2008 UVRF Sculling Programs

• Two-Day Learn to Scull Clinics
• Use of Club Singles and Doubles
  • Sweep to Scull Clinics
• Sculling Safety Guidelines
• Regattas

Two-Day Learn to Scull Clinics
[No Pre-requisite]

In sculling, each rower holds 2 oars and rows in small boats, either a single (one person), double (2 person) or quad (four person). If you are already a sweep rower, sculling is an excellent way to develop boat "feel", balance and technical skills. This 2-day beginning sculling clinic is for people with no rowing experience at all, and for those sweep rowers looking to learn to scull. You will learn boat handling skills, river etiquette and water safety as well as the basics of the sculling stroke using the club's more stable beginner-level boats. At the end of the two days, you will have qualified to take out the club singles for the rest of the summer.

• Limited to 3 scullers per clinic session
• $150 + annual membership dues
• Includes use of club singles for the remainder of the summer with successful completion of clinic

Use of UVRF Club Singles and Doubles

Club members will have access to club singles and doubles from approximately the 2nd week in June through the 3rd week in September. Exact dates are contingent on water temperature, flow, and boat storage capacity. Club boats will not be allowed out until the water temperature reaches 60°F. For more information check out the Sculling Safety Guidelines.

Required experience

If you have never rowed, or are a beginning sweep rower, you will need to either sign up for a “Learn to Scull” clinic or take private sculling lessons with an instructor who will certify your ability to use the club boats.

Experienced sweep rowers who have never sculled before will need to take a one hour “sweep to scull” clinic. These clinics are free to UVRF members, no sign up required, just show up!

Scullers who wish to take club boats out during hours when no dock monitor is present must pass the UVRF Captain’s test, which includes demonstrating basic sculling skills, as well as the ability to carry the boat, launch and land without assistance. Captain’s tests will be given after the “sweep to scull” clinics and on specified days during monitored hours.

Sweep to Scull Clinics

Hours of operation

Club boats may be taken out between the hours of 6:00 in the morning until 7:30 in the evening. These hours may be adjusted to reflect daylight conditions. All club boats must launch and return during daylight hours.

During the summer (this year beginning Monday, June 16, 2008), dock monitors will be available Monday-Friday from 6am – 9am, and Saturday from 7am – 10am. We will have additional monitor hours staffed by volunteers most Mondays through Friday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. We strongly encourage club scullers to use the buddy system, especially during non-monitored hours.

Reservations

Boats may be reserved in 30 minute blocks up to one week in advance. Recreational singles may be reserved for up to one hour at a time. Racing singles and club doubles may be reserved for up to one and one-half hours at a time. The club reserves the right to limit the number of reservations per individual in order to ensure adequate access for all members. Please be considerate of your fellow scullers!

Broken/Damaged Equipment

Bringing problems to our attention helps keep our sculling fleet in good order. Check the boat carefully before launching and after you return. If you find that something is missing, or malfunctioning, please note it in the repair log in the “Club Sculling”binder.

If you drop a boat, have an unexpected encounter with a tree, another boat, the sculling dock or other miscellaneous floating water hazard, notify the club as soon as possible. If a dock monitor is not present, leave a note on the club bulletin board and email sculling.uvrf@gmail.com.

Describe the point of impact, and any visible damage. Even if you don’t see any obvious breakage, please report the accident so that we can check out the boat.

Requirements for all scullers

• Remove the boat from the rack without damaging it or adjacent shells (either solo or with a partner)
• Carry boat to the sculling dock
• Put the boat in the water without hitting the skeg on the dock
• Place oars in oar locks correctly
• Get in to the boat
• Launch from the dock
• Row 100 strokes
• Demonstrate ability to navigate and steer
• Check the boat down without flipping
• Turn boat around
• Back the boat down
• Land the boat
• Remove oars and return boat to assigned rack facing in the correct direction
• Describe the traffic pattern on the river including launching and landing pattern
• Describe known water hazards
• Describe unsafe weather conditions
• Describe what to do if the boat flips
• Describe rights of way and passing instructions
• Describe how to handle powerboat wakes

Racing Singles

Scullers who wish to take out racing singles must demonstrate all of the boat skills listed above in a racing single. Scullers who are approved to row in recreational singles must be checked out in a racing single before moving in to a higher level boat.

Non-Monitored Hours

Scullers who wish to take boats out during unmonitored hours must pass the UVRF captain’s test which includes demonstrating the ability to carry their boats, launch and land without assistance.

Traffic Pattern

All boats should travel up stream on the New Hampshire side of the Connecticut River, and down stream on the Vermont side. Boats must launch and land in the upstream direction. When turning around, scullers should take care to do so in a location where they can see and be seen by oncoming boat traffic.

Boat Traffic

The area between Ledyard Bridge and the point (approximately 1.5 miles up stream) can be congested during certain hours of the day. UVRF operates sweep programs between 6am and 7:30am. Dartmouth boats may be on the water during this or other times of the day. This section is also very popular with canoers and kayakers. Look frequently and exercise caution on this section of the water.

Black Bear Sculling Camp operates from mid July to mid August. During these weeks, anticipate additional sculling traffic coming south from the Chieftain Inn.