Following discussion with Scottish Canals, this note sets out the rules that club members must follow to ensure that IRC boats can safely transit under the new and old swing bridges.

Scottish Canals are treating the space between the bridges as a lock, i.e. they expect powered craft to travel slowly and have limited room for manoeuvre in the space between the bridges. When windy, boats will be required to tie up when one bridge is closed and the other is opened.

For IRC, this means that our boats must not attempt to go under either bridge for the (possibly) 20 minutes it may take for powered craft to transit through the bridges.

As we do not carry radios we are not able to contact the bridge operators to inform then of our intentions. However, the bridge operators will have good visibility via CCTV and line of sight from the control tower and will keep a look out for us.

To avoid there being any scope for confusion (which could end up with one of our boats getting into difficulty with craft heading towards us in the limited space between the bridges), all IRC crews must adhere to the following set of rules:-

1. As before, IRC boats should never attempt to follow other craft through the bridges when open.

2. Amber flashing lights have been installed on both bridges – we can only proceed under the bridges when these lights are turned off.
Flashing lights means that the road and bridge management process has started and one of the bridges will be opened imminently. The bridge operator’s attention will be on controlling the road and canal traffic at this time and they will not be able to wait for us to pass through.

3. IRC crews should not go within 50m of either bridge unless they intend to go under that bridge.
We must turn quickly when doing several pieces “under the bridge” or when coming back to the boathouse from Dochgarroch so that the operator has a clear understanding of our intention.
All work pieces must be finished well before either bridge so that crews do not stop to catch their breath before turning. On the Dochgarroch side, this means before the boathouse. On the Muirton side, this means before the set of pontoons that are adjacent to the caravan site entrance.

4. IRC crews must only go under a bridge if they intend to travel the full distance and go under the second bridge.
No one should turn or stop between the bridges and we should use reasonable efforts to transit quickly.

For their part, Scottish Canals will check that there are none of our boats between the bridges and allow them to complete their transit before they start bridge operations.

Short video clip above to demonstrate how to use the bookings system to let us know whether you will attend an outing.

Three sections:-
1. Confirm you will attend – select the outing and then the attend/maybe/decline option
2. See other people’s decision – select the outing and then click on the text above the relevant button (in this case the maybes)
3. Change your mind – select the outing, your current choice has a tick against it, select your revised choice

Please see the following short video (click the link if the video below doesn’t work or you can’t get it to show in full screen mode): https://members.invernessrowing.uk/Outings/Outing.mp4

Key Points:-
(0:07) Select “Week” to make it easier to select time of your outing
(0:10) Drag to select your 2 hour slot
(0:16) It is essential you select “Outings” otherwise other people will not see your booking
(0:25) Check boxes – adjust time if necessary
(0:30) Enter your boat and name in the box
If you want to make changes
(1:05) Drag to new day/time
(1:14) Double click for if you want to adjust by typing
(1:35) Change duration by dragging bottom boundary
(1:44) Delete outing

Outings can be booked either by clicking on “Booking” above or clicking here

All members must abide by the guidance document issued by Robert: IRC COVID-19 Phase 2 guidelines

For those who couldn’t make it along on Boxing Day, Steve Bunn has prepared a document outlining the current boathouse development plan.
There is a comments book in the cabin that everyone can use to add their thoughts or comments.

Boat-House-consultation-Dec-19.pdf

We also have a couple of clips from Jude taken from a more traditional angle:

Can everyone who is down for marshalling this weekend please read the following information?  Please email nov2019@invernessrowing.club of you have any questions.

Word documents: (First a document that contains all the information and then a sub-set; one for each colour group)

Marshal_DetailedInstructions_AllTeams_05Nov19

Marshal_DetailedInstructions_Yellow_05Nov19
Marshal_DetailedInstructions_Red_05Nov19
Marshal_DetailedInstructions_Pink_05Nov19
Marshal_DetailedInstructions_Orange_05Nov19
Marshal_DetailedInstructions_Green_05Nov19
Marshal_DetailedInstructions_Blue_05Nov19

Powerpoint documents (also available on the events site):
Circulation_All_05Nov19

Animations:
Full Resolution
Lower resolution

The club will hold its AGM on 14th April at 11am – see attached agenda.  Venue will be advised later.
The minutes from last year’s meeting are too large to email (as they include the architect’s report that Roy presented) so I’ve put them on the members’ website.  They can be accessed from the following link (you will need to log into the system to gain access):- members.invernessrowing.uk/outings/index.php?r=cfiles%2Fbrowse%2Findex&fid=5&sguid=9283c1cb-a25f-43d8-88d4-dfd2f555cca5

IRC_AGM_Agenda2019.docx

Just 2 patches of ice left.  Should lift in the next couple of days but, sadly, no rowing on Sunday as the steps/pontoons are not free of ice and there’s a 100m section at the corner by the wall that’s solid.