The hints section of teh winter sculling is in a advanced microsoft office format, and those of you who are unable to view it can see it here:

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Hints for participants in the VSA Handicap Series.

1)Handicaps,“base” and :”Off at” times.
Each week the handicappers determine an expected overall race time in fair conditions for each competitor. This time can vary a lot from actual times recorded due to wind, stream, traffic and effort on the part of the sculler. The handicappers rely on their knowledge of each sculler. In some cases this is very limited until a couple of rounds have been completed.
The difference between base times determines the handicap. On slow days, with headwinds and inflowing tide the faster scullers starting last have an advantage, due to the longer overall race time. On fast days however, the slower scullers can usually get home without being caught.

The handicappers love receiving requests for special consideration. These provide considerable amusement.

Each heat has a spread of slow and fast scullers. The first sculler in the heat goes off at “Go” or 0:00 seconds. Others in the race wait until the starter counts up to their “Off at” time. If the first sculler in a heat does not race, then the starter will call Go, and all others wait for their allocated time.

It is vital that competitors note and remember their “Off at” time.

2) Safety  

The river is NOT closed, and so we use normal traffic patterns with access upstream on the south bank and racing down on the north side of the river.
We use the normal south arches going upstream and north or centre when racing downstream.

Slower scullers will usually need to use the north arch of Swan Street bridge to keep out of the way of faster competitors who may be overtaking at this point.

3) Marshalling and Starting
Scullers must assemble in groups with the same bow number letters in alphabetical order. If you sit on the start line too early you will be in the way.

At the  2k start it is best to wait on the north bank, upstream of the start, while at the 800m start it is essential to wait tucked in close to the south bank allowing upstream traffic to pass, and well out of the way of competitors racing downstream.
Sculler s late for their race may be allowed to start at the back of a later heat, at the sole discretion of the starter. Timing in such situations is unlikely to be accurate.