WELCOME TO RV E-NEWS

In this week's E-News, we recap the Rowsella's 2024 Paralympic campaign and look forward to the 2024 World Coastal Rowing Championships. Learn all about our Australian representative below! We also congratulate Duncan MacKinnon on receiving his FISA License for umpiring.

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There's plenty of events coming up in the Rowing Victoria calendar. Find out what's on, and don't forget to purchase your tickets for the 2024 Rowing Victoria & Hall of Fame Gala Awards. The ticket link is available in this week's e-news and on our website. 

Read more below.

Stay Safe, Stay Rowing!

Rowing Victoria

PARALYMPICS 2024 RECAP

History was made over the weekend as the Rowsellas represented Australia at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games. All three crews raced in their respective A finals, proving their competitiveness on an international stage. Find out how each crew raced below! 

Victorian athletes Al Viney and Susannah Lutze raced alongside Toby Goffsassen, Tom Birtwhistle, and Hannah Cowap (c) in the PR3 Mixed Coxed Four. The crew secured their spot in the A final after winning their repechage, finishing an impressive fifth overall. 

(photo credit: Rowing Australia)

Erik Horrie OAM also won his repechage, claiming the bronze medal in the PR1 Men's Single Scull. Despite finishing fourth, he was promoted to third place after Italy's crew was excluded for rule breachment. Horrie adds a bronze to his three previous silver medals, making him the most decorated Australian paralympian of all time!

(photo credit: Rowing Australia)

Nikki Ayers and Jed Altschwager had a historic win in the PR3 Mixed Double Scull, claiming Australia's first para-rowing gold medal. They were also the first crew to win the event, and set a paralympic record in their heat with a time of 7:11.30. A very successful regatta overall for the power double! 

(photo credit: Rowing Australia)

Congratulations to all athletes who raced for the Green and Gold!

Click here to read Rowing Australia's full regatta summary.

WORLD COASTAL PREVIEW

The season of international regattas continues as the 2024 World Rowing Coastal Championships are set to take place this weekend! This year's Championships will be held in Genoa, Italy, from the 6th-8th September. Over 600 athletes from 35 countries will compete in seven boat classes. 

Australia will be represented by Mercantile's Emile Stigter in the Coastal Men's Solo. Emile will commence his campaign on Saturday the 7th at 10pm AEST. Learn more about him below!

"Hi, I’m Emile! After competing at a national level in both open water marathon swimming and surfboat rowing, I’ve recently taken up coastal rowing. This year, I’m proud to be representing Mercantile Rowing Club in the solo scull event at the Coastal Rowing World Championships in Genoa, Italy. Coastal rowing is an exciting new sport in Australia, and I’m thrilled to be part of it as it grows. I’m looking forward to putting my experience in ocean sports to the test on the international stage and seeing this sport develop back home."

We wish Emile every success in his event, and will be cheering him on from down under!

THANK YOU TO OUR UMPIRES

Rowing Victoria would like to give a huge shoutout to our umpires who volunteer their time over countless weekends to help facilitate our regattas - we couldn't do it without you!

35 umpires recently attended a two-day conferences at the Jeff Sykes Boat Shed in Geelong where the group discussed new rules and prepared for the upcoming season.

If you're interested in volunteering as an umpire, click below for more information.

A special congratulations to Mercantile's Duncan MacKinnon who recently received his level 3 umpire qualification at the 2024 Senior, U23, and U19 World Championships in St Catharine's, Canada. Duncan has now obtained his FISA License - an incredible achievement!

APPOINTMENT OF NEW FINANCE OFFICER

Rowing Victoria would like to congratulate Trevor Browne on his appointment as finance officer. We wish Trevor every success in his new role!

For any financial queries, he is available via email at finance@rowingvictoria.asn.au

  UPCOMING EVENTS

SECOND ANNUAL BOATHOUSE DRIVE OPEN DAY

SUNDAY 6TH OCTOBER | 9:00AM -11:30AM

Are you a past rower looking to return to rowing, or a school leaver looking to continue rowing? Perhaps you're looking to join an elite program, or a recreational club? If so, this event is for you!

The rowing clubs located on Boathouse Drive are opening their doors and welcoming you into their rowing clubs on Sunday the 6th of October, from 9-11:30am. The amazing facilities and wonderful club members will ensure your time on Boathouse Drive shows you the many opportunities available to you in rowing.

Participating clubs include Melbourne University, Yarra Yarra, Banks, Mercantile, Melbourne, and Richmond. Register for the Open Day below for the chance to row on the Yarra with one of these clubs. Come along and be part of the action!

REMINDER: AHR MEDIA/COMMUNICATIONS ROLE

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. The role would suit a tertiary student.

Tasks would include liaising with relevant sporting bodies and finding creative ways to reach and engage a younger target audience. 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. 

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 2 of the repairs will take place from September 2 - September 15, with the southern section of Morell Bridge being prohibited. The exclusion zone will extend approximately 35m on either side of the bridge and approximately 30m into the river, as marked by buoys. The northern 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.