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ROLE AND ADVICE
Support crews are absolutely vital to any successful DW crew. Their job is to provide the paddlers with food, drink, spare kit, advice and encouragement as well as to monitor their well-being.
Support crews should be familiar with the Rules of the race and, in particular, should read the “Advice to Competitors and Support Crews” document which appears in the Rules Section.
We strongly recommend that Support Crews support their paddlers on at least one of their build-up races and also that they read chapter 11 of Brian Greenaway’s booklet “The Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race” which is available from the DW Shop. This gives detailed advice on how best to support your crew. |
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CODE OF PRACTICE
If you lose your crew
Firstly, give them more time; in general, support teams lose touch with their crews by getting ahead of them rather than falling behind. If you are not sure where they are, move on to the next point where your table or chart shows you can guarantee to be ahead. If they do not appear with the other boats whose numbers you recognise, call DW Race Control on 020 7620 0298, we may have a message for you or have fresh information. It is not uncommon for support teams to lose touch temporarily with their crews. If you are close to the next checkpoint, ask there whether your crew has been through. There is a real-time online tracker system available via the website which gives the time at which crews pass through each checkpoint. |
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In case of Emergency
- In the case of an emergency causing or threatening serious injury or loss of life, contact the Emergency Services on 999
- In the case of all emergencies, please contact DW Race Control on 020 7620 0298
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In case of crew problems
In all the following cases, please report to DW Race Control on 020 7620 0298 or the nearest checkpoint
- Crew Retirement
- Crew is delayed more than 30 minutes
- Contact is lost with the crew
- You need to get a message to your crew
- Change of crew member
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Support crew conduct
Support crews are a vital and valued part of the race. However, inconsiderate behaviour by support crews has given rise to serious problems in the past, including threats of legal action by landowners, warnings from the police and complaints from riverside residents. Please use common sense and consideration when driving and parking along the course and comply with the instructions of race officials. |
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Please note that crews may be given time penalties arising from the behaviour of their support crews and also bear in mind that anti-social behaviour may threaten our access to particular parts of the canal or river for following years. In particular, please respect the following points
- Do not drive across private grassed areas
- Do not use the car-parks or facilities of pubs or hotels unless you are a customer
- Do not create unnecessary noise at night by shouting or banging car doors
- Do not speed down narrow lanes
- Do not attend portages which are closed to support crews
- Do not park too close to level-crossings
- Follow the instructions of lock-keepers and their staff
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DRIVERS INSTRUCTIONS
Please download a printable PDF document of the Drivers Instructions here (opens in a new window). We recommend purchasing a full set of Ordnance Survey maps of the course for each support car. These driving instructions are provided in good faith but should not be relied on blindly as road layouts can be changed. The instructions from Devizes to Reading were compiled in 2007, the instructions from Reading to London in 2009. The instructions are updated periodically so it is worth checking back to see that you have the most recent version by the time the race comes round. |
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| The course crosses 8 roads. DW does not marshal traffic so support crews are strongly advised to be in attendance at road crossings to ensure their paddlers get across safely. Click here for a list of road crossings and their grid references. |
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WESTMINSTER
Parking – support crews are permitted to use the car park of St Thomas’s Hospital, for which a charge may be payable. Space is limited so please do not use the car park for longer than necessary.
Showers – regrettably we are unable to provide showers for Competitors at the finish owing to logistical constraints.
Finish village – by kind permission of St Thomas’s Hospital, DW establishes a series of marquees in the garden of the hospital. These provide changing rooms, a canteen preparing hot food for paddlers and DW merchandise.
The finish – the race finishes just downstream of Westminster Bridge and the paddlers and their boats are brought ashore at a flight of stairs in front of County Hall. Please note that these stairs and indeed the walkway in front of County Hall are private property and we are only granted access on condition that we do not cause an obstruction to members of the public. Keep back from the area at the top of the stairs and respect the instructions of marshals. Please remember also that this has been designated a no-alcohol area by the police so any celebratory champagne should be drunk elsewhere. |
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