hehe, but in all seriousness just go buy some Germolene or another antiseptic cream from Boots/supermarkets which will be fine. Unfortunately it's something you'll have to get used to with rowing....just wait until you get shampoo in it when you're in the shower, that's a killer!
Well they should do - it's a requirement of British Rowing that clubs carry these out. All the Durham colleges do them, Tyne RC does them, Northumbria Uni BC does them at the very least...
Usually Ive found they just ask can you swim 50m? I know a guy who cant swim at all that rows, and ive seen him capsize a single a few times on the tideway....
Usually Ive found they just ask can you swim 50m? I know a guy who cant swim at all that rows, and ive seen him capsize a single a few times on the tideway....
Yeah they will ask you but all clubs will generally run swim tests now and then if you can't make it then that's sort of fine, just depends on how strict a club's water safety officer is.
At Tyne we would run 2 or 3 a year, one would coincide with the summer Learn to Row course and we'd expect everyone on that to go along, but then also one a bit later in the year for anyone who couldn't make that one and other new members, such as juniors who joined in September. Then sometimes another one in sort of March time if required.
Thing is, on the Tyne it's a lot more dangerous than some rivers (obviously not than the Thames, but quite comparable in terms of tidal activity), and so we made people swim 100m (50m on front, 50m on back) then also be able to swim approx 5m underwater, and tread water for 1 minute, then also do capsize drills in the pool. Whereas at places like Durham if you capsize you can stand up nearly anywhere you are along the entire rowable section of river!
Usually Ive found they just ask can you swim 50m? I know a guy who cant swim at all that rows, and ive seen him capsize a single a few times on the tideway....
How did the guy get one when he fell/capsized into the river when he couldn't swim? Genuinely asking, as I'm quite a week swimmer and always panic on the prospect of possibly capsizing
How did the guy get one when he fell/capsized into the river when he couldn't swim? Genuinely asking, as I'm quite a week swimmer and always panic on the prospect of possibly capsizing
Either scrambled onto whatever he had crashed into or clung onto the boat for dear life. Keeping calm is probably more important than being a good swimmer. Lots of people completely lose it when the water is very cold. I think a good way of preparing is just by putting your shower on as cold as possible and then standing under it and trying to control your breathing.
How did the guy get one when he fell/capsized into the river when he couldn't swim? Genuinely asking, as I'm quite a week swimmer and always panic on the prospect of possibly capsizing
Also it is possible to get back into your boat if youve fallen in just takes a bit of practice, i should know... lol