We ask all our members to support these events either by competing in the races or by volunteering to help on the day, whether as part of the timing team, marshalling, launch driving, or by serving food and beverage to the on-water teams.
’s permission must be obtained for the use of Club boats.
The loading of boats on the trailer going to and from regattas is the responsibility of the individual crew. The crew is responsible for tying down their boat securely and for ensuring the correct seats, riggers and blades are loaded onto the trailer. The first and last racing crews of the day are expected to accompany the trailer to and from the club if required.
Vesta Rowing Club will typically run four coached rowing squads in a season, though this does vary from season to season:
The Executive Committee will confirm your membership provided that the Club can accommodate additional members and that the “Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire” has been properly completed and does not indicate any potential medical problems.
Vesta Rowing Club invests heavily each season in new rowing boats and equipment. In the past few years we have consistently spent over £25,000 per season on new boats and rowing equipment. We have a defined, long term boat buying policy in place which aims to meet the best, long term, competitive interests of the club.
The club will make every effort to provide members who wish to race with suitable equipment. At times this can mean borrowing or renting boats from other sources. In the rare occurrence where there are conflicting demands for the same piece of equipment the Captain will resolve this for members.
may ask members who are not using their boat regularly to either let other members use their boat or otherwise free up their boat rack for other members to use. Racks are there to be used by active members; racks are not provided for general storage for the boats of inactive club members.
All members of Vesta Rowing Club are eligible to stand for committee positions. Of course, a lot of the same faces are seen on the Committee from year to year, and that is partly because the jobs need some experience (e.g. treasurer or house captain), and partly because the members of Committee enjoy what they do. However, we are always looking for new people to join the Committee, not least because one day they will have to take over some of the ‘big jobs’!
So, the Committee welcomes new people to join its ranks to share their skills to help the club prosper!
Represents the interests of the club at the highest level and takes a lead role in event organisation and public relations exercises. Provides a link between old and new members and retains connections with overseas members. Leads and initiates fund raising schemes on behalf of the club and negotiates with local bodies or potential financiers as necessary. Acts on behalf of the club and its members wherever and whenever it is seen as being helpful. Provides advice and guidance to Club Officers and Committee. The position works as a support to the Committee and members, and should not usurp the authority of the elected Committee.
Replicates the Captain’s role in rowing matters. The job entails helping the Captain and Rowing Committee organise the many practical aspects of rowing at the club.
As with the Deputy Captain, the job entails helping the Captain and Rowing Committee organise rowing at Vesta.
Responsible for communication with external bodies such as British Rowing, Companies House and Wandsworth Borough Council, correspondence with members, maintenance of Club records, creating the agenda and taking the minutes of the monthly Committee meetings and General meetings. Company Secretary of Vesta Rowing Club Limited.
Ensures that Vesta Rowing Club remains financially sound. Advises the Committee on financial matters connected with running the club, including the financial implications of new projects and other changes. Ensures that Vesta complies with relevant legislation covering taxation and accounting.
Involved with the creation of newsletters for the members and helps with fundraising and sponsorship opportunities. Oversees the website (in conjunction with the webmaster) as an information source for the members, as well as the public face of the club. Maintains social netwoking updates on Twitter and Facebook. Gives regular updates for news and results, publishing the results of the Vesta Open Events (sitting on the VOEC to enable this), maintaining mailing lists and aliases/addresses for the club’s officers. Receives (and reacts to) suggestions from members for improvements to the website and other online activities.
Sponsorship: Building and delivering a sponsorship and fund-raising strategy for Vesta Rowing Club.
This vital role involves being responsible for implementing ‘Row Safe: A Guide to Good Practice in Rowing’ and the ‘Code of Practice for Rowing on the Tidal Thames above Putney’, together with generally helping to minimise the risks to members’ safety.
“Vesta Rowing Club, Headquarters, the “Horn” Tavern, Knightrider-street. Established in 1871. Election by ballot of members, one black ball in three to exclude. Entrance fee, 5s.; Subscription, £1 10s.; honorary members, 10s. 6d. Colours, crimson and black stripes oblique. Boat-house, Unity Boat-house, Putney”.
A short(ish) history of Vesta Rowing Club
Vesta Rowing Club was founded in 1870. Legend has it that during the inaugural meeting the name of the club was discussed and as no decision could be made it was decided that it should be named after the first boat to pass under London Bridge. The name of that first boat (a steam tug) to pass under the bridge was Vesta.
The Feathers where Vesta Rowing Club originally boated
In December 1936 a fire ripped through the clubhouse destroying many of its records and trophies, and damaging or destroying some 30 boats. Fortune however shined on Vesta after this blaze as most of the boats were replaced in time for the summer regattas and with the club been given permission to borrow and use the recently built but as yet unused University of London Boat House in Chiswick until such time as the damage to its own club house had been repaired. That summer Eric Wingate and David Baddeley went on to win the Silver Goblets & Nichols Challenge Cup for the club at Henley Regatta.
