Quick Start Guide

This page is meant to help incoming captains get started. Please, first, take a moment to familiarise yourself with the other tabs on this website. Thank you for your role in making Oxford rowing a fun, safe environment -- we look forward to a great year! 

Admin

• Please join the relevant mailing lists: 
  • Captains: Please first email the rowingcaptains-subscribe@maillist.ox.ac.uk and follow the instructions. Then please get one of your captains as listed on the club's committee page on the Entry System to contact webmaster@ourcs.co.uk, copying you in. The webmaster cannot add you unless you have the permission of an existing captain.
  • General: To subscribe send a blank email to ourcs-subscribe@maillist.ox.ac.uk; you will then receive an email providing you with instructions on how to confirm you wish to join the mailing list. Please encourage all your rowers to join this!
  • Coxes: To subscribe send a blank email to coxes-subscribe@maillist.ox.ac.uk; you will then receive an email providing you with instructions on how to confirm you wish to join the mailing list.
  • Flags: To subscribe send a blank email to isisflag-subscribe@maillist.ox.ac.uk; you will then receive an email providing you with instructions on how to confirm you wish to join the mailing list.
• Familiarise yourself with the OURCs executive committee (found here) and our various jobs. 
• Take a look at (or add as a plugin to your own) the OURCs Calendar for important dates like races, coxing briefings, swim tests, and entry deadlines.
• Familiarise yourself with the Rules of Racing, Code of Conduct, and Constitution.
• Remember that affiliation fees must be paid to the treasurer by 9 November 2025. 
• The annual British Rowing Safety Audit will be due in Mid-November 2025. If you do not complete this in a timely fashion your club will be disaffiliated. Details to follow. 

Welfare

• Captaining can be stressful! Make sure you know about welfare pathways within your own club and your college. If you are feeling overwhelmed (which will happen around Torpids and Eights) remember that the wider rowing community (including OURCs!) are here to help. 

Daily Life

What is a flag? The flag system is how we as OURCs, and other local river users, measure the flow of the river. The faster the stream, the less reaction time you have as a cox/crew, and thus the more experienced your crew needs to be. More information can be found here, or in this Guide to Reading Iffley Lock

What does it mean for my outings? 

When are the rivers closed? 

• No crews may be out on the Isis on Wednesdays after 7pm and on Sundays 8am-1pm out of courtesy to other river users. 
• No crews may be out on the Godstow on Sundays from 2-6pm from March-November inclusive, or on Wednesdays after 7pm during Trinity Term. 
• The Isis may be closed due to races; this will be discussed at the first captains' meeting each term. 
• More restrictions apply during term time (Week 0 through that term's major regatta), see Restrictions for a full list.

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Need something that's not on this page? Email sabbatical@ourcs.co.uk for more information. 

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