WELCOME TO RV E-NEWS

Last weekend we kicked off the season in style, with beautiful rowing conditions on the Maribyrnong for the Saltwater Challenge. Well done to all competitors and Essendon Rowing Club for a great regatta.

This weekend, a number of crews will be venturing to Wentworth for the annual Flying Doctor Rowathon - an event supporting a great cause!

Meanwhile, our Aussie superstars continue their chase for glory at the World Rowing Championships.

Read more below.

Stay Safe, Stay Rowing!

Rowing Victoria

        UPCOMING REGATTAS

WORLD ROWING CHAMPIONSHIPS

The 2023 World Rowing Championships are well underway, with the action kicking off on Sunday the 3rd of September in Belgrade, Serbia.

Australian crews are continuing to perform and progress nicely, securing Paris 2024 qualifcation in a number of boat classes. A summary of our Victorian athletes' progression is available below.

Race times above are AEST and subject to change.

Check out results from all Australian crews, or tune into the racing action, via the links below.

Images: Art of Rowing NZ

SPORT AUSTRALIA HALL OF FAME SCHOLARSHIP

Rowing Victoria congratulates Susannah Lutze (Banks RC) on being named as a recipient of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship and Mentoring Program for 2024.

As a Tier 2 Scholarship Holder she will receive assistance in covering her sporting expenses, plus ongoing support from Sport Australia Hall of Fame and its esteemed member base over the next 16 months.

We hope this news gives Susannah a boost to help her crew perform well in their A Final on Saturday!

It is fantastic to see rowers continuing to receive support, with Paige Barr (Mercantile RC) receiving a Tier 3 Scholarship in 2023.

NATIONAL TEAM SELECTION POLICIES & NOMINATIONS

Selection documentation for the 2024 Underage National Teams (U19/U21/U23) is now available.

Nominations for the Rowing Australia U23 team close 5pm September 17.

Please find further information via the links below.

UPCOMING OPEN DAYS

BOATHOUSE DRIVE CLUBS

Sunday 24th September | 9am - 12pm

Have you finished school, or are about to finish? Would you like to start, continue, or return to rowing?

The clubs on Boathouse Drive have rowing for everyone; recreational, competitive and high performance. Come along and find out what each club has to offer!

BALLARAT CLUBS

Sunday 8th October | 10am - 11:30am

Wendouree-Ballarat Rowing Club and Ballarat City Rowing Club invite you to be part of the energy and enthusiasm that is rowing.

Come along and enjoy taking a tour of the facilities, soaking in the views from the second level in each shed, speaking with club members about rowing opportunities, and seeing what rowing in Ballarat has to offer.

VICTORIAN INSTITUTE OF SPORT

Wednesday 20th November | 10am - 2pm

The VIS Open Day is back in 2023 with the opportunity to meet Olympians, Paralympians and World Champion athletes, learn from high performance sport experts and experience the inner workings of a high performance sport facility.

BENDIGO SPRINT REGATTA - ASSISTANCE WANTED

Bendigo RC are seeking volunteers to assist with boat driving at the Bendigo Sprint Regatta on Saturday October 21.

If you are licensed and willing to assist, please contact kieran@rowingvictoria.asn.au.

WOMEN LEADERS IN SPORT GRANTS

The Women Leaders in Sport (WLIS) Individual Grant Program is now open!

The WLIS program is designed to support all women from community volunteers to senior executives and boards, to access professional development opportunities, develop specialist skills and enhance existing skills in areas specific to their stage in their leadership journey.

In 2024, up to $200,000 (GST exclusive) will be allocated across 3 tiers and a governance stream. The program funding is tiered to ensure opportunities are extended across all levels of the sector from community volunteers through to senior executives and boards.

Applications close 5pm Sunday 17 September.

CLUBMAP WEBINAR

CLUBMAP will be hosting another webinar on Monday October 2nd - SHARE THE WORKLOAD.

Discover ways to develop the right structure to share the load at your organisation, reduce burnout and increase the lifespan of volunteers.

Clubs don't spend enough time on their committee structure, and find it hard to move forward as a result.

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.