How to use the online alarm clock
Finish packing your rowing kit and head out when the 7:40 am alarm sounds, so you are not still searching for gloves or a water bottle at the door. That leaves a useful margin before 8:00 am for reaching the Thames, meeting the crew and getting settled without turning the departure into a rush.
Because your phone may go to sleep while you finish getting ready, leave the browser visible and keep the phone awake until the alarm has sounded. If the browser is closed or the phone sleeps first, the alert may be missed and your rowing training could start without you. Set the volume high enough to hear from the next room, check that silent mode will not suppress sound, and use the displayed countdown to confirm that 7:40 am is active.
As you leave for the Thames, notice that the streets can change quickly from early-morning quiet to commuter traffic. Keep keys and kit together near the exit, where a low alarm is less likely to disappear beneath a running tap, kettle or radio. Once outside, allow for buses, delivery vans and increasing road noise when crossing or cycling towards the water.
Common questions
Can I change the sound?
Yes, there is a short list of tones to pick from before you press Start. Softer sounds are easy to sleep through, so a firmer bell tends to be the safer choice for anything early in the morning.
Will it still be right when the clocks change?
Yes. It reads your device's local clock, so the move between GMT and BST at the end of March and October is picked up automatically, as long as the computer's date, time and time zone are set correctly.
Can I use this on a phone?
It works in a mobile browser, but phones lock the screen and suspend background tabs far more readily than a laptop does, which can stop the alarm sounding. For anything important, a desktop or a plugged-in laptop is the steadier option.
Does the alarm still work if I close the tab?
No. Everything runs inside this page, so closing the tab — or quitting the browser altogether — ends the countdown there and then. Leaving it open in the background is all it asks, and switching to another tab makes no difference.
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