Safety Overview

Sweeps & Sculls is committed to the safety of all of our rowers and coaches. Part of keeping everyone safe on the water is communicating our safety plan. Below is a summary of what all rowers and parents should know about Sweeps & Sculls safety policies and procedures.

Safety Education

Throughout the year, we will be working with rowers to make them aware of our safety policies and help them understand why these policies and procedures are important to them and to the club. One of the most important things that we can do is to help rowers understand how to make good decisions on the water. We do all of these things in various ways throughout the year:

• Discuss and review Sweeps & Sculls safety policies and procedures in various formats throughout the year

• Review and role play common safety scenarios (practice)

• Basic Safety Certification offered yearly

Rower Responsibilities

Each rower is responsible for their own safety, as well as the safety of the other in their boat. In order to ensure this, each rower must:

• Make sure that your emergency information and Allergies or Special Needs is completed in your iCrew profile

• Ensure that you are dressed properly for conditions

  • Technical fabrics

  • Consider higher visibility clothing

  • Shoes (closed toe shoes with a good sole are recommended at the boatyard)

• Have any medications you might need (inhaler, epi-pen, glucose tabs, etc.) and make sure they are either on you (in a pocket or belt pack) or in a pouch leased to the boat.

• Know the body of water you are rowing on including traffic pattern, water depth, common conditions and concerns, hazards, and common safety concerns for that body of water

• Ensure that you have everything you need before you go out on the water (PFD, water bottle, other safety equipment)

• Check your rowing station (make sure your equipment is safe) and report any issues

• Having a rowing bag packed and with you (see information on what should go in your rowing bag below)

• Keep your head in the boat and ensure you are following all instructions of your bow rower, coxswain and/or coach

Port Barrington Marina Information

• Owner is Jim Forbes

• The land has been in his family for almost 200 years

• This is an operating marina, which means they have a business to run and we want to make sure we are not impeding their business

• The owner’s son, JT, lives in the house and helps run the marina. Jim is here from April 15-Nov 15

• JT breeds dogs, so you may see some dogs around occasionally. They usually don’t come as far as the boatyard.

General Lower Fox River Information

• River runs NE to SW

• Current flows North to South

• Water depth is quite shallow where we row - approximately 10 feet deep in the middle of the river getting shallower at the edges. In most areas, you can stand. The river is also mostly sandy rather than mucky.

• Bad winds on this river are NW and SE winds

• SE is particularly bad (wind + current)

• Changing water level

  • Shallow water can expose hazards that weren’t there before

  • Rainfall can increase current

• Debris - not too bad, but rivers do carry debris, so keep an eye out

• Traffic Pattern - Keep your starboard oars on the shore side

• Speed boat traffic uses the middle of the river

• Bridge - Go through the center section of the bridge. Right and left sections have shallow spots and hazards. Watch for boat traffic before going through the bridge.

• Buoys - There are buoys that mark the boaters channel up the river from April through October. Buoys are placed about every 100-200 yards.

• Hazard Buoys - There are white and red hazard buoys on the East side of the river north of the bridge. These buoys mark shallow spots or other hazards that you need to avoid with rowing shells. Stay at least 2 oar lengths away from these buoys.

Safety Basics for Practice

• Rowers under the age of 18 are never allowed on the water without a safety launch and a coach or adult that has an Illinois (or equivalent) Boaters Safety Certification must be in the launch.

• Anyone that is operating a Sweeps & Sculls Safety Launch must have an Illinois (or equivalent) Boaters Safety Certification. Anyone under 18 years of age that is driving a safety launch during practice must be accompanied by an adult that also has a Boating Safety Certification.

• We row North toward Burton’s Bridge (Rt. 176)

• There is a map of the river with landmarks with a list of extraction points in each lanch box and in the rower cabinet.

• Safety equipment available and used at practice

• PFDs

  1. • Auto inflate vests (life vest bins)

     • manual inflate belts (belt bin)

     • Orange PFDs (launch)

• Walkie Talkies (electronic cabinets)

• Rowing Shell Lights (for use in the Fall) (electronics cabinet)

• Megaphones (launches)

• Safety Binder (includes rower medical concerns and emergency contacts) (launch boxes)

• Safety Launch Equipment including towing straps, air horn, binoculars, paddle, boat hook, anchor, ladder, lights, hand pumps/milk jug bailers

  • Emergency space blankets (launch boxes)

  • First Aid Kit (rower cabinet)

  • Anyone operating a safety launch will carry a cell phone

Before You Get on the Water

Before you go out on the water, there are a few things that you should have prepared and a few things that you should check before you go out...

