Safety

Roles & Responsibilities

Safety Coordinator: Dertje Roggeveen

  • Oversees all safety procedures during the race.
  • Responds immediately to incidents such as capsized rowers.
  • Works closely with the race doctor throughout the event.
  • Serves as the main communication link between the rescue brigade, jury, and race doctor.
  • Drives the race doctor along the course and receives all incident reports.

Race Doctor: Jeroen Kelderman

  • Provides medical assistance when needed.
  • Is transported along the course by the safety coordinator.
  • Equipped with a first aid kit and AED at all times.

Rescue Brigade Coördinator: Marte Smit

  • Present on the water with four boats distributed along the course.
  • First responders in case of water-related incidents.
  • Maintain internal communication and radio contact with jury members and the safety coordinator.

Jury Members

  • Conduct pre-race checks for safety equipment (e.g., bow ball, heel strings).
  • Report emergencies.
  • Maintaining active communication with the rescue brigade and the safety coordinator.

Support Boats (non–rescue brigade)

  • Five boats positioned along the course to assist where needed.
  • Operators are not rescue-trained but may be closest to a victim due to their location.

Spotters (HELpers)

  • Positioned along the banks of the course.
  • Report capsized rowers directly to the safety coordinator.

Spectators

  • Also serve as a spotter
  • Can contact the safety coordinator directly.
  • Phone numbers are shared via social media, the website, WhatsApp groups, and emailed to all clubs. 

Communication & Radio Channels

Involved Parties

  • Hell of the North Committee
  • Race Management
  • Jury Members
  • Rescue Brigade
  • Safety Coordinator
  • Race Doctor

Radio Channels

  • Channel 1: Committee
  • Channel 2: Jury + Rescue Brigade + Safety Coordinator & Race Doctor + Support Boats + Race Management
  • Channel 3: Jury + Race Management
  • Channel 4: HRM + Abactis (HELpers coordination)

Committee

  • Internal communication on channel 1.
  • Radios assigned to: Praeses, Race Director, HRM, Director Race Course, Director Terrain, and Secretary’s Office.
  • The Race Director (Casper Osendarp) switches between channels 2 and 3 and is always reachable by phone.

Jury Members

  • Communicate on channels 2 and 3.
  • Channel 2 is reserved strictly for race updates and emergency communication.
  • Jury members with radios:
    • Head of Jury
    • Weighing (at Aegir)
    • Start
    • Pre-start
    • Finish
    • 2 km, 4 km, and 6 km posts

Rescue Brigade

  • Internal communication via their own network.
  • Each rescue boat also receives a race radio set to channel 2.
  • If no reply is received over the radio, contact them by phone.

Safety Coordinator & Race Doctor

  • They are in the same car
  • Reachable via radio (channel 2) and telephone.

3. Important Phone Numbers

Role Name Number
Safety Coordinator Dertje Roggeveen 06 46789918
Safety Coordinator II Sacha Vos 06 47485333
Race Doctor Jeroen Kelderman 06 40346398
Head of Jury Christiaan Arendzen 06 43293652
Race Director Casper Osendarp 06 10753311
Rescue Brigade Coordinator Marte Smit 06 27327608

4. Procedure for Capsized Rowers

This communication protocol is reviewed in detail during the morning jury briefing and printed for all involved parties.

Who may report a capsized rower?

  • Spotters → call the safety coordinator
  • Jury → radio channel 2
  • Rescue brigade → radio channel 2
  • Support boats → radio channel 2
  • Spectators → call the safety coordinator

Step 1 — Can the rower get to shore by themselves?

Yes

  1. Notify the safety coordinator via radio (channel 2) or phone:
    • Who are you?
    • Where are you located?
    • Which rower capsized? (club / start number)
  2. Remove the boat from the water as quickly as possible.
  3. Safety coordinator confirms over channel 2 once the rower has been reached.

No

  1. Notify the safety coordinator immediately via channel 2.
  2. Nearest support boat approaches the rower → reports via radio when contact is made.
  3. Remove the rower from the water → provide first aid and thermal blankets.
  4. Remove the boat from the water.
  5. Bring both rower and boat to shore → report exact location via channel 2.
  6. Safety coordinator confirms when the rower has been reached.

No response from the Safety Coordinator?
Call Sacha Vos – 06 47485333

5. Retrieval of Capsized Boats

  • Boats are retrieved by the boat trailer.
  • Driven by a HELper with a BE driver’s licence.
  • Communication via phone.