2009 UVRF Sculling

• Single and Double Rack Space Policy
• 2-Day Learn to Scull Clinics
• Sweep to Scull Clinics
• Use of UVRF Club Singles and Doubles
• UVRF Guest Policy

Single and Double Rack Space Policy

Rack space for singles and doubles is one of the Upper Valley’s most precious commodities. Our goal is to accommodate the needs of the sculling community to the greatest extent possible. We ask that all rack holders be considerate of the sculling community as a whole by helping us make rack space available for active rowers.

Waiting List

A waiting list for indoor and outdoor rack space will be maintained by the Fuller steward and posted on the UVRF website. All requests to be put on the waiting list must be made in writing, dated, and include the name, address, phone number and email address of the requestor. Please specify whether you wish to be added to the indoor waiting list, outdoor waiting list, or both. Requests may be emailed to: sculling.uvrf@gmail.com or mailed to: UVRF, PO Box 419, Hanover, NH 03755. Individuals will be added to the waiting list in the order in which their requests are received.

The Fuller steward will contact everyone on the waiting list annually at the beginning of the season to confirm their status. If you are on the waiting list it is your responsibility to make sure that the steward has your current contact information. If the steward is unable to reach you by phone or email, your name will be removed from the waiting list.

When rack space becomes available, the steward will be responsible for contacting the next person on the waiting list to make arrangements for moving in and getting a rack assignment.

Rack Space Requirements

Rack space is assigned to individuals and is non-transferrable.

Rack holders must pay their membership and rack fees, pass the swim test and sign the necessary waivers before their first row of the season or by June 1, whichever comes first.

Each rack holder must row a minimum of 20 times per season from the Fuller sculling dock. Beginning in 2008, this rule applies to outdoor rack holders as well as those with indoor racks. Any rack holder who does not meet this threshold will be asked to remove his or her boat so that we can make the space available to another member of the rowing community. It is neither our intent nor our desire to develop an encyclopedic definition of what constitutes a “row.” If you are an active sculler, you should have no difficulty meeting the requirement! A logbook is provided for scullers to record their outings. No more than one row per day will count towards the required 20 and each row must be entered in the log book on the day that the row occurs. It is your responsibility to make an entry in the logbook when you row. If it isn’t in the log book, it doesn’t count!

If a rack holder fails to meet the above requirements, he or she will be asked to remove their boat within 10 days; if the boat is not removed within 10 days of notification, the Fuller sculling steward is authorized to have the boat removed from the boathouse. At that time, UVRF will assume no further responsibility or liability for the removed boat.

For indoor rack space, there will be a limit of one rack per person.

In assigning outdoor rack space, priority will be given to individuals who do not already have a rack assigned to them.

Because of space constraints, doubles will generally not be allowed on inside racks. Exceptions will be made on a case-by-case basis if a rack can accommodate a double without increasing the difficulty for adjacent rack holders of moving their boats. The steward will be responsible for making this determination in consultation with the adjacent rack holders.

Shared Ownership

We encourage shared ownership of boats as a way of maximizing scarce resources. For co-owned boats, all co-owners must be identified to the steward, and at least one of the co-owners must complete 20 rows.

Injury policy

Exceptions to the 20-row policy will be made for individuals who are unable to meet the 20 row threshold due to injury and who remove their boats for the season. If you anticipate that an injury will prevent you from completing your 20 rows, please contact the steward. Your rack will be temporarily reassigned for the season. If you do not notify the steward, the 20-row rule will apply. This exception will apply for no more than two consecutive seasons. Arrangements for other leaves of absence, such as those for professional reasons, will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

2-Day Learn to Scull Clinics

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

Sweep to Scull Clinics

Sign up sheets for sweep to scull clinics are hanging on the bulletin board outside Fuller.  There are four clinics currently scheduled, and more will be scheduled during the next few weeks. The class sizes are limited, but we hope to be able to accommodate everyone who wants to take a class. The classes are scheduled for 1.5 hours, but they may take only 1 hour.  Three are for beginning scullers, and one is for advanced scullers and will cover how to carry a boat alone.  The requirement for taking a sweep to scull class is completion of one of the sweep programs. The scheduled clinics are:

**Advanced boat carrying 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.

The "Learn to Scull" and "Sweep to Scull" clinics are still being scheduled and will be posted here. Until then, please email sculling.uvrf@gmail.com with any questions or concerns.

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

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.

UVRF Guest Policy

Guests with previous rowing experience may use the rowing equipment seven times per calendar year when accompanied by a hosting UVRF member. The host member should notify the Fuller Steward or designee at sculling.uvrf@gmail.com at least three days in advance and provide the name, address, phone number and e-mail address of the guest so that the guest may be entered onto our USRowing roster.

Guests must sign waiver forms (available at the boathouse), and sign in and out in the logbook with the host member's accompanying signature. Members are expected to use discretion in choosing appropriate-level equipment for their guests, realizing that UVRF members have priority in equipment sign-up.

Members are liable for any damages caused by their guests. Visiting rowers with no host member may contact the Fuller Steward or designee who may at their discretion allow the visitor to use club equipment and facilities. No guest or visiting rower shall be permitted to row more than seven times per calendar year without becoming a member of the club.

Guests or visiting rowers will not be allowed to store their equipment at Fuller or in the surrounding area without the permission of the Fuller Steward or designee. Donations are gratefully accepted for the use of UVRF equipment.
Contact the Fuller Steward at sculling.uvrf@gmail.com