WELCOME TO RV E-NEWS

It was a warm weekend in Ballarat for the Wendouree Ballarat JG King Homes Regatta, with a great turnout from a variety of clubs and schools.

This weekend our Schoolboys return to Lake Wendouree, competing for bragging rights at the Head of the Schoolboys' Regatta! Meanwhile, the Junior Schoolgirls continue to become familiar with the Barwon River in the lead up to the Head of the Schoolgirls'!

A number of Victorian crews have also ventured north to compete at the NSW Rowing Championships.

Read more below.

Stay Safe, Stay Rowing!

Rowing Victoria

        UPCOMING EVENTS

NSW ROWING CHAMPS

28 Victorian Clubs and Schools have made the trip up to the Sydney International Regatta Centre this weekend to compete in the NSW Rowing Championships, which began today.

Participation in the regatta is included in the Victorian State Team requirements, with a number of pathway athletes looking to put their best foot forward in the lead up to selection.

We wish all those competing the best of luck! You can check out today's results or tune in to the upcoming action via the links below.

EVENT SPONSORSHIP

Have your business/family name published in the online regatta program and results, as well as being announced by the event commentator during the race, with sponsorship now available for all events at these regattas:

Head of the Schoolboys' Regatta - February 10th

Rowing Victoria State Championships - March 1st-3rd

Head of the Schoolgirls' Regatta - March 15th-17th

For further information or to discuss additional sponsorship opportunities, please email kieran@rowingvictoria.asn.au or adam@rowingvictoria.asn.au.

2024 PATHWAY STATE TEAM - NOMINATIONS

The dates for nominations for the 2024 Pathway State Team are closing in!

Please note that this year, Coxed Quad crews will be selected for the first time, alongside the traditional Eights.

Nominations close today (Coaches) and March 5th (Athletes).

Please direct any questions regarding selection to Delwyn Oliver on delwyn@rowingvictoria.asn.au.

WENDOUREE BALLARAT REGATTA - GALLERY

Images: Boathouse Drive

PROPOSED WATERWAY RULE CHANGES

YARRA & MARIBYRNONG RIVERS

Parks Victoria is in the process of updating the current waterway rules as outlined in the Vessel Operating and Zoning Rules (VOZR), for the Yarra and Maribyrnong Rivers.

Changes relate to allocation of moorings and berths, exclusive use and special purpose areas, increased speed limits for vessels without an engine used for propulsion, operating during flood events, and transiting bridges.

They are inviting feedback on the proposed rule changes, with the purpose to improve safety on the river and set priorities. You can have your say by emailing engage@parks.vic.gov.au or calling 13 19 63. Feel free to submit a written response in a format of your choosing, but as a guide please consider the following questions:

Thinking about visitor or user safety, do you have any comments or concerns with the proposed rule changes?

Thinking about visitor experience and business, do you have any comments or concerns with the proposed rule changes?

BOATS FOR UKRAINE

Iп many regions of Ukraine, the sports infrastructure has been destгoyed by the war, including sports equipment, training centres and hangars (as seen below). At this time, there are no plans bу the Ukrainian Sports Ministries and Departments to purchase new equipment.

However, despite all these tragic events and difficult times, Ukrainian athletes continue to train and prepare for international competitions.

The Rowing Federation of Ukraine humblу ask you to suppoгt Ukгainian roweгs bу providing humanitarian aid iп the fоrm of used boats, оагs (paiгs апd siпgles), stгuctures or special tгailers for transporting boats, suppoгts апd otheг еquiрmепt, necessary fог гowiпg.

If you are able to assist, or would like further information, please contact kieran@rowingvictoria.asn.au.

ROAD CLOSURE - RUN FOR THE KIDS (MELB)

Please be advised that the Herald Sun/Transurban Run for the Kids is coming up on Sunday March 17th and may impact access to Boathouse Dr.

Please see the link below for more information.

CHANGE OUR GAME - COMMUNITY ACTIVATION GRANTS

The 2023-24 Community Activation Grants Program is NOW OPEN!

Grants of up to $10,000 are available to support community sport and recreation clubs. The grants aim to increase participation and enhance gender equality in sport and active recreation.

Funding is available across three streams:

Stream 1 - Participation

Stream 2 - Capability

Stream 3 - Community Leaders

Applications close 5pm AEDT, Monday 4 March 2024.

CLUBMAP WEBINAR

CLUBMAP will be hosting another webinar on Monday February 12th - SHARING THE WORK LOAD IN 2024

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

RIVER SAFETY - 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.