WELCOME TO RV E-NEWS

The Victorian rowing community welcomed interstate and international crews to Melbourne last weekend, as more than 2,200 athletes took on the Head of the Yarra! The weather held off to deliver a fantastic day filled with great rowing and plenty of smiles from all!

This weekend our clubs take a breather, whilst the Schoolboys and Schoolgirls head to Carrum and Geelong. A friendly reminder that there are more exciting racing opportunities to come before the end of the year, with the Nestles/Hamilton Regatta and Henley on the Maribyrnong coming up on the calendar!

Read more below.

Stay Safe, Stay Rowing!

Rowing Victoria

        UPCOMING EVENTS

HEAD OF THE YARRA RECAP

The Yarra River was a spectacle with the return of the Annual Head of The Yarra, first run in 1957. The race had not run since 2019 due to Covid and the floods of 2022.

More than two thousand rowers from all over Australia and New Zealand (NZ) raced in rowing eights over the 8km course from the City to Hawthorn. The Yarra became the focal point for Melbourne with thousands of spectators lining its banks and joining in the finish carnival celebrations in the parklands of the Hawthorn Rowing Club.

Club crews representing every state, and NZ, made the pilgrimage to Melbourne. The annual classic saw crews of all abilities test their skill against the country’s best for the fastest time over the gruelling 8km course.

We saw notable performances from a number of local Victorian crews including the Melbourne University Women's Eight and Xavier College Schoolboy Eight.

Read the full summary and view results from all events via the links below.

2024 PATHWAY STATE TEAM - SELECTION REQUIREMENTS

The selection policies and nomination form for the 2024 Pathway State Team are now live on the Rowing Victoria website and available below.

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

Nominations close February 9th (Coaches) and March 5th (Athletes).

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

VALE ANTHONY (TONY) SMITH

It is with regret to inform the community that Tony Smith passed away peacefully this week.

Tony was, along with Gordon Sargood, a driving force behind Melbourne Grammar School Rowing for over 5 decades. Along with Gordon and Chris Dane they were the founding members of The Melburnia Club. In honour of Tony’s love of the sport and especially sculling, the MGS Boat Club has an annual sculling award named after him for the best Sculler in the boatshed.

Our sincere condolences to Tony's family and friends.

NAGAMBIE LAKES - TRAINING CAMPS

Looking for a venue to host your next training camp? Nagambie Lakes could be the one for you, check out what they have to offer via the link below.

SIGNIFICANT SPORTING EVENTS PROGRAM

The Significant Sporting Events Program helps sporting, community and event organisations to deliver significant sporting events in Victoria. Event Assistance Grants are available to event organisers seeking funding support to assist with general operational costs associated with hosting events while Event Development Grants are available to develop or expand events, or for events with high operational costs.

Funding available between $20,000 and $150,000.

Applications close 31 December 2023.

CLUBMAP WEBINAR

CLUBMAP will be hosting another webinar on Monday Decmber 4th - FACILITIES & INFRASTRUCTURE: CONCEPT TO DELIVERY

Learn how to go from conception to delivery of large capital infrastructure and facility projects.

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.