When Weather Turns Foul…
When I got to the boathouse that night it seemed like any other hot, humid summer day in the nation's capital. I hadn't looked at the forecast and was optimistic about taking out novice boats to practice race starts for the first time. “We've got a race coming up on Saturday and there's work to be done.”
With all but one boat launched, the wind started to pick up. The river was rougher than usual, so I reminded the rowers to make sure to get hands down and away at the finish, and clear their blades on the recovery. There were some clouds overhead, but nothing terribly worrisome. Then, just as I was getting into my launch to start it up, another coach gave me a weather report: "We've just been put under a severe thunderstorm watch."
But the weather and water seemed manageable, so I instructed the coxswains and my assistant coach to work through the pick drill to warm up, then reassess the situation. That was the wrong call.
Within five minutes the skies got dark and the winds started whipping. Strong gusts blew across the surface of the river, kicking up spray that showered the rowers. The chop got bigger, the spray more biting. The novice rowers did their best to drive against the forces of mother nature, and the novice coxswains steeled their nerves and held on tight to the steering cables. I had to yell over the sound of the wind. I had to hold my hat to keep it from blowing off my head. My assistant coach watched as her Kippy Kit got picked up and blown off the deck of her launch. I started to worry.
The next 10 minutes were the longest and scariest of my coaching career. Four boats, 28 novice rowers, four novice coxswains, two coaches in launches. All fighting the elements to get back to the dock. Those 10 minutes felt like an hour, and in between shouting commands to coxswains, and remaining in radio contact with the other coach, I just kept thinking: "You are so dumb."
As a coach, I always have the rowers' safety in mind. Other rowers and coaches know me for my very detail-oriented coaching style, and extreme adherence to river traffic patterns and safety. What was I thinking?! At that moment back on the dock, when another coach gave me the weather warning, I threw caution to wind. Literally.
I put all of my rowers in a dangerous situation, and I regret it. I couldn't sleep that night because I was burdened with guilt. I kept thinking about what prompted my bad judgement.
The next morning the river was calm, and that night we were back out on the water picking up where we left off. Working on race starts. And the rowers will have one heck of a foul weather rowing story to tell.
Coaches Foul Weather Check-List
KNOW THE USROWING SAFETY GUIDELINES related to weather conditions.
Wind: Do not launch in high winds. Use extreme caution. If sudden winds come up, return to the boathouse if the trip is safe, or take the boat to the nearest shore and wait for the winds to calm.
While no specific wind speed is mentioned in the guidelines, most coaches I know get cautious around 12mph. Bob Reichart, Capital Rowing Club’s Head of Coaching and Masters Sculling tells me that CRC uses "Do Not Row with White Caps" as a way to practically define what "high winds" are, although he’s starting to think that there is an appropriate upper limit on wind. He says “we also have to be stinking careful with winds over 15 mph. Of course, more experienced crews can handle more cross wind, so there is some discretion involved.” (Aside: at a masters rowing camp in 2022 with highly experienced coaches and rowers, I coxed a W8 in 30+mph gusts. Wouldn’t recommend it. But it did teach me that I could handle boats in just about anything.)
Lightening and thunder: Do not row in an electrical storm. If you are on the water and see lightning, hear thunder, or notice your hair standing on end with static electricity, head for the nearest shore immediately. If the storm is upon you, take your boat ashore, get out of the boat, and wait for the storm to pass. Do not load boats on a trailer or handle boats on land in an electrical storm. If you are about to launch and hear thunder or see lightning, or quickly darkening skies, do not launch.
Not specifically stated in the USRowing guidelines, but in place at my club: DO NOT LAUNCH with active lighting within 10 miles, and DO NOT LAUNCH with a Severe Thunderstorm Watch in effect.
Download the complete PDF guidelines here, for information about a wide variety of weather conditions, precautions, and actions.
USE WEATHER APPS on your smartphone for realtime updates. My meteorologist friend Justin suggests (for iPhone) Weather Underground, where you can pick a station on the map and see the conditions it's reporting. I use it in combination with My Radar, Lightening Cast, and WindCompass apps, for updates that are timely and reliable. Also follow local media and set your phone to accept and show notifications from them.
KIPPY KIT(S) should be fully stocked with enough PFDs for every rower on the water, stored aboard the coaching launch(es).
YOUR OWN PERSONAL PFD, to be worn at all times when on the water in your launch.
MARINE RADIO turned on and volume up, and/or personal smartphone for communicating with other coaches, coxswains, and in case of emergency the Coast Guard or other local emergency responders. Know which channels to use in your area.
PREP YOUR ROWERS for all circumstances.
Talk about safety. Often overlooked, be sure to spend time, even just a few minutes each week, talking with your athletes about safety. Everything from boat handling, to hypothermia, to getting caught in an electrical storm.
Implementing emergency plans. When overcome with foul weather, how your rowers and coxswains react will be key. Tell your rowers how to handle the current situation, make sure the stroke and coxswain communicate with each other, and the coxswain should relay clear messages and commands to the rest of the crew. For experienced rowers, it’s tempting to become back seat drivers, but too many voices can lead to confusion and frustration. The goal is to be efficient and effective, and save lives. People first, then equipment.
EXTRA CREDIT: Listen to my interview with Tom Rooks, USRowing’s Director of Sport Safety and Operations.
Coaches: Do you have foul weather stories to share? What else is on your foul-weather check-list? Email rachel@rowsource.com