with the stream too you’re by St Paul’s boat house/slipway and then steer round to go under the lamp post.
· Immediately after Hammersmith, line up parallel with the Surrey shore (the temptation is to head over towards Fulham flats), about 3 boat widths off it
· Follow that shore (you’re considerable to Surrey of centre at this point) till you’re between the Mile Post and Barn Elms boathouse and then gently start moving towards Middlesex to take the last bend.
· Look out for the “Black Buoy”, which is now painted yellow (well, it was at the Fours Head) and do not hit it.
· Be about 1-1.5 boat widths off the line of moored boats along “boathouse row”.
If the conditions are very rough, though, it may be worth abandoning the above plan and going much more for the insides of the bends where the water will be less rough. This is particularly true after Hammersmith, which is usually roughest, when you will want to be as close to the Surrey bank as safety will allow, given there will be higher numbered boats returning up river having finished racing.
For many years, I used to write the following summary of the above on a small piece of paper and tape it to my thigh so I could refer to it in the heat of the moment (I usually had our race plan taped to my other thigh). There is no shame in doing this if the alternative is risking forgetting stuff.
MIDDLESEX SURREY
Chiswick to Barnes: outside/Surrey of centre line
Barnes: move to Middlesex
Bandstand to Hammersmith: stay to Middlesex of centre
2nd lamp post under Hammersmith
After Hammersmith: parallel with Surrey shore
After Mile post, take bend towards Middlesex, but DO NOT go over Fulham flats
COXES
1. Tell your crews where other crews ahead of them are and push accordingly (“there’s a crew 4 lengths of clear water ahead, let’s push with the legs and take half a length off them in the next 10 strokes, go”)
2. Give them SPECIFIC things to do (“10 on the finish to push away form this bridge”, “stand up on the handle and stretcher, go”)
3. Praise and encourage them – it’s amazingly motivating when they’re in pain (“you’ve done an excellent first half of the race, now let’s take it on, push with the legs, go”)
Top tips for steering the Tideway
· Provided you line up to go through the middle of Chiswick Bridge at the start, DON’T STEER MUCH round the first bend. You want to be wide of the centre line (i.e. on the Surrey side) between Chiswick and Barnes, and the stream will mostly take you on the correct line, particularly for the first half of this bend. A common mistake is to start steering towards Middlesex as soon as you can see Barnes Bridge. Don’t be tempted to do this.
· As you go through Barnes, move slightly towards Middlesex. You should be to Middlesex of the centre line for the whole of the next section to Hammersmith. You go straight from Barnes to the Bandstand, though.
· At the Bandstand, you need to move slightly towards Middlesex again so that you will be about 1.5-2 boat widths (that’s including the blades sticking out the side) coming past the line of moored boats, and about the same coming past Chiswick Eyot
· Once you get to the bottom of Chiswick Eyot, resist the temptation to steer towards the famous 2nd lamp post on Hammersmith Bridge, which you will be able to see by this point. Just let the boat come round with the stream too you’re by St Paul’s boat house/slipway and then steer round to go under the lamp post.
· Immediately after Hammersmith, line up parallel with the Surrey shore (the temptation is to head over towards Fulham flats), about 3 boat widths off it
· Follow that shore (you’re considerable to Surrey of centre at this point) till you’re between the Mile Post and Barn Elms boathouse and then gently start moving towards Middlesex to take the last bend.
· Look out for the “Black Buoy”, which is now painted yellow (well, it was at the Fours Head) and do not hit it.
· Be about 1-1.5 boat widths off the line of moored boats along “boathouse row”.
If the conditions are very rough, though, it may be worth abandoning the above plan and going much more for the insides of the bends where the water will be less rough. This is particularly true after Hammersmith, which is usually roughest, when you will want to be as close to the Surrey bank as safety will allow, given there will be higher numbered boats returning up river having finished racing.
For many years, I used to write the following summary of the above on a small piece of paper and tape it to my thigh so I could refer to it in the heat of the moment (I usually had our race plan taped to my other thigh). There is no shame in doing this if the alternative is risking forgetting stuff.
MIDDLESEX SURREY
Chiswick to Barnes: outside/Surrey of centre line
Barnes: move to Middlesex
Bandstand to Hammersmith: stay to Middlesex of centre
2nd lamp post under Hammersmith
After Hammersmith: parallel with Surrey shore
After Mile post, take bend towards Middlesex, but DO NOT go over Fulham flats
COXES
4. Tell your crews where other crews ahead of them are and push accordingly (“there’s a crew 4 lengths of clear water ahead, let’s push with the legs and take half a length off them in the next 10 strokes, go”)
5. Give them SPECIFIC things to do (“10 on the finish to push away form this bridge”, “stand up on the handle and stretcher, go”)
6. Praise and encourage them – it’s amazingly motivating when they’re in pain (“you’ve done an excellent first half of the race, now let’s take it on, push with the legs, go”)