Rafters Must:-

• Be 16 years of age, or older
• Wear a life jacket which the rafter must provide
• Be able to swim whilst clothed in moving water
• Avoid drinking alcohol before and during the raft race because of increased risk of hypothermia, injury or even drowning
• Use alcohol hand wash after the raft race
• Desist from interfering with other rafts or rafters
• Not use water pumps or cannon. Water pumps and cannon are strictly prohibited and anyone using one may be reported to the Police for potential prosecution

River Safety

• You are reminded that the consumption of alcohol before or during the race is extremely dangerous. It increases the risk of accidents, hypothermia and possible drowning.
• In previous years it has become customary for spectators to throw flour or eggs at raft race entrants as they pass under the bridges between the start and Redbrook. The organisers do all they can to minimise this but cannot prevent it completely. The organisers therefore advise that raft race crews should organise some protection.
• When the water is low in the river, its quality is believed to have caused diarrhoea and vomiting from time to time by involuntary ingestion of bacteria. DO take care therefore with your personal hygiene and DO please make use of the hand cleansing dispensers provided at all food and drink points!
• As a direct result of the above point, and in consideration of the road safety of spectators above and beside the race, anyone evading the pre-race scrutiny process and using water cannon may well be prosecuted by the Police, who have demanded far greater rigour by the organisers in this respect.
• Competitors are also reminded that any proven dangerous behaviour on their part, such as the throwing of objects at fellow competitors or interfering with their progress on the river, may result in prosecution.