Sculling Policies Overview

Sculling Policies overview

All users of UVRF sculling equipment should follow the UVRF Sculling policies. Details on these policies are provided on this and related pages. For youth rowers additional policies exist – see here for a description of these policies.

Detail is provided in several sections:

  1.  General Discussion
  2.  Certification
  3.  Club recreational Singles and Doubles
  4.  Racing Single
  5.  Racing Double
  6.  Racing Quads
  7.  Quad and Double Race Reservation Polic

1. General Discussion

Approved use of the UVRF  sculling equipment for unsupervised rows on our home stretch of river and on away race courses follows a progression of certifications. To advance from the club (“recreational”) singles and club doubles to the racing doubles and quads requires many rowed miles of experience with a record of responsible navigation, compliance with club policies,  and demonstrated care for the equipment.

PLEASE NOTE: These policies do not apply to rowers and their boatings in UVRF coached programs (sweep or scull).  In UVRF coached programs, decisions about rowers and appropriate boatings for both home practices and races (home and away) are at the discretion of the program coach.

Certification is required for two very important reasons: safety and safety. UVRF policies reflect our club’s concern for the safety of our members and of those who row with them or near them. We also need to keep our equipment safe and in good condition; we collectively own expensive gear that club members have worked hard to fundraise and pay for.

All scullers are required to be familiar with UVRF Sculling policies, particularly with respect to the Rowing Safety Guidelines and it is strongly recommended that single scullers and bow seats of any unsupervised boats wear “high visibility” clothing.

Scullers may gain experience to advance to the next level by rowing in recreational singles and doubles, and by rowing in the racing doubles and quads with certified bow or “toes”, with qualified “Instructor” scullers, and by rowing while accompanied by a coach in a launch.

There is a higher threshold of experience required for taking the racing doubles and quads to an away course. Even away courses require differing skill levels; racing a buoyed 1000m USRowing Regatta course is easy in comparison to the highest difficulty course, the Head of the Charles. It takes many miles of experience in singles and doubles, and experience steering in race conditions to prepare for toeing a quad on an away course. Scullers accumulate mileage and gain experience under race conditions in our programs, in private lessons, in weekly club scrimmages, at regattas, and by investing hours of practice and racing on their own in the “club” singles and doubles or in privately owned shells.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, any advancement may be made at the discretion of the UVRF President in consultation with the Executive Committee.

QUESTIONS? Email uppervalleyrc@gmail.com.

2. Certification 

Certification proceeds in the following steps. Each step is a requirement for the  next step.

  • certification for rowing in club singles and club recreational doubles
  • certification at home in a racing 2x as a racing certified bow seat
  • certification away in a racing 2x as a racing certified bow seat
  • certification as an unsupervised 4x toe (level c – home river – for ages 21 and over)
  • certification as an unsupervised 4x toe (level b –  home river instructor – for ages 21 and over)
  • certification as an unsupervised 4x toe (level a –  home and away river instructor – for ages 21 and over)

The first certification step (required for all scullers) is the so called captain’s test. Scullers typically take this after a learn to scull class or after some private lessons.  Details on the captain’s test are provided here. 

3. Club Recreational (“Rec”) Singles and Club Doubles

The club has a number of Recreational (Rec) singles  (Zephyr, Alden Star, Mass Aero, Maas 24) and Club 2x (Blue Bayou (blue Hudson), Blew By Who (red Hudson), Zinger (red BBG), Vital Spark (green Hudson), Calico Jack (Fluidesign)).

To be able to use these boats rowers need to pass the captain’s test and comply with the usage policies. 

PLEASE NOTE: The Rec Singles must be carried by two people so you must either row during hours when a dock monitor is present or with a buddy.

4. Racing Singles

The club has several racing singles, which included Peinert 25 and 26 and multiple Vespoli singles. To be able to row these rowers need to pass the captain’s test and comply with the usage policies

5. Racing Doubles

Any member may row in a racing 2x with a racing certified bow seat or accompanied by a coach. 

