Success through safety.
- Safety is paramount in rowing.
- Optimal preparation is therefore essential.
- The following films (external links) serve as an introduction to safe rowing at the MRC 1880.
Overview
Wind and weather
Lake Starnberg should not be underestimated as a body of water; in appropriate wind and weather conditions, the lake is difficult to navigate – rowing is then not harmless. It is advisable to keep an eye on the weather and to use the diverse weather information.
Lake Starnberg is equipped with a storm warning system. This ‘will in principle: from 1 April to 31 October operate from 07:00 to 22:00’. The Starnberg District Office provides the following information:
A warning will be issued in the event of an expected occurrence of ‘strong wind’ or storm forecasted in the context of the regular weather report. Boats on the water should immediately seek the proximity of a protective shore.
- Cautionary warning (slow concentricity, 40 signals per minute): “Attention to severe weather is to be expected!”
- Storm warning (fast concentricity, 90 signals per minute): “Danger! Make for the shore! Do not leave port!’
- No light signals: ‘The danger situation is over.’
Personal protective equipment
In rowing, a protective equipment appropriate to the area, the season and the weather is a matter of course. These include, in addition to adapted clothing, boat covers, bilge and light bulbs as well as a waterproof packed mobile phone per boat. At least in the case of cold water, it is also mandatory to wear a life jacket or swimming aid. Every athlete is responsible for their own equipment.
The MRC1880 Security Calendar
- Summer driving regulations: April – October
- Winter driving regulations: November – March
- Cold water season: November – April
Rules
In addition to relevant traffic regulations, coordinated driving regulations apply to rowing areas between resident clubs and organisations. These are binding for all rowing athletes. Due to additional bird protection regulations ("RAMSAR Agreement"), which severely restrict the use of Lake Starnberg in the winter months, a winter and a summer sailing regulations have been set for our domestic waters.
Rowing regulations at Lake Starnberg
The rowing operation on Lake Starnberg is subject to a driving regulations, which is coordinated with all resident rowing clubs. These regulations lay down two corridors per bank side, each of which has a one-way road regime for rowing boats. The following rules serve to avoid dangerous and costly accidents and are therefore binding for all club members and guest rowers.
Irrespective of the regulations, the following basic rules must always be observed:
- The crew maintains constant control over the free waterway. Look around regularly!
- Bugmann is on the lookout and gives directions, chairman is responsible.
- Dodging or overtaking: in the direction of travel to the right!
- East/West sailing ‘crossing’ boats have no right of way!
- Slower boats make the quicker place!
In summer
The summer timetable is valid from April to October.
For trips on the west bank (e.g. to Roseninsel):
- Outward journey to the south near the shore
- When turning, drive about 30 strokes perpendicularly towards the center of the lake
- Return to the boathouse then in the middle of the lake, without getting into any oncoming traffic on the east side.
For trips on the east bank (e.g. Leoni):
- Head south towards the centre of the lake without getting into any oncoming traffic on the west side.
The distance to the shore must allow safe passage of oncoming boats on the shore side! - When turning, drive about 30 strokes perpendicularly towards the shore
- Return to the boathouse near the shore, observing the buoy fields.
Evasive and overtaking manoeuvres must always be designed in such a way that they dodge to the right in the direction of travel. This avoids collisions with oncoming boats.
In winter
The winter timetable is valid from November to March. In winter, the regulations for the summer apply with regard to: Direction of travel analog. However, larger shore distances must be observed and, like the east side, avoided as much as possible. The rowing distance is therefore narrower and lies in the more wind-prone part of the lake, which requires special care and caution.
In the winter half-year, the following additional rules apply:
- During the week no rowing before 10 a.m., on weekends not before 9 a.m.; End no later than 1 hour before sunset.
- Access to the northern and southern bays of Lake Starnberg is strictly prohibited.
- Sports activities in the North Bay, i.e. in the area of the MRC boathouse, are only permitted with an agreed minimum distance to the shore:
- Southbound boats should be oriented towards a bearing line Seecafé - Roseninsel;
- on the way back is sufficiently driven towards the center of the lake and dodged.
- The Rose Island is to be passed at a distance of at least 400 meters on the sea side.
- The east bank may only be used in strong easterly winds, which prevent driving on the west side, at a shore distance of 300m, south mountain of 400m.
- Accumulations of water birds are to be circumvented large-scale (at least 400 meters distance as far as possible!)
These rules have been implemented taking into account the so-called Ramsar Agreement between the Bavarian State Government, the Bavarian Rowing Association and the State Association for the Protection of Birds. The attention is important in order to avoid a possible complete ban on rowing (sports) operations on Lake Starnberg in the winter months – as is the case with sailors and motorboat drivers.
Rowing in winter
Rowing in winter carries special dangers. Therefore, the following special rowing regulations apply in winter:
- With drifting ice and ice formation near the shore, there is an absolute ban on rowing because of the risk of boat damage!
- In the case of capsizing at winter outdoor or water temperatures, there is an immediate danger to life! There are special risks with the boat types one and two without helmsman. The board therefore strongly advises all rowers in the winter months and asks that they row exclusively in team and gig boats on Lake Starnberg, or dodge to the regatta track in Oberschleißheim for rowing in skiff and race two.
- Rowers who are not of legal age may only sail on Lake Starnberg in the Skiff or Rennzweier in the direct company of trainers in the motorboat and with life jacket.
- Full-time club members with sufficient experience in skiff and racing boat are allowed to drive on their own responsibility in suitable weather and water conditions on Lake Starnberg also in skiff or racer with life jacket. In any case, the prerequisite is the independent assessment of the current and foreseeable weather conditions. In case of doubt, rides in Skiff and Rennzweier should also be avoided in good weather. The race gig-ones are skiffs!
- Any rescue operations from emergency situations can incur considerable costs for the rowers responsible. The association is not liable for these or for the suitability of the boats used for rowing under the winter weather conditions.
- Due to the condensed traffic, please be extra careful and mindful of oncoming boats! Directly oncoming vehicles dodge in the direction of travel to the right / starboard.