Oak Ridge Rowing Association Equipment Policy
I. Safety
The basic rules of rowing safety and club conduct must be followed.
No rowing of club equipment in fog, lightning, or under any unsafe conditions.
Rowers and coaches will be attentive to, and obey the safety rules and guidelines provided by USRA and posted in the ORRA boathouse. Site and season specific rules may also be posted.
II. Equipment Sign Out
Members (including coxswain) must sign in and out in the logbook provided, whether rowing private equipment or Association equipment. Coached programs with a coach in a launch are excepted from this rule.
III. Traffic Pattern
Follow the posted traffic pattern. The normal pattern consists of right hand rule inside the embayment and right hand rule on the Clinch River. However, be aware that race day traffic patterns may differ from the standard plan. Check with the event staff before rowing on race day.
On the river slower rowers/crews must follow the shore. When a faster crew overtakes a slower crew they should pass on the channel side of the slower rower/crew.
IV. Responsible Care and Use of Equipment
All club equipment must be cleaned/wiped down after use. If you find any damage, report it at once to the Head Coach and record it in the logbook. If the damage is such that the hull is not usable, members should mark the hull with a sign to indicate “Do Not Row.” Equipment found not to be in good repair should be reported and not used until repairs implemented. If you change the rigging prior to rowing, you must change it back before storing it.
V. Guest Use of Equipment:
Experienced rowers who are personal guests of ORRA members may use ORRA equipment or private equipment for a Guest Fee of $10/day up to five times a year. A guest who wishes to row more than five times in one year is required to join ORRA.
All guests must sign a waiver and place it in the Head Coach mailbox or Treasurer’s box.
The hosting member is responsible for any and all actions of the guest, including damage to any club equipment or property caused by that guest.
VI. Use and Transport of Club Equipment
The Head Coach must approve all use of Association equipment away from the Melton Lake venue in advance.
When transporting equipment to regattas, first priority for trailer space shall go to club equipment.
Loaning or renting of equipment to other clubs shall be handled on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the ORRA Head Coach.
VII. Private Boat and Oar Storage
Club equipment has priority on storage space in the boathouse. The Head Coach reserves the right to move equipment inside of the boathouse. Members will be notified when private equipment has been moved.
Non-payment of storage fees for more than 90 days may result in the removal or sale of equipment for recovery of lost storage fees.
Association liability insurance covers association equipment and private equipment when stored in the boathouse only. Privately owned shells are not covered under association insurance coverage once they leave the boathouse. Members with shells stored in boathouse or transported on a club trailer are encouraged to have personal insurance for their equipment.
Each member storing a boat is entitled to oar storage for up to (1) pairs of sculling oars per seat. Additional pairs of oars may be stored for an additional fee. The club member must consult with the Head Coach or Equipment Manager to receive an assigned oar rack slot.
VIII Enforcement
Members failing to observe these rules and guidelines shall be subject to a $100 fine for each infraction. For crew boats, each member in the boat will be fined $100. Members failing to comply will have their equipment use privileges suspended until a meeting with the Board.
IX. Equipment Designations
In order to maintain a fleet of quality equipment for all levels of use, the club rowing shells are subdivided into classes based on rowing experience required and program needs. The Head Coach will determine qualification requirements and reevaluate equipment classifications annually.
Daily Use
On a daily basis, priority for use of club equipment is to established programs. Members wishing to take a boat out on their own (without a coach and a safety launch) can use club equipment on a first-come, first served basis.
Class “A” equipment may be used by a coached program accompanied by an ORRA coach in a launch.
Class “B” equipment may be used by members with two or more years rowing experience.
Class “C” equipment is may be used by any member.
In the case of a mixed crew of novice and experienced rowers, the majority must be experienced to use Class B equipment.
Reservations
Coaches will reserve a boat for a specific program or class by putting a note on the hull and making an entry on the ORRA Equipment reservation calendar.
Racing and Regattas
All equipment to be reserved for a race must be coordinated with the Head Coach.
Reservation of equipment must be made between two and four weeks in advance of the event.
The last crew to row a hull will de-rig and load onto the trailer.
If a conflict exits, then use priorities shall be established by the following:
Crews consisting of ORRA rowing members only shall always have priority over crews with one or more non-ORRA rowing members unless the equipment has been rented.
For conflicts within the same event, priority shall be determined by a coin toss, except in the case of national and regional championships.
For regional and national championship regattas, the Head Coach shall decide the priority, giving preference to the most competitive crew.
For conflicts between separate events, the Head Coach shall decide the priority. If a conflict occurs within two weeks of the regatta, then priority shall be given to the crew with the earliest reservation date.
Crews may appeal the Head Coach decision to the Board
Equipment Classification Chart:
Hull Size Classification Name Weight Class
8+ A Ginger Too Midweight (155-185)
A Lisa Lightweight (125-155)
A Maynard Super Heavyweight (220+)
A Vitek Midweight (160-185)
B Ginger Midweight (160-185)
B Gibson II Midweight
B Venus Lightweight (130-160)
B Wilson Lightweight (130-160)
C Buck Lightweight (130-160)
C Enterprise Lightweight (130-160)
C Lockett Lightweight (130-160)
4 x/+/- A Kraken Midweight (145-195)
B Corlis Heavyweight (185-215)
B Squeeze Midweight (160-185)
B Pride Midweight (160-185)
B Hoss Lightweight (130-160)
B Excelsior Lightweight (130-160)
C Shehee Lightweight (130-160)
C Masters ‘88 Midweight (155-185)
2 x/- B Red Vespoli Midweight (150-180)
B Yellow Vespoli Midweight (150-180)
1x C Wintech 1 All Weight (240-)
C Wintech 2 All Weight (240-)
C Wintech 3 All Weight (240-)
C Wintech 4 All Weight (240-)
C Red Peinert Mid To Heavy (150-210)
C White Peinert Mid To Heavy (150-210)
C Ray All Weight (240-)
C Manfred All Weight (240-)
