All crews entering the Regatta must check the published document ‘Crews Required to Qualify and Timetable’’ on this website to see if they are required to row in Qualifying Races in their Event. Please ensure you check all the Events you have entered. Qualifying Races will be by Timed Races over the Regatta Course on Friday, 27th June, 2008. There will be a separate 'race' for each Event; and crews will start at intervals of approximately 30 seconds.

N.B. Traffic conditions on Fridays are always very difficult - allow plenty of time to reach Henley !! (e.g. allow at least 4 hours to travel from London).
 
The new one-way system and traffic lights in Henley town have significantly increased the time taken to reach Henley Bridge!

Arrival, Parking and Rigging
 
Further instructions can be found at ‘Parking Instructions and Plan’. Crews are formally advised that penalties may be imposed on clubs that fail to comply with these instructions.
 
All crews boating from the Lion Meadow Car Park MUST bring their oars/sculls into the Boat Tent area before they bring in their boats to minimise congestion in that area. The rigging of boats must be carried out in the Lion Meadow Car Park. In no circumstances may boats be put on trestles in front of the Boat Tent.

Reporting and Weighing
 
Each boat MUST carry its correct racing number, to be collected from the Boat Tent Official on arrival. After racing the number-plate will be collected by a Regatta Official from ALL CREWS when they return to the rafts. Coxswains shall be weighed at the Crews' Enquiries' Office before their Qualifying Race. The weight of your coxswain MUST, without exception, be checked by a Regatta Official.

Timetable
 
Crews required to row in Qualifying Races will start in each Event in alphabetical order as shown in the published list of ‘Crews Required to Qualify and Timetable’’. The times shown are the starting times for the first crew in each Group. You must be ready below the Start for assembly in the correct order at least ten minutes before that time, irrespective of your place in the starting order; so you should leave the boat rafts AT LEAST HALF AN HOUR before that time. Crews that are not in the assembly area ten minutes before the start of their Group’s Qualifying Race risk disqualification.

Boating

The ‘Traffic Rules for Boating’ page contains a printable plan.. All crews are to familiarise themselves with the arrangements for boating from the rafts.

The Start
 
A separate plan of ‘The Start’ is available for printing. Marshals below the Start will assist crews to turn and assemble in the correct starting order. There are marker posts (‘A’ ‘B’ and ‘C’) along the Berkshire bank and crews will be directed to position themselves between specific posts. The Marshals will instruct the crews when to move up towards the Starter.
 
The Starter will be standing in a launch which will be moored at the Regatta Start.

1. Crews will be instructed to paddle slowly up towards the Starter, keeping to the Bucks. (Island) Station. As the crews approach the Starter he will order them to 'STOP' and to enter carefully the Course on the Bucks. Station.

2. The crew will then GET STRAIGHT.

3. When the boat is straight and the crew is ready, the Starter will name the crew and then give the order to 'GO'.

4. CREWS WILL BE TIMED FROM A POINT APPROXIMATELY 70 YARDS UPSTREAM FROM THE STARTER’S LAUNCH – THERE WILL BE A SIGN INDICATING “TIMING”

Crews are strongly advised to make a "rolling start" when the Starter says, "GO". There will be a number of strokes to be taken before reaching the Timing Point.

On the Course

Umpires are stationed along the Course and will direct crews in the event of an emergency occurring. Crews should row the race on the Berks. (towpath) Station, and only move out to the Bucks. Station if they are about to be overtaken by another crew. A crew being overtaken must move out of the way once the overtaking crew gets close to being just one length of clear water behind. If you should be forced to stop on the Course for any reason, PULL ACROSS TO THE BUCKS. SIDE to leave the Berks. side free for the crews behind you.

Bicycles on the Towpath
 
In the interests of Health & Safety it is an absolute rule that no bicycle (either ridden or pushed) shall be brought onto the towpath in front of the Enclosures. Cyclists are to follow the diversion signs. Any coach flouting this rule will place the continued participation of his crew in the Regatta at risk.

Training on the Course
 
A separate information page ‘Training on the Course’ is available here.

Results
 
Your time over the Course will be recorded and a list of those who have qualified to compete in the Regatta will be posted on the notice board at the Boat Tent about an hour after the Qualifying Races have finished. The Results will also be available here.

Departure
 
ALL trailers MUST be removed from Lion Meadow by 10.00 p.m. on the evening of the Qualifying Races (27th June). If the club is to remain at Henley then the trailer MUST be moved by that time to the designated trailer park in Butler's Field Car Park.

D. G. M. Grist
Secretary.

(To open a pdf file of all qualifying documents click here)