WELCOME TO RV E-NEWS

The Masters season begins this weekend, where we will join the Corio Bay RC in celebrating their 150th year at the Corio Bay Masters Regatta!

More exciting news and opportunities included below!

Stay Safe, Stay Rowing!

Rowing Victoria

        UPCOMING REGATTAS

VICTORIAN MASTERS STATE TEAM ANNOUNCED

Rowing Victoria congratulates the following State Members for selection in our Victorian Masters Squad for 2023.

We look forward to cheering you on at the Australian Masters Rowing Championships in Sydney, June 2, 2023.

We are confident you will make Victoria proud! Go the Big White V!

CORIO BAY ROWING CLUB CELEBRATES 150 YEARS

Since first opening its doors in 1873, the Corio Bay Rowing Club (CBRC) has grown over the last 150 years to the thriving club it is today. This is testament to past and present members who have shown dedication to the development and growth of the club, enduring a history which included world wars, pandemics and recessions, making it one of the most successful clubs in Victoria in recent years.

In honour of this significant milestone, this weekend’s Geelong Masters Regatta has been renamed the Corio Bay Masters Regatta, and the club is donating some special prizes to be awarded to winners on the day.

CBRC warmly invites all Corio Bay Masters Regatta participants, officials and spectators to visit the CBRC shed where you will be able to purchase coffees from 9am and toasties from 10am. The bar will also be open from 12pm.

The original Corio Bay Rowing Club shed, 1879, next to Yarra Street Pier

VICTORIAN SPORT AWARDS - FINALISTS

Congratulations to the below members for progressing through to the finalist stage of the 2022 Victorian Sport Awards! 

⭐️ Young Team of the Year - St Catherine's 1st Eight

⭐️ Kitty McEwan Award - Jessica Gallagher (Mercantile RC)

⭐️ Masters Athlete of the Year - Tanja Nishibata (Melbourne RC)

Winners will be announced when the VSAs are held at Marvel Stadium on Wednesday 7 June, 2023.

Read about their achievements and see the full list of finalists:

MERCANTILE WINTER PROGRAM

High-performing school rowers and coxswains in Year 12 and Year 10 & 11 are invited to sign up to the Mercantile Winter Program.

The program is aimed at athletes that want to put themselves in the best position to achieve their goals in the 2023-24 season by improving their sweep/sculling skills and developing their fitness.

The above squads will train separately.

Registration is required by Monday 1 May 2023.

BOAT DRIVERS NEEDED - RV MASTERS STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

We are in need of boat drivers to assist us at the Rowing Victoria Masters State Championship Regatta in Nagambie on the 6th & 7th of May.

If you are able to assist, or know somebody who will be available, please contact adam@rowingvictoria.asn.au.

MORRISON PRESENTED ORDER OF AUSTRALIA

Congratulations to one of our Olympic champions from Tokyo, Jessica Morrison OAM, who was recently presented with her Order of Australia for services to sport by the Governor of Victoria The Hon Linda Dessau AC CVO. Jessica's proud parents John and Karen, along with sister Becky, were on hand to celebrate the landmark occasion at Government House in Melbourne.

NEW ROWING BOOK

Rowing Victoria are pleased to support the new definitive text on Rowing, authored by self-titled rowing tragic, Victorian and Olympic representative John Cumper; Tight Puddles.

Please find details on his new book via the link below.

CLUBMAP WEBINARS

CLUBMAP will be hosting another webinar on Monday April 24th - GRANTS: SECURE MORE FUNDING.

Many clubs just aren't aware of the depth of grants that clubs are eligible for. They'll show you how to source more funding opportunities and give your club the best chance of success.

RIVER SAFETY - BOW & STERN LIGHTS

With the darker mornings and evenings now upon us, it is crucial 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.