Summer Regatta season is upon us, and whether you are in your 1st or 20th season of coxing, there are always improvements to be made. So without further ado (and by learning from some of our mistakes), here are the Chattercox Top 10 Tips for Being Regatta Ready!
1. Look after your equipment
From your boat to your cox box/orb, make it your responsibility to check that your equipment is ready to race. If you are travelling to the regatta, ensure that the boat is loaded safely on to the trailer, with ALL it’s parts also safely and securely packed (EDITOR’S NOTE – One of the Chattercox duo who shall remain nameless once arrived at an International regatta and realised they had left their backstays behind). Make sure the nuts and bolts from your riggers are secure, labelled, and are also packed.
Know the rules around equipment and be prepared to fix simple issues. For example the regatta may require you to have heel restraints of a certain length – check that these are in good order before you leave your club.
Have spares of everything! Nuts, bolts, heel restraints, seats, wheels….. the list goes on.
Make sure your cox box/orb, microphone, and stroke coaches are in good working order, fully charged (and that you have the charger with you), and consider taking spares if your club has any available. If the country you are competing in requires coxswains to wear a lifejacket, then check it is fully functional and appropriate for the boat you are racing in.
And don’t forget to check that there are enough boat trestles/slings!
2. Tools
It’s important to know that you will have access to the basic tools you need to rig your boat and fix any basic problems. Depending on your level and who is in your support team, this may just mean having a rigger jigger/spanner on hand to take in the boat with you, or it might mean needing a full tool kit for all eventualities.
If you have spent money on your own tools we would strongly recommend making sure they are marked in some way to make it clear that they belong to you. You could try covering them with brightly coloured tape, or writing your name on them with permanent marker. (EDITOR’S NOTE – The Chattercox duo estimate they have lost hundreds of £/$ worth of tools between them over the years).
3. Know the course/site
This one may be harder or easier depending on where you are going! Even if you are racing on home waters, make sure you know exactly where the course start and finish are, and where the warm-up/cool down circuits are. If it is a course away from home then look to see if the regatta has a course map online, or use Google Maps to examine what the water is like. Even on a straight lane 2k course it is good to know where you can boat from, how the circulation works, and where the medal pontoon is if appropriate (aim high!).
If the course is on a river or open stretch of water, you need to think about your steering and course landmarks. Some events will have different course markers from those you may be used to, for example races at Henley in the UK use a variety of mile and other named markers rather than the metre makers you are likely to be more used to. Another example is the race course on the Schuykill in Philadelphia which has a turn, so there is a staggered start. Know what the stagger is, when it would even out, and when the turn will happen.
If you are unsure talk to your coach, but also don’t be afraid to talk to local coxes, coaches and athletes when you arrive at the venue and get their top tips.
If the information is available, try and get an idea about what is around the course off the water as well – if you know where the toilets, crew check-in, weigh in etc are based before you get there then life will be easier.
4. Recorder
If your cox box/orb doesn’t have one built in then buy a small, cheap recorder (+/- a lapel microphone for better sound quality). This will be the best investment you can make to improve your coxing. Record races, listen back on your own, send the recordings to your coach, listen to them with your crew. Make notes on what you really liked about your recording, and what you would like to do better next time. And if you would like more help, then email us and we can discuss recording analysis sessions!
5. Personal gear
Just because it’s regatta season doesn’t mean it’s warm! Have the appropriate clothing for the conditions, as well as spares if you are expecting rain/wind/multiple races. (EDITOR’S NOTE – One of the Chattercox duo almost got hypothermia racing her Henley final in just an all-in-one when she was caught in a massive storm just before the start of the race). Also check you have the correct footwear for the boating situation (eg do you need to wade in to boat or will you step off the dock?).
And if it is warm – do you have sunscreen?
Check that you have enough food and drink to last you the day and journey, especially if there isn’t much available on site.
If you know you are under the weight limit, then plan something to take with you to act as dead weight, don’t assume that this will be provided for you.
6. Plan your warm up + have contingency plans
It’s vital that you know not only what you need to get done in your warm up, but also how much time you will have to do it, and the space that is available. Some regattas may only allow you to boat at a certain term, so your warm-up routine may need to be adjusted. Very warm or very cold weather may also change the amount of time you want to be on the water.
Also make sure you have plotted how your warm up will fit into the circulation pattern. How much space do you have to warm up? Are you allowed to do any warm up in the direction of racing, and if so are there particular bits of the warm up you want to do in that direction? Also be aware of where you are and aren’t allowed to spin – you don’t want to get a penalty for being in the wrong place.
Most importantly – make sure you leave enough time to complete your warm up in the right place. (EDITOR’S NOTE – One of the Chattercox duo…OK fine it was Zoe….was nearly late to her Olympic heat because she had misjudged how big the warm up circulation loop was).
7. Have your race plan ready
Whether it is very simple or super complicated – know your race plan. If it’s so complicated you can’t remember it then discuss this with your coach and crew in good time. Also know how/why/when you might want to deviate from the plan.
8. Research your oppo
This is a personal one – some people like to know everything their opposition has done before, how they like to race, what times they have posted at other events…and some people hate this. Each to their own, but at the very least know who is racing in which lane so that you can accurately inform your crew about what is going on during the race.
9. Be ready to track your athletes
It’s like herding cats sometimes isn’t it?
10. Prepare the day’s timetable
Get hold of your competition schedule and start planning. When will you need to arrive, how long will it take to get your boats ready, when do you need to register and weigh in, how long do you need to warm up on land and on the water, how many times will your bow seat need to go to the toilet before you boat? Build in contingencies for everything.
How long will it take to boat? Time the walk to the landing stage and be aware of how congested it is (if you are going to be waiting there for ages then ask a coach/supporter to bring your trestles/slings with you so the athletes can put the boat down!).
Make sure everyone knows the plan, and when/where they need to be next!