WELCOME TO RV E-NEWS

We're back in Paris this weekend as the Rowsellas compete in the Paralympics rowing events! Find out who's racing and keep an eye on our socials for daily schedules and results. We also recap the World Rowing Senior, U23, and U19 Championships, so read about how our Australian crews raced in this week's E-News. 

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If you're interested in hosting a rowing camp this season, there's plenty of venue and host information below. As always, please be aware of Yarra waterworks, and remember to use boat lights when training early morning or evening.

Read more below.

Stay Safe, Stay Rowing!

Rowing Victoria

PARALYMPICS

The 'Rowsellas' are set to continue their Paris campaign as the Paralympic Rowing commences this evening! Australia will be boating three boats over the next three days of racing including the PR1 Men's Single Scull, PR3 Mixed Double Scull, and PR3 Mixed Coxed Four. Para rowing events will take place just outside Paris at the Vaires-sur-Marne Stadium from August 30 to September 1. 

Two Victorian athletes will be donning the Green and Gold in the PR3 X4+ - Alexandra Viney (Mercantile) and Susannah Lutze (Banks). We wish them both every success in their racing and know they will do Australia proud! 

Stay up to date with the racing schedule and results on our social media, and watch all the action live and free on Nine's Wide World of Sports. Go Australia! 

WORLD ROWING CHAMPS RECAP

The 2024 World Rowing Senior, U23, and U19 Championships wrapped up in St Catharines, Canada last week with some incredible results across the board for Australia. The U23 team finished 7th overall on the medal tally, with all nine boats racing in their respective A finals. Victoria's Austin Reinehr came away with a silver medal in U23 Men's Four, and Dom Frederico also won silver in the U23 Men's Double Scull. Our US-based U23 Eights both raced competitively in their finals, with the Men's Eight claiming bronze and the Women's Eight finishing fourth. Romy Cantwell finished 6th overall in the U23 Women's Double Scull, racing in an incredibly competitive field.

The Australian U19 team also finished a collective 7th overall, showcasing some impressive potential on an international stage. Five out of the six crews raced for medals on the final day of competition, with Victorian Alexander Williams winning bronze in the U19 Men's Double Scull. The entirely-Victorian U19 Coxed Four finished fourth in a tight finish - an impressive result for their first time representing the Green and Gold. 

We congratulate all athletes for their efforts in a great regatta! See Rowing Australia's full wrap-up below.

photo credit: Rowing Australia

2024-25 ROWING CAMPS

As the season kicks off and on-water training is commencing, your club or school may be planning rowing camps for the upcoming months. Regional clubs and shires are keen to host your camp at their facility. 

Find location-specific information by clicking on the venues below: 

Please note that when organising camps on the Barwon in Geelong, Lake Wendouree (Ballarat). or Nagambie Lakes, please ensure you inform the local contact (linked below). This enables the waterway managers to:

- schedule maintenance appropriately

- work with you to manage trailer parking

- keep you up to date with any local water way issues

- ensure access to the required facilities is available

If your club or location wants to advertise a willingness to host camps, and would like to be included in communication, please send mpre information to delwyn@rowingvictoria.asn.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!

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. 

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. 

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.