Have a "Rowing Bag" packed and with you

Have a "Rowing Bag" packed and with you (adults can leave these things in their car, but these are things you should have with you):

• FULL change of clothes (it’s a WATER sport - there is a high likelihood you’ll get WET)

• Extra socks

• Small towel(s)

• Hat and gloves

• Medication (inhaler, epi-pen, etc.)

• Water bottle

• Sun block

• Rain gear

• Nexcare (or other) tape (optional)

• Parents/adults may also want to consider having some towels or seat covers for cars

Check the weather

It is helpful to know what you are "walking in to" when you get to the boatyard. Rowers should know how to dress for a good practice and be ready for rain, cold, heat, etc.

Adult rowers should also look at the following so they are prepared for conditions they may face while on the water:

• Wind: know what the wind speed and direction are and make sure it will be safe to row (consult the wind direction chart on the River Map) and know if the wind is going to pick up and approximatley when

• Rain/Storms: know if there is weather coming in or if it looks clear

• Fog: especially for early morning rows, take a look to see if fog may be an issue

Know what to take when you go out to row

When you get to the boatyard, know what to take with you when you row, where to find these items, how to use them, and how to properly secure them in the boat.

• Personal Items (shoes, water bottle, inhaler or other medication)

• Adults Rowers - cell phones with S&S Emergency Numbers programmed when rowing alone

• Walkie Talkie (electronics cabinet)

• At least one PFD (unless you are required to wear one) (life jacket bins)

• Whistle (know where to find these on the PFD) (attached to life jackets - know where they are attached)

• Stroke coach (bow or cox and authorized singles) (electronics cabinet)

• Cox box (coxed boats) (electronics cabinet)

• Lights (in the Fall) (electronics cabinet)

Landmarks, markers, and river basics for ALL rowers

It is important to know the landmarks and basic river information before going out to row. All rowers should know the following:

• The direction you are rowing and traffic pattern for our boats and for boat traffic on the river

• Which direction is North/South/East/West

• Which way the current flows (North to south)

• If there are any shallow or dangerous spots where you will be rowing

• Landmarks from our dock to the lighthouse:

  • Last dock

  • Dock to nowhere

  • Stone cottage

  • Lighthouse

• If you have an issue (anything from equipment issues to medical issues), try to end up on the West side of the river

Landmarks, markers, and river basics for more experienced rowers

More experienced rowers will be in charge of boats and row more of the river, so there is some information in addition to the basics above that they will need to know:

• Know the different buoys and their significance

  • Red and green navigational buoys

  • White and red hazard buoys

• Know how to approach and go through the bridge

• Landmarks for more experienced rowers:

  • Bridge

  • Keif’s Reef

  • DelMar Marina

  • Red, White & Blue Park

  • Power lines

  • Emergency beaching area & shelter (North of power lines)

River Map

River maps with distances and landmarked marked can be found at the Rowing Center and the Boatyard. For your reference, you can also Download a PDF of the River Map here >>

Common Safety Concerns on the Lower Fox River

Below are the most common safety concerns on the Lower Fox River and Sweeps & Sculls guidelines for dealing with these issues. These Safety Concerns may also apply to other bodies of water, but this information is specific to rowing on the Lower Fox River.

Boat Traffic

In warmer weather, there can be quite a bit of speed boat traffic on the river. Many of the speed boats do not slow down or stop for us. We do our best to stay to the right along the buoy line, however large boat wakes are always a concern when there is significant boat traffic. The possibility of collision also increases the more boat traffic there is on the river.

Sweeps & Sculls guidelines for dealing with boat traffic:

• Rowers should make every effort to keep their starboard oars closest to shore outside of the main traffic channel (traffic pattern is just like being on a road).

• When the navigational buoys are in, do your best to stay on the inside (shore side) of the red buoys going up the river and the green buoys coming down the river. This keeps you out of the main boat traffic channel.

• Be aware as you are rowing and listen and watch for boat traffic. If you see or hear a boat coming, make sure you move inside the buoys as soon as you can.

• Weigh 'nuff (stop) and set the boat for wakes. Continue rowing once wakes pass.

High Winds

High winds are a risk for rowing, but each body of water has its own wind risks.

Sweeps & Sculls guidelines for dealing with high winds:

• No club equipment may be used in any wind over 20mph.

• No club equipment may be used in South East winds over 12mph (there are usually whitecaps). 

• Refer to the wind chart on the map of the river for other wind recommendations.

• We may or may not row in other wind situation at the coach's discretion.

• Adults that are rownig alone or at open rows without a coach, please check the weather and wind forecast before coming to row, then check conditions before deciding whether or not you should go out on the water.

