Position Descriptions for Practice

Please first read the overview for general information about River Control positions and roles, even if you are experienced and returning to volunteer with us, particularly the “New for 2024!” section.

Practice Hours

Official practice is open on Friday to all crews and scullers after racing has concluded. For 2024, crews will be permitted to start launching from FALS at 10:30 a.m., as the final morning race starts on the course. No boats will be permitted to launch after 5:00 p.m. and the course closes at 6:00 p.m. on Friday for all crews, even if they’re local. (HOCR Rule 8.3.) At 5:30 p.m., we will begin telling all boats that they should return to their landing dock.

Turning and Crossing (During Practice)

There will be NO TURNING ON THE COURSE during practice on Friday. The traffic pattern for crews during practice is a continuous, uninterrupted circuit from and back to their launch point. (HOCR Rule 8.4.) A memo will go out to boathouses on the course (primarily Riverside, Weld, Cambridge Boat Club, and Winsor/Belmont Hill) that crews launching from those docks must launch and land in the direction of traffic, i.e. bows to the right on the dock, and may not turn onto the course from the dock or onto the dock from the course.

Basin (Zone 1; Radio Channel 2)

RC12

This position is in a launch near the start line.

Keep boats moving smoothly at the start. At 5:45 p.m., start telling crews that the course closes at 6:00 p.m., how much practice time is remaining and to proceed to their landing dock.

BU Bridge to River St Bridge (Zone 2; Radio Channel 3)

RC20 (old RC42)

This position is in a launch patrolling the warm-up lane between BU Bridge and SADL.

Inform crews traveling downstream that there is no turning upstream until the start (RC12). Coordinate with RC21 (old RC13) and Riverside/SADL Dock Masters (SADL is on Channel 15) to monitor the safe landing of crews at Riverside/SADL in the same direction as the course (upstream) only: No turning anywhere on the course during practice. At 5:30 p.m., start telling crews that the course closes at 6:00 p.m., how much practice time is remaining and to proceed to their landing dock.

RC21 (old RC13)

This position is in a launch patrolling the warm-up lane between SADL and River Street Bridge.

Inform crews traveling downstream that there is no turning upstream until the start (RC12). Coordinate with RC20 (old RC42) and Riverside/SADL Dock Masters (SADL is on Channel 15) to monitor the safe launching and landing of crews at Riverside/SADL in the same direction as the course (upstream) only: No turning anywhere on the course during practice. At 5:30 p.m., start telling crews that the course closes at 6:00 p.m., how much practice time is remaining and to proceed to their landing dock.

RC22 (old RC14)

This position is on land, on the Riverside dock.

Coordinate with RC20 (old RC42) and SADL Dock Masters (SADL is on Channel 15) to monitor the safe launching and landing of crews at Riverside in the same direction as the course (upstream) only: No turning anywhere on the course during practice. No boats will be permitted to launch after 5:00 p.m.

River St Bridge to Anderson/JFK St Bridge (Zone 3; Radio Channel 3)

RC30 (old RC16a)

This is a land position on the downstream side of the Weeks Bridge.

Keep boats moving through the turn in the travel lane. Prevent crews from turning between Weeks Bridge and Western Ave Bridge. There is no turning the entire length of the powerhouse stretch. Assist RC33 (old RC18) with course control for boats launching from/docking at Weld Boathouse, if necessary.

RC31 (RC16b)

This is a land position on the upstream side of the Weeks Bridge.

Remind coxswains in the travel lane of the upcoming sharp starboard turn. Slow down crews if necessary. Assist RC33 (old RC18) with course control for boats launching from/docking at Weld Boathouse, if necessary.

RC32 (old RC18)

This position is in a launch on the downstream side of Anderson bridge, across from Weld Boathouse.

Keep boats moving in the downstream travel lane. Assist with course control for boats launching from/docking at Weld Boathouse, if necessary. Communicate with RC31 (old RC16) regarding traffic through Weeks Bridge and with RC41 (old RC19) regarding traffic through Anderson Bridge.

RC33 (old RC15)

This position is in a launch patrolling the racing lane between Western Ave Bridge and Weeks Bridge. The launch should stay close to the Cambridge shore and to Weeks Bridge, where the river is wide and you will be out of the way of crews practicing their Weeks turn.

Keep boats moving through the upstream racing lane. Try to give each crew a fair shot at practicing the Weeks turn. Prevent crews from turning between Western Ave Bridge and Weeks Bridge. There is no turning the entire length of the powerhouse stretch. Assist RC32 (old RC18) with course control for boats launching from/docking at Weld Boathouse, if necessary.

