Jobs

Needs to have list of numbers about to cross line, from Scribe, who needs to sit adjacent, even is space is limited. There is sometimes insufficient time to enter the crew numbers - when crews come in bunches. In this case, abandon numbers, and just do 'Enter' to record the time which has a higher priority. It is more important to get accurate times than numbers, which can be filled in later. Tell Coordinator if there is a problem, indicating crew or sequence number.

Looks for numbers of crews nearing the line, and makes record. Usually sits slightly upstream on the timing line, but needs to be able to talk quietly to other members of the team. Spotter is often aware of the numbers of crews approaching long before they are needed by other members of the team. The Quick operator has to type numbers of crews only a short time before they arrive. Spotter must take care not to give information about crew numbers too early.

Uses a memory Stopwatch to record times. This is the back-up system. The watch is attached to a board, so that wrong buttons cannot be pressed. At Barnes, Stopwatch stands directly behind Quick, so that both are aware if they take a time incorrectly. This enables one of them to say in these cases something like "Stopwatch half a second late for crew 123." messages like this noted down by Scribe. Stopwatch needs to know how to use the recall button with absolute confidence.

Writes down the numbers of the crews as given by Spotter in advance of them reaching the line.
Makes these numbers available to Quick as needed. This is difficult when crews approach the line close together.
These jobs are the TOP priority. When there is time, get times from Stopwatch and write them in correct position.
Stopwatch has the use of a memory watch, so there is no need to write down times immediately.
In practice, nearly all times can be written down immediately. Bunches of times are written in a suitable gap. They are recalled by Stopwatch with the latest time FIRST, working back towards the earlier times.
If crews overtake between the time that their numbers have been written down and they pass the line, make this clear - eg with a large criss-cross attached to the numbers.

Acts as backup for any other job. Write down (or records on tape) any problems - eg boats missing numbers, timing problems. Also has tape-recorder or a laptop with voice recorder to make Quick essential notes, or to record conversation. Only recorded or written information can be used later. Human memories are no good!

The computer used by Quick shows a sequence number for the time being entered. So does the Stopwatch. The paper form used by Scribe also has a sequence number. It is very helpful, though not absolutely essential if all three sequence number are in phase throughout the race. They get out of phase if a time is not recorded, or if a button is pressed too many times in error. (This is most likely when crews come close together). To get them back in phase, Stopwatch chooses a quiet moment, and tells Coordinator of the problem so it can be noted. Then either Quick or Stopwatch or both enter a time for a dummy crew to get the three systems back in phase. It is essential that the sequence number of the dummy time, as well as the offending system are recorded by Coordinator and/or Scribe, so that we can make sense of figures after the race. Remember that the timekeepers have to deal with over 400 times from four timing positions. Start and finish times are recorded four times, Barnes and Hammersmith three times. So this makes nearly 6000 times. Accurate and tidy recording is ESSENTIAL.

This team works independently of the other team, except that an effort should be made to keep sequence numbers in sync with Team A.
See other notes for advice. You will work entirely independently of the other team, and times will be compared after the race.
Your times will be used as back-up and some will be be very important in sorting out problems.
It will help if you can record numbers as well as times, and indicate bunching, but times are the top priority.

The average time between crews is about 10 seconds. There is plenty of time to deal with crews as singletons if they arrive about five or more seconds apart. In this case, Spotter will indicate the crew number in good time, Scribe will write it on the timing sheet, and Quick will enter the number into the computer. On a crossing the line, Stopwatch will immediately give the time to Scribe.

If a queue of three or four boats approaches the line in an order which is clearly not going to change between when Spotter knows their numbers and when they are going to cross the line, Spotter says something like "123, 122 and 124 approaching, order will not change". Quick And Scribe record these numbers before the crews get to the line. Stopwatch will if possible read out the time for each crew as it crosses the line. This can be done if the crews are more than about two or three seconds apart.

Spotter warns the team of the number of crews approaching, indicating that they are close, and how many are in the group. (Say 4, for this example.)
Scribe marks a block of four lines on the timing sheet.
Spotter gives the crew numbers in the right order if possible.(126,128,127,129)
If there is time, Quick enters the numbers before the crews arrive at the line.
Quick's highest priority is to press the enter key as crews crossed the line, not worrying about the numbers if there has not been time to enter them in advance.
Stopwatch clicks the watch, but does not attempt to read out the times. Instead, he indicates to Scribe the actual order in which crews crossed the line. (ie he might say, just before the crews crossed the line, "126 canvass ahead of 128; not sure about 127 and 129; 129 got there first, so that was 128,129,127"
Scribe has to listen carefully, and Mark the timing sheet appropriately if the order is different to what was originally guessed.
At the next available opportunity, Stopwatch uses the re-call button on the watch to go back through the crews so that Scribe can fill in the gaps. This sometimes has to wait for up to about 10 crews, but that is no problem.

Occasionally during the race, there are one or two minute gaps. These should be used by the timing team.
Check that the sequence numbers recorded by Quick, Stopwatch, Scribe are in agreement. This is not vital, but makes checking later much easier. Suppose for example, after a group of five crews has passed the line, that Stopwatch has pressed the button once too often. Quick and Scribe will need to enter a dummy time so that all three sequence numbers can be lined up again. This needs to be done during a gap. Scribe must make it clear that it is a dummy time, perhaps by giving a crew number 999 as well is putting dummy time in words, and Quick must do the same, and enter a crew number 999 to indicate the time should be ignored. A similar process can be undertaken if either Quick or Scribe has made a mistake.
Gaps can also be used for the team to relax for a few moments, to ensure that concentration can be maintained for the rest of the race.