• If you find yourself on the water in an unsafe wind situation, there are a few options you can use to keep yourelf and your teammates safe:

  • If in a team boat, the person in charge of the boat or the coach can make the decision to head back to the dock as soon as they realize the wind is unsafe. Have some of the boat set the boat while the others row and make your way back to the dock slowly. If in a single, take half slide strokes doing your best to control your blades making your way back to the dock slowly.

  • If you feel that you can not make it back to the dock, find a spot to wet dock your boat (ideally on the West side of the river) and contact someone to pick you up and make sure your equipment is as safe and secure as you can make it until it can be picked up.

Fog

It can be difficult to determine if fog will be an issue prior to arriving at the Boatyard. There can be pockets of fog on the drive in, but it is hard to tell how that will affect the river until you arrive. The experience with fog at the boatyard has generally been that the wait time for the fog to clear is longer than it's worth waiting for.

Sweeps & Sculls guidelines for dealing with fog:

• If it is foggy when you arrive at the boatyard...

  • In order to use club equipment in foggy conditions, you must be able to look up the river and see the last dock, and look down the river and see Port Barrington Marina and/or the Broken Oar.

  • If you can not see the last dock and Port Barrington Marina, you have a couple of options:

    • You can postpone rowing for a period of time give the fog time to clear.

    • You can cancel rowing for that day with the option to move the practice indoors.

• If fog rolls in while you are rowing (this is unlikely, but could happen), your goal is to try to get back to the dock as safety as possible. Use the following guidelines:

  • Try to stay within sight of shore, if the buoys are in, try to stay on the shore side of the buoys.

  • Move slowly following the shoreline.

  • Use a whistle to make noise as you move so others know you are there.

Lightning & Inclement Weather (eg. Tornado Warnings)

All coaches carry cell phones with various weather and radar apps. Coaches try to be proactive in making changes to practice taking weather conditions in to account. Adult rowers should check weather and try to be as poractive as possible in deciding if it's a good idea to row. There are times that thunderstorms or other inclement weather may roll in during practice. If that happens, we use the following guidelines.

Sweeps & Sculls guidelines for dealing with inclement weather during practice:

• Get back to the dock and in to a car if possible

  • If it is safe to do so (if you are close enough to our dock and you feel that you have enough time before the weather gets extremely severe), get back to our dock.

  • Put the boat away if possible, otherwise, leave the boat on the dock, but move the boat up on the dock if there are other boats coming in behind you.

  • Help any other rowers that may be right behind you, but don't wait for rowers if you can't see them coming in

  • Get to your car as quickly as possible. For rowers that are dropped off at practice, get to another rower or coach's car. Be sure you use the walkie and let coaches know what car you ended up in.

• If you can not get back to the boatyard, wet dock your boat (ideally on the west side of the river) leaving it in as safe a position as you reasonably can, and seek shelter. 

  • Coaches may contact parents or partners that may be in the area to start picking people up once we know locations. that are available to come and pick up rowers if necessary.

  • Coaches may also transport rowers back to the boatyard in the safety launch, or pick them up in a vehicle.

Boats Swamping (filling with water)

Boats can fill with water if there is a particularly large wake that hits the rowing shell a specific way. Winds can also cause waves that would cause a boat to swamp. 

Sweeps & Sculls guidelines for dealing with swamping:

• If a boat swamps, rowers must be removed and the boat must be bailed. This is usually done along the shore and may require the rowers to stand in the water. Launches have milk jug bailers of hand pumps that can be used.

• Adults that are on the water without a launch, do your best to bail as much water out of the boat as possible using hands, water bottles or whatever is at hand.

  • If you feel the boat is safe to row back to the dock, you can row it back to the dock at that point OR lift the boat to drain the rest of the water.

  • If you feel the boat needs to be emptied further, you can try to lift the boat to drain the water. PLEASE USE CAUTION WHEN LIFTING A BOAT THAT HAS BEEN FILLED WITH WATER.

    • Be sure you open the end compartments of the rowing shell so that any water that has collected in the ends can run out when the boat is lifted.

    • BE SURE YOU TAKE THE OARS OFF BEFORE TRYING TO LIFT THE BOAT.

    • LIft the boat half way and try to hold it sideways to allow the water to drain out, then either set the boat down before lifting it overhead, or continue to lift the boat overhead (you are probably going to get wet at this point).

• Once the boat is emptied of water, rowers can get back in and either continue their practice or go back to the dock. 

• For youth rowers, depending on conditions, coaches may also choose to transport rowers back to the dock in the launch and tow the swamped shell back to the dock to be emptied.

A Boat Flips or a Rower Ends Up in the Water

There are situations when a boat could flip or rower(s) could end up in the water.

Sweeps & Sculls guidelines for dealing with a boat flipping or rowers ending up in the water:

• If a boat flips during practice or a rower ends up in the water, rowers should NEVER leave their boat.

