MOLESEY HEAD RACES
COXES’/STEERING BRIEFING NOTES 15th January 2024
See Course Map
GOING TO THE START
COMING FROM MOLESEY BOAT CLUB
You boat on the Surrey bank.
Cross over the river at Duck Island (at the top of the Lock Cut) and proceed up on the Middlesex bank.
Be very careful of the narrows as you go behind Platts Eyot.
You will now stay on the Middlesex bank until you reach your marshalling position – there is now no cross over.
Practice pieces are only permitted down Platts Eyot and with permission from the marshal. You need to go round the top of Platt’s Eyot, do a downstream start, then go round the bottom of the island and go back up again.
COMING FROM HAMPTON/LEH BOAT CLUB
You boat on the Middlesex bank.
Proceed up that bank.
Practice pieces are only permitted by returning down Platts Eyot with permission from the marshal near Aquarius Sailing Club. You must go right down the Eyot on the Surrey bank, turn around the downstream end of the island and return on the Middlesex side.
COMING FROM SUNBURY LOCK
Be very careful coming out of the lock and going past marshalling boats.
Do not turn round until instructed by a marshal.
No practice pieces permitted below the lock. Do them before getting to the lock.
MARSHALLING BEFORE THE START
Marshalling is all on the Middlesex bank.
Get in a single line with crew 1 at the top. Look on the opposite (Surrey ) bank for number markers. They mark the marshalling position for Crews number 1, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60.
Keep well in to the bank.
You will be marshalled into race order.
Be there a minimum of ten minutes before the race starts.
If you are late you will be held below Sunbury Court Island.
THE RACE
Keep to the right of the centre of the river, but not too close to the Surrey/towpath bank to avoid sticking out trees and moored boats.
If being overtaken, move to Surrey unless you would be putting your crew into danger.
THE FINISH
The Finish is at the Hampton Ferry, marked with a FINISH sign on the Surrey Bank.
Keep to the Middlesex side of Garrick Ait after crossing the line.
Keep moving until you reach the downstream end of Garrick Ait, then a marshal will instruct you, as follows… (TELL THE MARSHAL WHERE YOU ARE GOING ).
RETURNING TO MOLESEY BOAT CLUB (or proceeding through Molesey Lock onto the Kingston stretch) Whatever you do, DO NOT GO DOWN THE MIDDLESEX SIDE OF THE RIVER AT DUCK ISLAND. (This leads to a Weir). Stay close to the Surrey bank. YOU MUST GO DOWN THE LOCK CUT to Molesey Boat Club. If returning to Molesey, begin to turn when alongside the Clubhouse, and come into the landing stage.
RETURNING TO HAMPTON (Millennium Boathouse) or proceeding beyond it to Sunbury Lock.
After turning, keep close to the Hampton Sailing Club and be aware of boats still racing, then keep close to the Middlesex bank., all the way behind Platts Eyot – and onwards to Sunbury.