A copy of these instructions is included in the Marshal Clipboards which should be collected by marshals (along with a yellow CUCBC bib) each morning from above the pigeon-holes to the left of the backdoor to Goldie Boathouse.

Contents Of Your Folder

1. A copy of these instructions.
2. A rota covering every day of the term. This tells you where you should go (see below) and which college the other marshal is from.
3. Sheets to fill in, logging the boats that are on the water. Use the pen provided.
4. A sheet that shows the colour and pattern of each college’s oars, so you know who they are.

Instructions

1. Take the clipboard and marshal’s bib from the top of the pigeonholes.
2. Establish from the rota whether you are Marshal 1 or Marshal 2.
   • Marshal 1 covers the area between Riverside and Chesterton, particularly the area next to the gate leading from Riverside to the Common, and on to Chesterton footbridge.
   • Marshal 2 covers the area along the boathouses up to Riverside.
   • NB: Neither of you should remain static, nor should you stick together for your entire shift – please spread out.
3. You should be in position at Lighting Down (the time shown on the rota).
4. On your sheets record each crew that you see (not just those committing an offence), noting the alphanumeric code on the boat, plus any offences they are committing or other relevant information (see below). Please record each crew only once.
5. At the end of your shift (8:30am) return the bib and clipboard to the top of the pigeonholes. Please leave completed sheets INSIDE the folder. Do not put anything you find in the folder into the pigeonholes, unless it is a pigeon.

Your No. 1 Priority is to report and control noise made by crews or coaches. The marshalling system was set up for this purpose and you are there to protect the residents along Riverside and thus avoid the prospect of a complete ban on all rowing before 7:30am.
The CUCBC rules on noise that you are there to enforce are:

• 32. That all crews must not create unnecessary noise anywhere on the river before 7.30am.
• 33. In particular, loud hailers may not be used anywhere on the river and the use of cox-boxes, and coaching from the bank must be kept to a minimum everywhere on the river before 7.30am. There will be no coaching from the bank above the railway bridge before 7.30am.

To clarify and make the marshalling system consistent: Any coach accompanying their crew before 7:30am should be reported, and any coaching they are undertaking must be additionally reported. Any cox (with or without a cox-box) speaking loud enough for a resident in the houses along the riverside to hear should be reported. Please endeavour to keep coaches and crews quiet without causing excess noise yourself.

In an emergency, these rules do not apply.

A particularly sensitive area is next to the gate, which leads from Riverside to the Common, and on to Chesterton footbridge. Marshal 1 should spend a good proportion of the time close to this area. However, neither marshal should remain totally static.

You are there to enforce the other CUCBC rules, in particular ones pertaining to early mornings, including:

• 5.c. That no boat may be on the water without lights during the fifteen minutes AFTER lighting down or BEFORE lighting up.
• 9.a. That no novice crew be unaccompanied.
• 9.c. That no novice crew be on the river before 7.30am or before fifteen minutes after lighting down, which ever is later.
• 8. That the CUCBC Executive Committee shall introduce restrictions on the number of boats that may be on the water between Lighting Down and 0830hrs on Mondays to Fridays in Full Michaelmas and Lent Terms as necessary. These restrictions limit each College Club to having a maximum of two boats on the river before 0830hrs. It is your job to enforce the traffic rules and you should note the details of any crew in breach of them, or that does not obey your instructions.

If you see any of these rules being infringed, or any dangerous behaviour, please note the infringement and attempt, quietly, to resolve the situation, including telling boats to go home if they should not be on the River. You are expected to intervene where it is safe and appropriate to do so.

A nominated member of the CUCBC Exec Committee can be contacted in case of an emergency on (see Instructions in the folder for details). Examples of situations which would constitute an emergency include:

• Drastic weather conditions, warranting a change in the flag
• Major obstruction in the river
• Goldie boathouse being on fire
• UFO invasion

At all times, use your common sense. If there has been a hideous crash and people are injured and/or likely to get hypothermia, establish whether it would be appropriate to call an ambulance. If it’s suddenly become very foggy, advise crews to go home and report to CUCBC (see above) – you get the picture.

Thank you for sparing your morning!