• Use a buddy system in these situations so rowers can ensure that their teammates are safe. Buddy with your pair partner (1/2, 3/4, etc.)

• The priority is to ensure that a Safety Launch gets to the rowers quickly and can ensure that all rowers have PFDs and extract them from the water as quickly as possible. 

• Rowers should always stay together and stay with their boat, kicking it to shore or to where they can stand together.

• Adults that are rowing without a safety launch/coach:

  • Do not leave your boat and try to get the boat to shore as a group, then follow the directions for swamping above.

  • Assess if there are any injuries and call 911 if someone needs medical attention and you do not feel you can safely get them back to the dock.

  • If a rower goes in the water and you can not see them, DO NOT GO IN AFTER THEM. One person should memorize the spot where they were last seen and the person with the phone should call 911 immediately. Be ready to relate your position on the river.

Cold Water

The end of Fall season and the beginning of Spring season, the water can be extremely cold. At these times, cold shock and hypothermia are our biggest concerns.

Sweeps & Sculls guidelines for cold water rowing:

• Use of all club equipment (including, but not limited to, boats, life jackets, stroke coaches, etc.) is not allowed when the water temperature is less than 40 degrees. Use of private equipment is discouraged

• All rowers wear PFDs when the water temperature is less than 50 degrees

• Coaches may require rowers to wear PFDs at any time for any reason

• Coaches will choose safer boats for practices in colder weather

• Rowers should dress appropriately for the weather and ensure they have a change of clothing in their rower bag or in their car.

• Adults that are going out without a coach should pay close attention to the wind and weather, take safer boats, make sure someone knows you are going out on the water and check in with them when you are off the water, make sure you take appropriate safety equipment, and row in groups if at all possible.

What to Wear for Cold Weather Rowing

It is very important to dress appropriately for cold weather rowing.

• You may get hot while rowing, but will probably get chilled before and after practice so wear layers that you can shed easily before you go out then put back on. For example:

  • Light short or long sleeve base layer

  • Fleece vest or light jacket

  • Jacket or fleece

  • PFD MUST GO ON TOP OF ALL CLOTHING

• Technical Fabrics - Avoid cotton

• ALWAYS have a FULL change of clothes

• See the following page for more details about what to wear for cold weather rowing >>

• See the following page for rowing clothing suggestions >>

Current & Water Level

The current on the Lower Fox River is typically fairly minimal. If water levels are high and the current is fast, we may choose not to row. There are also times when the river may be closed due to high water and fast currents.

Sweeps & Sculls guidelines for current and water level:

• The club watches the Fox Waterway Agency site which follow the direction of the Illinois DNR. We will not row if the river is closed. 

• We can row if the river is no wake, however we may shorten the river and only row to the lighthouse.

Basic Safety Certification

In order to keep rowers safe, some level of comfort in the water is important. Rowers are encouraged to participate in a Sweeps & Sculls Basic Safety Certification session at some point in their time with the club. The goals of the Basic Safety Certification are:

• Educate rowers through experience on what skills they will need and conditions they may face if they end up in the water. (wearing clothing, putting on a life jacket)

• Make every effort to educate coaches on the comfort level of the rowers with skills that are needed should they end up in the water.

• Adult rowers are required to complete the Basic Safety Certifcation in order to advance to Level 2.

Swimming Skills Precertification Form

We ask that all rowers/parents complete a Swimming Skills Precertification when they join the club. This is a form in iCrew that gives coaches some information on each rower’s swimming skills and comfort in the water.

Use of PFDs

Sweeps & Sculls uses the following guidelines for the use of PFDs while rowing:

• All rowers - are required to wear PFDs while using club equipment when the water temperature is below 50 degrees and below.

• Rowers (of any age) that have NOT completed Basic Safety Certification - Will wear a PFD at all times while using club equipment, including during racing, regardless of other circumstances including air temperature, etc.

• Rowers (of any age) that have completed the Basic Safety Certification and have received a PFD recommendation - Rowers may receive a PFD recommendation after completing the Basic Safety Certification. After reviewing their performance during the certification, a coach may recommend that a rower continue to wear a PFD at all times while using club equipment. There are a number of reasons that a coach may make this recommendation including medical concerns, assistive equipement that may make wearing a PFD safer, or the rower's swimming skills and comfort in the water, to name a few. If a rower received a PFD recommendation, they will be required to wear a PFD at all times while using club equipment including during racing. Rowers that recieve a PFD recommendation may re-do the test at any time.

• Rowers (of any age) that have completed the Basic Safety Certification - may use club equipment without wearing a PFD when the water temperature is above 50 degrees.

For more information on the Basic Safety Certification see the Basic Safety Certification Page >>