{"id":1174,"date":"2022-03-03T03:43:02","date_gmt":"2022-03-03T03:43:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.uppervalleyrowingfoundation.org\/?page_id=1174"},"modified":"2026-07-21T18:46:53","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T18:46:53","slug":"rowing-safety-guidelines","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.uppervalleyrowingfoundation.org\/?page_id=1174","title":{"rendered":"Rowing Safety Guidelines"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Rule #1: Be Safe!<\/h1>

Any activity that takes place on or near the water requires a markedly higher level of safety awareness than it would on dry land. Use good judgment when assessing your rowing ability and the conditions on the river. Ultimately, you are responsible for your own safety. Rowers are expected to be aware of and follow the rules below.<\/span><\/p>

Watch the USRowing Safety Video<\/a>
<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/div>

UVRF Safety Procedures:<\/i><\/u><\/h3><\/div>

1) Sign in\/sign out<\/span><\/h3>

All shells (singles through eights) must sign out in the log book before launching, and sign in upon their return.<\/p>

2) Launching and Landing<\/span><\/h3>

ALWAYS<\/strong>\u00a0launch and land with the bow facing upstream.\u00a0
Launching<\/strong>\u00a0boats have priority for dock space over landing boats.<\/p>

3) Dock Etiquette<\/span><\/h3>

Exit the dock promptly. Especially during peak hours (6am-8am), scullers are expected to be off the dock within 3 minutes of arrival.<\/p>

Scullers carrying their boats off the dock have priority over those bringing boats onto the dock.<\/p>

Keep the sculling dock clear of obstacles! Oars should be left out of the path of others using the dock. No shoes, extra clothes etc. may be left on the sculling dock.<\/p>

Be alert when swinging the boat overhead or to the shoulder for carrying and when turning a corner while moving to and from the boathouse.<\/p>

4) Traffic pattern & rules of the road<\/span><\/h3>

All boats must stay to the New Hampshire shore travelling upstream (north), and to the Vermont shore travelling down-stream (south). Think of the river in thirds, NH third, middle third, VT third. No unaccompanied, blind boats should ever be in the middle third of the river.<\/p>

In general, overtaking boats have the right of way. Use appropriate caution if exercising this right involves passing anything bigger or faster than you.<\/p>

5) Known Water Hazards<\/span><\/h3>

Conditions on the Connecticut River change continuously. The hazards described below represent a sample \u2013 they are not a definitive list:<\/p>