WELCOME TO RV E-NEWS

There is plenty happening at the moment in the world of rowing, with the Australian Coastal Rowing Beach Sprint Championships and Senior, U23, and U19 World Rowing Championships all taking place. Find out how our Australian crews and Victorian representatives raced in this week's E-News!

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There is also a volunteer marketing/communications role with the Australian Henley Regatta now open for applications, and some available shed space at Footscray City Rowing Club advertisied below. Please also be aware that there are works on the Yarra at both Princes and Morell Bridge, detailed in this week's 'reminders'. 

Read more below.

Stay Safe, Stay Rowing!

Rowing Victoria

2024 AUSTRALIAN COASTAL ROWING BEACH SPRINTS CHAMPIONSHIPS

The 2024 Australian Coastal Rowing Beach Sprint Championships were held at Mooloolaba Beach, Queensland, from the 15th - 18th August. The event doubled as the Oceania Championships, featuring 127 athletes from Australia, New Zealand, Vanuatu, and beyond.

Our Victorian athletes battled some fierce competition and there were some incredible events across the board. Melbourne University tied for second place behind UQBC, securing two gold medal finishes. Congratulations to all athletes who raced, and we can't wait to cheer on our Australian High Performance athletes in the World Coastal Championships later in September!  

Read Rowing Australia's full regatta recap below.

(Photo Credit: Rowing Australia)

2024 WORLD ROWING CHAMPIONSHIPS

The 2024 Senior, U23, and U19 World Rowing Championships are well underway the week in St Catharines, Canada. Our Australian crews have raced competitively in a tough field and have achieved some incredible results across the board so far. At this stage, 9 Victorian athletes have booked their spot in an A final!

There is still plenty of racing still to come with the U23 and U19 finals taking place over the weekend, so be sure to keep an eye on our socials to see when our Victorian athletes will be racing for gold. Go Australia! 

(photo credit: Rowing Australia)

AHR MEDIA/COMMUNICATIONS ROLE AVAILABLE

The Australian Henley Regatta (AHR) committee is seeking an enthusiastic, motivated person to support their Media/Communications for the 2025 regatta, working with a current committee member.

 This will be the 110th anniversary of the regatta and, so, the committee is keen to promote the event as much as possible. Tasks would include liaising with relevant sporting bodies and finding creative ways to reach and engage a younger target audience.

The role suits a tertiary student who may have some of the following qualifications (but not essential):

- training in the Media/Comms area

- interest in/knowledge of rowing, or a willingness to learn

- self-starter

-computer literacy 

The role is unpaid but a formal reference can be supplied. If you're interested, apply via email to sallymckenzie04@gmail.com or deyates@ozonline.com.au

INDOOR BAY AVAILABLE AT FOOTSCRAY CITY ROWING CLUB

Footscray City Rowing Club (FCRC) have a large indoor bay available at their sheds. Located 8km from the CBD on the banks of the Maribyrnong River, the bay is secure with racking and storage space. There are also good parking options available at the club. Bay dimensions and photos of the space are attached below. 

FCRC are looking for a long-term lease (around 1-2 years available), although other enquiries are welcome. The price is up for negotiation, depending on how the space will be used. 

If you have an further enquiries or are interested in an inspection, please contact president@footscrayrowingclub.com.au. 

           UPCOMING EVENTS

REGISTER NOW: GOTCHA4LIFE 24 HOUR ROW

Registrations are still open for the Gotcha4Life 24 Hour Row - Australia's biggest fundraising rowing event on the 7-8th of September. Register your club, join a team, or make a donation to row the distance for mental fitness and raise funds to deliver programs to schools, clubs, and communities nationwide!

CLOSING SOON: 2024 FLYING DOCTOR ROWATHON

Help raise funds for the Flying Doctors and participated in the 31st Flying Doctor Rowathon!

The Rowathon will be help on Saturday, September 14th by Wentworth District Rowing Club. Secure your entry via the link below - entries will be closing this Sunday the 25th of August. 

PRINCES BRIDGE CLOSURE

Rowers are advised to take caution when training on the Yarra as the southern span of Princes Bridge will be closed to navigation due to the City of Melbourne's Now or Never projected water display. 

The closure will be until Sunday, September 1st, with infrastructure in place on the downstream side of the bridge span. The event rill run from Thursday the 22nd of September until Saturday the 31st of August. 

Vessels heading downstream towards Southgate are to use the North arch of Princes Bridge, allowing water traffic heading upstream to use the Centre arch.

MORELL BRIDGE WORKS

Rowers are advised to take care when training on the Yarra as there will be works at Morell Bridge from August 19 - September 15 2024.

Stage 1 of the repairs will take place from August 19 - September 2, with the northern section of Morell Bridge being prohibited. The exclusion zone will extend approximately 30m on either side of the bridge and approximately 23m into the river, as marked by buoys. The southern span and approximately 20m of the central span remain open for transit. 

YARRA RIVER NAVIGATION GUIDE

Clubs and schools are reminded navigational lights are mandatory across all Victorian waterways from dusk (5.00pm) to dawn (7.15am).

For Yarra River waterway users, CLICK HERE for the Yarra River navigational guide to assist with navigating safe travelling up and downstream

For the safety of all waterway users, please pass this important safety notice to all members, coaches, and staff within your organisation.

BIKE LIGHTS

In addition to safely lighting our boats, it is important that coaches are also meeting requirements off the water. By law, your bike must be fitted with a rear red reflector, a bell, and at least one working brake.

When riding at night and in low-light, you must use a front white light and a rear red light. The light can be flashing or steady but must be seen from 200 metres away. It is also a good idea to use flashing lights during the day to help other road users see you.

BOW & STERN LIGHTS

It is important that all rowers who are on the water (and coaches on bikes and powerboats) between sunset and sunrise have adequate lighting for your safety and the safety of others. 

Rowing boats, in restricted visibility and between sunset and sunrise, are required to exhibit;

• Two all-round white lights - one attached to the boat at or near the forward or bow end, and one attached to the boat at or near the stern end.
• Bow light - A continuous white light is considered acceptable if it is visible in clear conditions from a distance of 1 kilometre.
• Stern light - A flashing white light is considered acceptable if it flashes at least once per second and is visible in clear conditions from a distance of 1 kilometre.

Not withstanding the above, it is considered acceptable for a light to be masked so as not to interfere with the vision of the vessel’s occupants, provided at least one light is visible from any direction (see diagram below).

SAFETY REMINDER

Rowing Victoria would like to remind all members the importance of using our equipment and waterways safely and appropriately.

Please follow traffic rules, including correctly using designated turning zones. By following these rules, our waterways are safer for all. 

We have also been made aware of a number of incidents where rowing coaches have been sighted either riding without helmets, using megaphones at incorrect hours, or using mobile phones while riding (both in conversation or filming their crews).

For your own safety, to avoid fines, and to respect other members of the community, we ask that you please ensure you are obeying the law and not partaking in the behaviours above.

WATERWAY ACCESS & INCIDENT REPORTING

Could all waterway users please ensure they are acquainted with their local waterway rules; traffic direction, turning points, stationary obstacles etc.

So that RV, Maritime Safety Victoria and now, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority can support the community in providing safe waterways, please register all incidents via the RV Report an Incident tile on the home page of the RV website.

A consistent management of reporting will assist us in ensuring we are kept safe on the water and the chances of equipment damage is mitigated.