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Galway Head of the River
Course Instructions
Rowing to the Start
Make sure to slip from the allocated area and at
the appointed time. Slip stewards will make the
appropriate safety checks (bow balls / heel
restraints etc.) Depending on the conditions, it
may take a novice crew up to 45 minutes to reach
the Start.
After pushing off from the slip, paddle away with
all crew to make way for the next boat. Crews
should ensure that numbers are properly mounted
and secured.
Proceed to the Start area without delay, taking
care when warming up and obeying the
instructions of the marshals at all times.
Crews not having passed Menlo Castle thirty
minutes before the start time will be ordered to
turn back.
“The Cut”, upstream of “The Monuments” will
be buoyed. Keep to the east bank (bowside /
cox’s right / steersperson’s left of the buoys).
Take up a position in the marked zones on the
bank corresponding to your number. All other
crews should proceed up-stream of the Start. Turn
and position your boat, approaching the Start in
“racing mode” when called to do so by the
marshals / starter.
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The Race – First Half
On the way downriver, the east bank is on the
strokeside / cox’s left / steersperson’s right. Crews
being overtaken must give way to the bowside / cox’s
right / steersperson’s left.
The Green and Red markers are an integral part of the
course. Failure to keep Green to strokeside and Red to
bowside on the way downriver will result in a 10
second time penalty time for each infringement.
Independently of the time penalties, crews that ignore
this instruction do so entirely at their own risk.
However, in a situation where two or more boats are
attempting to negotiate a line between the Green and
Red markers, the marshals will use their discretion and
waive the time penalty for a boat taking evasive action
that would otherwise “foul” the marker. Be alert to
instructions from the marshals at all times.
For the first 1000m approx. after the Start, there are no
hazards on the course with the exception of the Green
marker identified on the map. Keep slightly to the east
bank / strokeside.
You must go between the Black and White Stone
“Monuments”. Failure to do so will result in certain
damage to your equipment.
Downstream of “The Monuments”, the river curves
gently to the strokeside. There is a Green marker and
stone cairn on the apex of the bend.
Keep the next Red marker on your bowside. There are
rocks in the bays on the west bank / bowside.
In the stretch ahead, start coming gently from strokeside
to bowside in preparation for the sharp bend at Menlo
Village. Steer for this bend early and stay in the flow in
the middle of the river.
Do not attempt to go between the Red marker and
the bank on your bowside as a snag line and stake will
catch the underside of your boat. As you come around
the corner, there are rocks on the bank on strokeside.
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The Race – Second Half
Coming to the top of the Menlo Strait, there is a
pair of Green and Red markers. Steer between
both. There are rocks on the banks to either side of
the markers. Be careful as there are tricky currents
on the corner.
Once on the strait, stay in the middle of the river.
At the end of the strait, there are two pairs of
Green and Red markers. You must pass between
both. Downstream, keep to the west bank /
bowside of the river.
The next bend, known as “The Iodine”, is a
longish strokeside to bowside sweep with a Red
marker on the apex which you must keep on your
bowside. You will see the Student Residences at
Corrib Village on the west bank / bowside. There
is shallow water and rocks on both banks. There
are tricky currents in this stretch of the river also,
so keep to the middle of the stream and be careful.
The river now sweeps from bowside to strokeside.
Steer between the Green and Red markers as you
come into the stretch heading for the
Quincentenary Bridge and pass under the main
span taking a line slightly to the bowside of centre.
Follow a line of buoys on your strokeside to the
Finish approx. 200m below the bridge.
Immediately after the Finish you should steer to
the west bank / bowside. You must not stay in the
middle of the river!!
Below this stretch, the river widens in front of the
weir. Be very careful here as the flow can be
dangerous. Most crews will be turning right.
Stay safe until you return to your allocated slipping
area.