Captain's Log: 31 October 22

Bit of a bumper Captain’s log this week, but lots of important information including crew announcements, safety/navigation matters and some key things coming up where we really need Cygnet helps around the boathouse so will be grateful to all who can lend a hand. All rounded off with a couple of exciting Christmas events to look forward to- yes it’s that time of year already!

Please have a good read and shout to one of the captaincy team if you have any questions or queries.

1. Fours Head / Veterans Fours Head Crew Announcements

I am pleased to announce the racing crews for the forthcoming Fours Races on 19^th and 20^th of November

Fours Head:
• 4– Open Club: Matthew Gutteridge, Cristobal Cabrera, Rupert Bailey, Mustafa Özyurt

Veterans Fours Head:
• 4x Masters F: Paul Rawkins, Rhodri Walters, Rhodri Walters, Nick Wylie
• 4x Masters E: Richard Warne, Arnold Paikin, Brad Bryant, Iain Golder (Cygnet / Guildford Composite)
• 4– Masters B: Henrik Jonstromer, Martin Drage, Rupert Bailey, Mustafa Özyurt

2. Steering Tests:

Saturday 12 November, we will be conducting written steering tests in the Boathouse. Please can I ask that all squad rowers and coxes who have not yet completed the test sign up to attend so we can get our sign off procedures up to date. Whether you have previously steered or not, it is important that all senior rowers have a good understanding of the river and our rules of navigation – my expectation is that all squad rowers complete the sign-off process. This also helpfully increases our pool of available steers.

Please contact me sign up if you need to complete the test so I can put in place the arrangements with the Safety Adviser. If you cannot make this date, please get in touch to arrange a separate session.

3. Training:

Those who are racing in the forthcoming events, please review your availability over the next two weeks to see whether you can attend more weekend sessions so we can get race crews out – Race crews are selected with this in mind so please get signed up so we can get our crews on the water.

A reminder that all training sessions are online. The Captain is very cognisant of very busy lives and long winter months, but if I can please make a plea for land training sessions and good attendance, especially Charlie’s strength and conditioning – please do sign up and attend whenever to keep up the training effort (which has been making noticeable gains in our boats on the water). The shed is a highly sought after resource and it’s a real shame to see empty spaces / low attendance for Cygnet sessions.

4. Help around the Boat House – Extra hands needed, please sign up:

Working Day – Shed and Building Maintenance Next weekend
You will have seen the message in the boathouse recently – the Boathouse Exec is organising a maintenance day next weekend after outings on Sunday 6^th November. Please do hang around and lend a hand for a couple of hours or come down later in the day. Chris Jageurs has a long list of jobs and maintenance tasks he wants to get through, so please do come, armed with elbow grease.

Vets & Fours Boating Operations
Fours weekend will be one of our busiest of the year and is one of those events when we really do need all hands on deck to help out with traffic and boating for a couple of hours on raceday. This is a request for all club members to help make the hosting operation a success – we are looking quite light on Cygnet numbers on the current count. Those who are racing either Fours or Vets4s, please sign up for a shift around boating – it’s particularly important that racers lend a hand to make the day a success. On the boating front, we are currently forecasting a really packed weekend, with both days booked to full capacity.

Sign up here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16vZ8X1DVvG0W8ge6BDEVEjwZg8hLiAU0AUoLbRWwqKw/edit?usp=drivesdk

5. Safety Matters

There is a bumper set of safety announcements online – all crews (and especially steers please take note) in particular a large barge/tree removal operation happening this week on the Hammersmith bend at St Pauls.

Also please note the series of forthcoming Barnes Bridge arch closures in November and December which will impact on navigation There are two NTM’s with dates and times when Barnes Bridge arches will be closed u16of2022.pdf (pla.co.uk) and u17of2022.pdf (pla.co.uk)

6. Christmas is Coming…

Cygnet Veteran’s Annual Christmas lunch at the RAF club is planned for Friday 16^th December. Please Contact Lawrance McVeigh for more details and to sign up.

Save the Date: BBL Christmas Party Saturday 17^th December at George IV Chiswick. Details to follow.

Racing Calendar

2022

• 19th November: Fours Head – Tideway
• 20th November: Vets Fours Head – Tideway

2023

• 29th January: Quintin Head – Tideway
• 26th February: Hammersmith Head – Tideway
• 18th March: Eights Head of the River (HORR) – Tideway
• 19th March: Vets Eights Head of the River – Tideway