General Rowing Information
Rowing in Low Light Conditions

Crews and scullers at Lake Merritt may be tempted to row during hours of low light conditions. Anyone rowing under these conditions should be aware of the extraordinary risks involved and the special demands on their rowing abilities. The following rules are a minimum standard for rowing under low light conditions.
  1. WHAT ARE LOW LIGHT CONDITIONS? Low light conditions exist 30 minutes before sundown and continue until 30 minutes after sunrise.

  2. BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL. Check the log book on your way out to see who else is on the water. Locate other boats before you launch and keep checking their location as you row. Scullers should check their course every 10 seconds.

  3. ALL BOATS, INCLUDING LAUNCHES, MUST HAVE LIGHTS. A bow light is mandatory, and a stern light is advisable. Bow lights are red and green and indicate your direction of travel to other boats. Stern lights are white and a high frequency strobe may be substituted. Scullers should have their own lights (check at West Marine).

  4. SCULLERS MUST HAVE LOGGED A MINIUMUM OF 30 HOURS ON THE WATER BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO SCULL IN LOW LIGHT CONDITIONS. Novice scullers must also demonstrate their ability to hold a straight course. Contact someone qualified to check out scullers for club equipment to verify.

  5. TRAFFIC PATTERN MUST BE RIGOROUSLY OBSERVED. Any rowers observed not following the pattern will be asked to limit their rowing to daylight hours.

  6. NO ROWING AFTER 8:00 P.M. OR BEFORE 5:00 A.M.

  7. IF IN DOUBT, DON'T DO IT.