Use of Club Singles and Doubles

Club members with Club Sculling privileges* 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.

* based on payment of the Club Sculling Fee ($175 for the season), registration for a Sweep Program, or payment for rack space.

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.

Several "Learn to Scull" clinics have been scheduled for the summer. The "Sweep to Scull" clinics will be scheduled after the sculling dock opens in mid-June, and the dates and times will be posted here. Until then, please email uppervalleyrc@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 14, 2010), 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 uppervalleyrc@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 (Captain's Test)

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.