PUBLISHED on 1 DECEMBER 2025

The Boat Booking policy is in place to support safe, fair, and efficient use of the club’s fleet. All members are expected to read, understand, and adhere to the following rules when booking and using club boats. 

Boat bookings can be made via the London Rowing Club MyClubHouse site and must follow the Boat Booking Policy.  

This document may be updated with further clarification and additional requirements if/as required. If clarification is required or there are suggested amendments, then please reach out to the captain - captain@londonrc.org.uk.  

1. Members authorised to book boats 

• Only members who have valid rowing membership, have been signed off as a steer and will be steering the boat may book boats.  

• The Captain, Clubs coaches and Group Leads may book boats for others if required. Group leads can be seen in the Membership Pack here. 

1. Steers requirements 

• Some boats have an assigned steering level (e.g. Expert). If there is an assigned steering level, then this will be visible next to the boat name in the booking system. Members must ensure that their steering qualification matches the level of the boat they intend to book. 

• Example: An Expert Steer boat can only be booked, steered and used by someone signed off as an Expert Steer. 

• The Steers policy and accreditation process can be found here. 

1. Boating in the Dark 

• No individual crew, sculler, or launch is permitted to boat or row alone in the dark without express permission from the LRC Captain or LRC Safety Advisor.  

• Further information on LRC’s policy on Rowing at Night can be found here in the clubs Water Safety & Emergency plan 

• Crews that go out together, have a coach or have permission to boat in the dark, must ensure they have appropriate lighting (two flashing on the bow, two solid on the stern). 

1. Group Priority Times 

• Certain time slots are allocated to specific rowing groups (e.g. Masters, Young Irregulars, Irregulars). 

• Group leads and appropriate members within the group for the relevant priority slot may book a boat 10 days in advance of the group session. 

• A boat may be booked for a group priority time by any member (following all other rules and guidelines) if a boat is not booked within 48 hours of a priority session 

• The current group priority timetable is published each week in the Weekly Club Email and will also be available on the club’s MyClubHouse homepage. 

• Bookings made for another group’s priority time (and not within 48 hours of the priority time) may be cancelled (even after initial automated acceptance) if required by the group leads or Captain. Group leads can be seen in the Membership Pack here.  

1. Booking Time Limits 

• Boats should not be booked more than 10 days in advance. 

• Individual bookings must be limited to a maximum of 2.5 hours at a time. 

• Exceptions to the boat booking time limit can be approved by the Captain (i.e. in the event that a boat is used for an event not listed below) 

• The Clubs coaches and Captain may book boats for periods longer than 2.5 hours in order to support squad training and for races 

1. Race Days/ River Closure Times 

• On specific race days and during river closures, bookings for club boats are not permitted as the captain will manage allocations for racing crews. 

• Bookings for club boats on those specific race days will be possible for times after the event and river closure period 

• Specific races for boat allocation will be discussed and agreed by the RSC (Rowing Sub-Committee. A list of these races can be found below, and this list may be updated from time to time. 

• Rowers must not boat during official river closure times (unless participating in the relevant race and boating at the appropriate time). 

• Closure notices are typically communicated via club emails or on the PLA website. 

• Members are responsible for checking the current river status before boating. 

• The club will aim to update the booking system to prevent bookings for the above instances 

List of races and events where the booking system will be blocked. This list may not include all river closures. 

• Pairs Head 

• Fours Head 

• Vets Fours Head 

• Quintin 

• Hammersmith 

• WEHORR 

• HORR 

• Boat Race Weekend 

• Henley Masters 

• Masters Brit Champs 

1. Booking Reviews and Cancellations 

• The club may need to review, modify, or cancel bookings if required for safety, maintenance, group allocation (outside the 48h window) or other reasons. 

• Members booking during a group’s priority slot (outside the 48h window) may have their booking cancelled or rescheduled if needed by the priority group. 

1. Non-Compliance 

• Members who fail to follow the booking policy will receive a formal warning. 

• Continued disregard for the policy may result in the member temporarily or permanently losing the ability to book boats. 

• The Club and General Committee reserves the right to take additional action and implement wider sanctions in cases of repeated or serious breaches. 

1. Agreement and Acknowledgement 

1. All members are required to acknowledge adherence to the Boat Booking policy when booking boats. 

1. By signing off on the platform, members formally agree to comply with all the rules and procedures outlined in this document. 

1. By signing off on MyClubhouse and making a booking, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to abide by this policy. 

1. Exceptions 

• If a member wishes to request an exception to the policy i.e. length of booking, they should contact the Captain to request the exception.  

For permissions or clarification regarding bookings, boating in restricted times, exceptions to the above policy or steering sign-offs, please contact: 

LRC Captain: Matt Reeder - captain@londonrc.org.uk 

LRC Safety Advisor: Rui Xu - safety@londonrc.org.uk