How busy does your river/lake get?

Rockin Roland · Post by **Rockin Roland** » October 7th, 2006, 10:37 pm

Yesterday was a beautiful sunny Spring day (26C/80F). The river was flat and conditions were absolutely superb for rowing. The days are getting longer and it was an ideal time to do some crew rowing in preparation for the summer regatta season.

That was the problem. It seemed like the whole rowing population in our City was thinking the same and decided to row that Saturday morning. The river was absolutely choked with rowing boats (fortunately no liesure craft) and rowing boat traffic was very heavy. Everybody from old scullers, elite State crews, regular club crews and heaps of school crews were out there looking for a clear run on the water.

Unfortunately there were far too many crews out there. If all crews travelled at the same speed and didn't have coaching pit stops it would probably be OK. It was one of those mornings where I doubt if anyone was on an erg but all in boats.

I had two rows that morning. One at 6.30 am in the single scull and another at 9.30 am in an eight. In both sessions heavy boat traffic had to be negotiated.

Does anybody else experience such conditions? We didn't have any motor boats on the river but I could imagine people in other countries and locations would have to deal with both. I guess the big positive I can draw from yesterday morning is that the sport of rowing is very healthy and strong in Australia, unlike the sport of indoor rowing here which is tiny and scattered.

dennish · Post by **dennish** » October 8th, 2006, 10:41 am

Roland, Much the opposite here. Just headed into winter and if your brave enough to go out you can have the lake pretty much to yourself. For the past week weather has been amazing and the lake absolutely flat and a couple of sullers who can get the time off during midday have been out. Best time of the year around here to single scull. During summer we have to contend with water skiers, jet ski's, kayaks, fishermen, buoys (they pull them in the winter as the lake will freeze soon), canoeists and any other sort of water conveyance that you can imagine. Today the weather has turned cold and blustery and so its onto the erg. I sense that as problematic as the traffic was you still had a good time in the boats. I think I inquired once before but have forgotten your response. I have it in my head that you row on the Yarra River in Melbourne/ Any chance you would know Jamie MacDonald? dennis

Byron Drachman · Post by **Byron Drachman** » October 8th, 2006, 4:23 pm

Does anybody else experience such conditions?

Yes, and my first suggestion is to use a mirror if you're not already using one. There are three groups of rowers and scullers that use the same part of the river: the MSU Club Crew, the MSU Varsity Crew, and our local rowing club. Sometimes our river is crowded with rowers, and often there are speed boats, fishermen, water skiers, jet skis, wake boarders, and other riff raff.

Some people say they hate using mirrors, but anybody can get used to using one, and I don't see why a rower would want to keep turning around. With a good mirror or spyglasses I have a view of the river in the direction of travel.

Once the cold weather gets here and when the river is not frozen, I have the river to myself. I use dry clothing designed for cold water immersion, a PFD, and this year I'm adding homemade outriggers (stablilzers) to the single I use.

Byron

Rockin Roland · Post by **Rockin Roland** » October 8th, 2006, 6:05 pm

dennis wrote:Roland, Much the opposite here. Just headed into winter and if your brave enough to go out you can have the lake pretty much to yourself. For the past week weather has been amazing and the lake absolutely flat .............. I have it in my head that you row on the Yarra River in Melbourne/ Any chance you would know Jamie MacDonald? dennis

I agree that winter is the best time of the year to row. The conditions are calm and the water is usually flat. It's amazing how so many people don't realize that. As soon as it gets colder and the days shorter people revert to training indoors.

In winter, rowing traffic on the Yarra river reduces by about 80% and air temperature rarely drops below 7 C/42 F. If you fall in it's unlikely to be life threatening from water temperature. Hence because of fewer people and the calm conditions I enjoy winter rowing the most. The only downside is that you have to use lights on your boat because the days are so short.

I don't know Jamie McDonald personally but have seen him around. Our OTW rowing community here is very huge.

ancho · Post by **ancho** » October 9th, 2006, 11:57 am

Years ago, we used to row in Barcelona harbour. No rowing boats other than ours around there, but all kinds of light and heavy motor boats, it was VERY dangerous!

Now we have to share "our" channel with canoers, sailors (optimist), recreational rowers/paddlers and water skiers

Although there are agreed time schedules, they often don't work, and it's also dangerous to row near unexperienced paddlers, who aren't aware that we don't see them, and only will warn in the very last second.

Best of all is getting up early, and having the channel for us alone. Unfortunately the installations just open at 08:00 am.

mpukita · Post by **mpukita** » October 15th, 2006, 4:46 pm

We have high traffic ... at least 3 rowing clubs/teams, plus recreational boaters, fishing boats, water skiers, and wake boarders. The first thing we learn is how to handle wakes (well, just about, after boat handling) ... even though we're supposed to be in "no wake" zones.