RC34 (old RC17)

This position is in a launch patrolling the racing lane between the River St Bridge and the Western Ave Bridge. The launch should be positioned close to the Cambridge shore (racing side, by the wall) near the 1-Mile mark, where you will be out of the way of crews practicing their powerhouse stretch.

Keep boats moving upstream through the powerhouse stretch. Try to give each crew a fair shot at practicing the Weeks turn. Prevent crews from turning between the Weeks Bridge and Riverside B.C. There is no turning the entire length of the powerhouse stretch.

Anderson/JFK St Bridge to Eliot Bridge Enclosure (Zone 4; Radio Channel 3)

A Google map summarizing approximate locations of the River Control positions along the Eliot turn (described below) is available here.

We also provide locations for several positions by geographic coordinates (links to Google Maps), Plus Codes and what3words, including recent photographs, to facilitate finding a spot that we have previously determined is a good lookout point with reasonable visibility. Just click on a link to open a map with the recommended location marked.

RC40 (old RC20)

This position is on land, on the Cambridge shore, opposite RC41 (old RC19) and the Newell Boathouse dock. You must be clearly visible to crews on the water.

Coordinates: 71.12449°W, 42.37116°N
Plus Codes: 87JC9VCG+F66
what3words: scar.rating.marker

Communicate with RC41 (old RC19) to receive boats crossing to return to CBC and BB&N Boathouses. Ensure that crossing crews are able to see you clearly. Instruct crossing crews to quickly turn parallel to the shore, then proceed carefully along the Cambridge shore towards their boathouse. They must stay fully within the return lane buoys (green buoys will be on their port side) at all times. Oars must not cross the green buoys and they must not interfere with racing traffic.

Have and use binoculars to monitor for any shells that are moving slowly or otherwise causing a backlog between the Newell Boathouse, at RC41 (old RC19), and where the river widens upstream of the Newell Boathouse, at RC42 (old RC23). Identify and report any choke points or backlogs to RC41 (old RC19) and RC42 (old RC23) on the Boston side to get traffic flowing smoothly again quickly because they cannot see everything along the inside of the bend so clearly.

Also identify and quantify (by timing) significant gaps in between racing crews in the event currently on the course, and communicate these to RC45 (old RC21/RC22) and RC50 (old RC27) to facilitate planning for crews needing to cross the course at CBC and BB&N.

RC41 (old RC19)

This position is in a launch on the upstream side of the Newell Boathouse dock.

Keep boats moving in the downstream travel lane. Facilitate safe crossing of crews returning to the CBC, BB&N, Belmont Hill/Winsor boathouses. Coordinate with RC33 (old RC18) regarding traffic through Anderson Bridge. Boats may cross/turn at your discretion and only with your permission.

RC42 (old RC23)

This is a land position along the Boston side of the Eliot turn.

Coordinates: 71.12721°W, 42.37243°N
Plus Codes: 87JC9VCF+X4C
what3words: vines.butter.power

Keep boats moving along the downstream lane. Instruct boats to move using the maximum number of rowers, while maintaining a safe distance. As the river widens, crews will naturally pick up speed. Instruct boats that wish to return to CBC, BB&N, or Belmont/Hill Winsor that they must check in with the next launch downstream, RC41 (old RC19).

RC43 (old RC24)

This is a land position along the Boston side of the Eliot turn.

Coordinates: 71.12857°W, 42.37334°N
Plus Codes: 87JC9VFC+8HM
what3words: mull.weedy.stress

Keep boats moving along the downstream lane, single file. Instruct boats to move using the maximum number of rowers, while maintaining a safe distance. You must be forceful and clear about keeping them moving! Do NOT allow boats to cross the river to CBC, BB&N, or Belmont Hill/Winsor. The nearest crossing point is at Newell Boathouse, regardless of the boathouse to which they are returning.

RC44 (old RC25)

This is a land position along the Boston side of the Eliot turn.

Coordinates: 71.13009°W, 42.37363°N
Plus Codes: 87JC9VF9+FX3
what3words: think.crowd.leans

RC45 (old RC21/RC22)

This position is on land, on the Cambridge shore, upstream of the 2-mile marker on the course, near the biggest part of the long Eliot turn. You should be able to see the whole Eliot turn from the Anderson Bridge downstream to the CBC dock upstream.

Coordinates: 71.12864°W, 42.37418°N
Plus Codes: 87JC9VFC+MGH
what3words: fired.landed.ended

Have and use binoculars to monitor for any shells that are moving slowly or otherwise causing a backlog between where the river widens upstream of the Newell Boathouse, at RC42 (old RC23), and the Eliot turn, at RC47. Identify and report any choke points or backlogs to RC42 (old RC23), RC43 (old RC24), RC44 (old RC25), RC46 (old RC26) and RC47 on the Boston side to get traffic flowing smoothly again quickly because they cannot see everything along the inside of the bend so clearly.