To be certified to bow a 2x at home, the member needs to meet the following criteria

Racing 2x BOW at home

  1. Qualified to row a racing single.
  2. >100 miles of cumulative experience in bow of a club double, supervised racing double, or in a racing single (about 16 rows to/from Dartmouth to Kendal)
  3. Evaluation of skills in bow by an Instructor Level Sculler (Level A or B)

To be certified to bow a 2x at away races, the member needs to meet the following criteria

Racing 2x BOW away

  1. Qualified to bow a racing double at home.
  2. >200 miles of cumulative experience in bow of a double or in a racing single
  3. Participation in a minimum of 2 club scrimmages in bow of a double (racing or club).
  4. Evaluation of skills in bow by an Instructor Level Sculler (Level A or B)

Rowers who are qualified to bow a racing double in an away race and have participated in at least one club race scrimmage as bow of a double may begin to earn qualifications to toe a quad (4x) under supervised conditions described in the next section.

6. Racing Quads

Quads are fast boats rowed without a cox, and special attention must be paid to safety concerns. A quad must always be under the supervision of a UVRF certified coach (or Dartmouth coach or a guest coach – see UVRF Coach Requirements for qualifications necessary to be a guest coach) (“Coach”) or a Level C, B or A Sculler during the entire row. The quad may be launched from Kendal or the Dartmouth sculling dock between dawn and dusk, or from the Dartmouth sweep dock during the hours contracted for UVRF coached programs and during UVRF special events (e.g. the Prouty or the UVRF Summer Picnic).

Supervised Rowing in Quads:

Any member may row in a quad (other than in the bow seat) if they are under the supervision of a Coach or a Level C, B or A Sculler. UVRF members may learn to steer/”toe” a quad in the bow seat at the discretion of, and only if under the supervision of a Coach or a level B or A sculler either in a launch or in the boat.

Unsupervised Rowing in Quads:

For those members 21 years of age and up, upon recommendation by the appropriate Coach and/or Level B or Level A Sculler and approval by the President or his or her designee, proficient steerers who have Racing 2x Bow Away certification may be approved to take out a quad unsupervised at the following levels. It is strongly recommended that the person in the bow seat of an unsupervised quad wear “high visibility” clothing.

Level C: Unsupervised 4x Toe – Home River:

After sufficient practice steering, and with the recommendation of two or more Level B and/or Level A scullers, a member may request Level C certification. This allows the member to toe the quads on our home river without outside or onboard supervision.

Level B: Unsupervised 4x Toe – Home River Instructor

After sufficient practice at Level C, and with the recommendation of two or more Level B and/or Level A scullers, a member may request Level B certification as an instructor. At Level B members can teach others to steer and can make recommendations for qualification to a Level C or B Sculler.

Level A: Unsupervised 4x Toe – Home and Away River Instructor

A member may request this Level after further experience and upon recommendation of two or more Level A Scullers. This level is required to steer/toe the boat anywhere other than Hanover. At Level A members can teach others to steer and can make recommendations for qualification to a Level C, B or A Sculler.

Restrictions on weather conditions:

All UVRF sculling safety guidelines apply to the quad, with the following exceptions:

1) Regardless of the qualifications of the rowers, the quad may not be rowed in low visibility situations without an accompanying launch as outlined above. Low visibility situations include fog where the Vermont shore is not clearly visible from the sculling dock, and before sunrise, or after sunset, as defined in the UVRF Rowing Safety Guidelines

2) If accompanied by a launch carrying proper safety equipment (life jackets, ladder), rowers in the quad are exempt from the life jacket requirement under cold water rules.

Reservation Process:

Reservation requests on the racing boats calendar should include the name of the Level C, B or A Sculler or the coach.

Log Book Process:

The name of the Level C, B or A Sculler or the coach should go in the name column. Each sculler and their seat number should be recorded in the comment column of the log sheet

7. Quad and Double Race Reservation Policy

UVRF members who wish to race a double or quad at a regatta must:

1) have a qualified Away racing bow or toe

2) submit their request using the racing boat reservation calendar

3) assume liability for the insurance deductible if the boat is not traveling on a UVRF trailer.

Lineups with more UVRF members have priority over those with fewer. If double or quad reservations of equal priority have conflicting race times or venues then rowers should try to work out a solution amongst themselves. If they cannot resolve the conflict they may appeal to the UVRF President to arbitrate a solution in consultation with the Sculling Steward.

2019 Rev 2 FINAL (01-13-2019)