Last Tuesday evening, we were in a double (with a coach in a launch) and had a fisher-person call us every name in the book (my partner was female ... very classy move that) because we were "too close" to him, and he had "moved to be away from us". We're only allowed to row in the west-most 120' from shore (50' going southbound, outside that lane and no more than 120' going northbound), when the river is 3 to 4 times that wide (at least).

It seems the power-boaters would have told him (or did tell him) to kiss their backsides, so he took his energy out on us. Coach took care of it, politely but forcefully. This is a semi-regular matter we have to deal with, in addition to a lawyer who lives on the river who's filed a complaint with the city because all public amplification devices need a permit ... said permit almost surely to be denied.

Can you say, "No cox box"?

We get colder here than you do there Roland, and often get ice, which can be a problem.

There must be a place ... maybe Dennis has found it ... that's "rowing heaven" ... long, wide, sheltered, no-motors-allowed, no current, and YOU get to be the boss.

Wouldn't that be wonderful?

I want to retire THERE.

polaco · Post by **polaco** » October 16th, 2006, 3:42 am

mpukita wrote:We have high traffic ... at least 3 rowing clubs/teams, plus recreational boaters, fishing boats, water skiers, and wake boarders. The first thing we learn is how to handle wakes (well, just about, after boat handling) ... even though we're supposed to be in "no wake" zones.

Last Tuesday evening, we were in a double (with a coach in a launch) and had a fisher-person call us every name in the book (my partner was female ... very classy move that) because we were "too close" to him, and he had "moved to be away from us". We're only allowed to row in the west-most 120' from shore (50' going southbound, outside that lane and no more than 120' going northbound), when the river is 3 to 4 times that wide (at least).

It seems the power-boaters would have told him (or did tell him) to kiss their backsides, so he took his energy out on us. Coach took care of it, politely but forcefully. This is a semi-regular matter we have to deal with, in addition to a lawyer who lives on the river who's filed a complaint with the city because all public amplification devices need a permit ... said permit almost surely to be denied.

Can you say, "No cox box"?

We get colder here than you do there Roland, and often get ice, which can be a problem.

There must be a place ... maybe Dennis has found it ... that's "rowing heaven" ... long, wide, sheltered, no-motors-allowed, no current, and YOU get to be the boss.

Wouldn't that be wonderful?

I want to retire THERE.

Banyoles Lake is close to these conditions you want and Seville also, ahhh and you can add the fantastic Spanish weather

Bob S. · Post by **Bob S.** » October 16th, 2006, 10:45 am

polaco wrote: Banyoles Lake is close to these conditions you want and Seville also, ahhh and you can add the fantastic Spanish weather

But don't expect it in Galicia! I tried to find the boat club in Pontevedra and missed it in the rain. No traffic on the river, however.

Bob S.

ancho · Post by **ancho** » October 16th, 2006, 12:22 pm

Bob S. wrote:
polaco wrote: Banyoles Lake is close to these conditions you want and Seville also, ahhh and you can add the fantastic Spanish weather
But don't expect it in Galicia! I tried to find the boat club in Pontevedra and missed it in the rain. No traffic on the river, however.

Bob S.

There are lots of important and smaller rowing clubs in Galicia.
Don't know now in Pontevedra (city), but in Vigo there are 2 big ones: Remo Vigo and Liceo Bouzas, And in the province of Pontevedra there is one in O Grove.
Muche more rain in Galicia than in Sevilla or Banyoles, though.

Neb154 · Post by **Neb154** » October 17th, 2006, 1:33 am

Very high traffic at my club.

Masters + 2 Club Teams + 7 High Schools + 1 College = Busy boathouse.

rowingmad · Post by **rowingmad** » January 29th, 2007, 4:40 pm

0n our river, we have allocated one side for going up the river and the other side for coming home so we dont get caught and its easier to pass out other boats because there is no1 coming in your direction because they are on the other side of the river,,,

coggs · Post by **coggs** » January 29th, 2007, 8:48 pm

2 venues where I scull.

Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester Ma. gets very busy during the college and HS season. About 9 different programs use the Lake. You have to watch what your doing but the crews and coaches launches are pretty respectfull of each other . Most power boats use the south end of the lake when the crews are out on the north course - but the public launch ramp is right next to the rowing center so they have to pass the race course to get down to where they ski or fish. It's a narrow lake so a powerboat wakes tend to bounce off the shore and hit you twice.

During the summer the lake is all yours in the early morning. Afternoon there are too many powerboats

The lake at my house north of Worcester is great in the morning just about anytime of the year. The lake is surrounded mostly by cottages so during the summer months (June thru late August) there is a lot of powerboat and PWC traffic in the afternoons and evenings - but come September the people and their power boats vanish.

Nothing but snowmobiles on them now.