Re: Scullers Head

Part of the problem is caused by the nanny state into which we have
now desended.

The event safety plan requires ALL officials and their launch drivers
to attend the pre-event safety briefing. This is held at Putney and
thus a Chiswick based launch, kindly donated perhaps by TSS will be
taken down to Putney (for the briefing), it will then collect its
umpire or marshall and procede back up the river to its allocated
position. The official will then be "on duty for a period of 2 -3
hours untill the last crew/ sculler has passed by. By now, somewhat
chilled, possibly wet, if it is raining and in need of a "comfort
break", he or she needs to return to Putney to hand back Radios.
flags, report sheets and safety equipment. Finally having deposited
his passenger, the launch can head back up river to its home club and,
with luck, there still might be someone around to help get the boat
out of the river and into the boat house.

The Fours and Pairs head get round some of these difficulties by
having the briefing at a central location (Chiswick Pier).

Whilst I accept that the breifing is perhaps necessary, I am not sure
that all drivers need attend. Parking in Putney is a nightmare and it
could be far easier for officials to attend the briefing and then
procede by land to a point where they can meet up with their launch.

I would also question the need to have so many of the marshalls and
umpires on the water. I am sure, with the scullers head in particular,
much of the marshalling could be done from the bank.
.