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Rowing in the dark: lights and winter outings

Dark mornings and evenings are when collisions happen. Here is what to agree as a club before the clocks go back.

By Civil Digital, the team building BoatLog · Last updated

BoatLog is independent software from Civil Digital. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by British Rowing or any organisation named in this guide. Always check the current official guidance and follow your club's own procedures.

Lights: follow your navigation authority first

Rules on lights vary by waterway. Your navigation authority (for example the Port of London Authority on the tidal Thames, or the Environment Agency or Canal & River Trust elsewhere) may set what is required. Clubs then add their own rules, which differ on colours and whether lights flash. RowSafe and British Rowing's safety alerts on lights are the starting point.

A sensible club policy

  • Say when lights are required (for example from sunset to sunrise, or in poor visibility).
  • Fit bow and stern lights in a consistent way across the fleet, and keep spares charged.
  • Wear bright or reflective kit.
  • Agree the circulation pattern and stick to it.
  • Restrict who may go out in the dark.

Check before you boat

Lights that are flat, missing or pointing the wrong way are a common finding. Make checking them part of the pre-outing check, alongside heel restraints and bow balls.

How BoatLog helps

BoatLog shows who is out right now and when they said they'd be back, so a crew still out after dark stands out. The flag can carry the club's dark-outing rule, and a missing light can be logged as a repair so the boat isn't taken out without one.

BoatLog screenshot with example club data: The fleet at a glance: what is on the water, what is free and what is out of service.
The fleet at a glance: what is on the water, what is free and what is out of service. Example data from a fictional club.

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Questions

FAQ

Do rowing boats need lights?

When rowing in the dark or poor visibility, yes. Your navigation authority and club rules set exactly what is required, and RowSafe gives national guidance.

What colour lights should a rowing boat have?

It depends on your waterway and club. Follow your navigation authority's rules first, then your club's policy, because practice differs around the country.

Should we stop rowing in the dark altogether?

Some clubs do for juniors or novices. Others allow experienced crews with lights, high-visibility kit and agreed routes. Record your rule in your risk assessment.

Related

Guide: Pre-outing boat checks: heel restraints, bow balls and quarantining kit A quick pre-outing boat check for rowing clubs: heel restraints, bow balls, hatches, fin, lights, and what to do with a boat that fails. Guide: Cold water shock and winter rowing: a club safety guide Why cold water is the biggest winter risk for rowers, what cold water shock and hypothermia mean for a capsize, and simple club rules for winter outings. Guide: How to run a boat sign-out system for your rowing club (+ free template) A step-by-step guide to setting up a sign-out system, plus a free printable template.

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