River flag & lighting times
Whether crews can go out today, and when it's light enough to row. Live from CUCBC.
Live from CUCBC. If it doesn't load, check there directly. The flag isn't set outside Full Term.
What the flags mean
The CUCBC Executive Committee sets the flag to say which crews may boat in the current river conditions (wind, stream, fog and so on). For early mornings it is set the night before from the forecast and reviewed before lighting down.
- Green
There are no restrictions on which crews may boat.
- Yellow/Green
Boating is restricted to University crews, senior crews and tub pairs. No novice cox may steer a boat.
- Yellow
Boating is restricted to University crews, first VIIIs and tub pairs. In Lent and Easter Terms, any VIII in the first or second division of that term’s Bumps may also boat.
- Red/Yellow
The river is closed, except to tub pairs between Jesus Lock and Chesterton, and University crews with their Head Coach’s permission.
- Red
The river is closed to all crews.
Even when the flag allows a crew out, the final decision lies with the cox and coach as to whether the crew can handle the conditions. When a yellow flag is set because of fog, all crews must carry white lights on bow and stern, even in daylight. Full details, including when the flag goes up, are in the CUCBC Handbook.
Lighting up and lighting down
Lighting down is in the morning, when it becomes light enough to row; lighting upis in the evening, when it gets too dark. No college crew may be on the water before lighting down or after lighting up. Crews on the water within 15 minutes of either must have clearly visible static white lights on both the bow and stern.
The full table for the year is on CUCBC's Hours of Darkness page.