RC46 (old RC26)

This is a land position along the Boston side of the Eliot turn.

Coordinates: 71.13191°W, 42.37325°N
Plus Codes: 87JC9VF9+865
what3words: beams.tight.kicks

RC47

This is a land position along the Boston side of the Eliot turn.

Coordinates: 71.13254°W, 42.37277°N
Plus Codes: 87JC9VF8+4X8
what3words: fails.hands.boost

Remind coxswains that the turn has not yet finished, so they will likely have to drop out one or two starboard rowers, and preferentially use rowers at the bow rather than the stern, to keep moving and stay within the buoys.

RC48

This is a land position along the Boston side of the Eliot turn.

Coordinates: 71.13265°W, 42.37252°N
Plus Codes: 87JC9VF8+2W9
what3words: swung.using.crab

Remind coxswains that the turn is 180 degrees and sharp, so they will likely have to drop out one or two starboard rowers, and preferentially use rowers at the bow rather than the stern, to keep moving and stay within the buoys.

RC49 (old RC28)

This position is on land, on the downstream/Boston side of Eliot Bridge (across from the CBC dock).

Coordinates: 71.13265°W, 42.37219°N
Plus Codes: 87JC9VC8+VWH
what3words: smart.frock.grabs

RC50 (old RC27)

This position is on the CBC dock.

Tell launching crews they MUST head UPSTREAM to pass the finish line and follow all instructions of finish line marshals before turning downstream. To return to the CBC dock, the nearest downstream turning point is at Harvard’s Newell Boathouse, where they must check in with RC41 (old RC19) before turning. They may NOT cross just downstream of Eliot Bridge as it is unsafe for themselves and other rowers.

RC51 (old RC29)

This position is on land, on the upstream/Boston side of Eliot Bridge.

Ensure crews are single file entering the bridge. Keep boats moving downstream single file. NO STOPPING, no turning, maintain safe distance between boats, no passing. Instructing crews to add a pause will reduce their speed so that they don’t need to stop. The goal is to keep them moving (slowly), rather than constantly stopping & starting.

RC52 (old RC30)

This position is on land, on the Boston shore between Eliot Bridge and the last FALS dock.

Work with RC53 (old RC31) to get crews prepared to be single file before going through the bridge. Instructing crews to add a pause will reduce their speed so that they don’t need to stop. The goal is to keep them moving (slowly), rather than constantly stopping & starting. Keep upstream crews headed towards finish line – NO TURNS.

RC53 (old RC31)

This position is in a launch in the center of the river, patrolling both sides of the river between Eliot Bridge and the finish line.

Keep boats moving both up and downstream. As things back up in the afternoon, focus on keeping boats moving through the downstream lane towards Eliot Bridge. Communicate with FALS Dock Operations on Channel 6.

Eliot Bridge Enclosure to upstream limit of course (Zone 5; Radio Channel 4)

RC60 (old RC32)

This position is in a launch on the Cambridge shore, just after the finish line.

Don’t let boats stop at the finish line! Move 4+s, 4xs, and 8+s to the Cambridge shore and upstream. Move 1xs and 2xs towards the centerline and remind them they may turn after the red buoy. Any boats heading back to CRI should stay with the 8+s along the Cambridge shore.

RC61 (old RC33)

This position is in a launch on the Cambridge shore, at the end of the straight section of the finish chute.

RC62 (old RC34)

This position is in a launch in the center of the river, at the red buoy just before the bend towards the Northeastern Boathouse dock.

Move 4+s, 4xs, and 8+s to the Cambridge shore and upstream. 1xs and 2xs may turn after the red buoy. Any boats heading back to CRI should stay with the 8+s along the Cambridge shore.

RC63 (old RC35)

This position is in a launch in the center of the river, at the blue buoy just upstream of the Northeastern Boathouse dock.

Move 8+s to the Cambridge shore and upstream. 4+s and 4xs may turn after the blue buoy. Any boats heading back to CRI should stay with the 8+s along the Cambridge shore.

RC64 (old RC36)

This position is in a launch in the center of the river, at the last yellow buoy (at the turn between Northeastern Boathouse and Arsenal St Bridge).

8+s may turn after the yellow buoy. You can stagger four 8+s at a time to turn simultaneously. Any boats heading back to CRI should stay along the Cambridge shore. Be aware of boats coming downstream from CRI and instruct them to slow down as they head towards the Northeastern Boathouse.