Head of the Avon Gorge 18 January 2009

Safety Plan

Three ribs from Bradford on Avon Lifesaving Club, call signs Bradford One, Bradford Two and Bradford Three , and two ribs from Wessex Federation of Diving Clubs, call sign Wessfed One and Wessfed Two, please lock out of Cumberland Basin in the first lock circa 0900hrs and assemble at Hung Road between Pill and Shirehampton.

The Wings Ambulance Service will be on station at The Lamplighters Public House from 0900hrs until the small boats have been started.

At 1015hrs crews will begin launching from Shirehampton and paddling downstream on the starboard hand. They are at liberty to warm up in a circulatory pattern between Pill Village and the M5 bridge, where the smaller boats will require close support as they go beam on to the tide. During the launching window would all the safety boats please patrol the warm up area.

After 1030hrs, the singles will be started at 15 second intervals from the marshalling area near the Somerset bank downstream of Pill Village. Bradford One will follow this flotilla in the fairway, so as to minimise any wash.

The second flotilla will be the doubles, followed by Bradford Two, again in the fairway.

The third flotilla will be the fours, followed by Bradford Three, in the fairway.

The fourth flotilla will be the eights, followed by Wessfed One & Wessfed Two, again in the fairway.

The start sequence is to be completed by 1110hrs.

All safety boats will be in communication with each other and the chief marshal, working on a VHF channel allotted on the day by Avonmouth Signal Station.

For any accident before Sea Mills Reach, casevac at Shirehampton slipway.

From Sea Mills Reach to Sea Mills Creek, casevac at the ladder access at Sea Mills Creek.

From Sea Mills Creek to Round Point, casevac at the ladder access at Black Rock.

From Round Point to Tongue Head, casevac at Tongue Head.

If a rowing boat needs towing, move it to the Somerset bank where Wessfed One or Two can collect it. A private ambulance and the chief marshal are in constant communication and will monitor the race at each casevac site.

ETA at Tongue Head is 1145hrs onwards, where it is possible that two lockings will be necessary, under the direction of the Bristol Dockmaster. After locking, all craft and the ambulance are to proceed to Bristol Marina for disembarkation.