WELCOME TO RV E-NEWS

We were lucky to have near perfect conditions in Geelong over the weekend for the Barwon Regatta. We saw a huge attendance, including a number of schools returning in fine form following their summer rowing camps!

Coming up we have another two days of club and school racing on Lake Wendouree, with the Wendoure Ballarat JG King Homes Regatta. For those unable to attend, both days of the regatta will be live streamed!

Meanwhile, our junior schoolgirls will gain some important racing experience on the Barwon this Saturday.

Read more below.

Stay Safe, Stay Rowing!

Rowing Victoria

        UPCOMING EVENTS

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.

PATHWAY ASSISTANCE - NSW STATE CHAMPS

Do you love rowing? Would you like to be at the NSW State Champs and help out with the Pathway athletes? The opportunity to do this is here!

We are looking for someone who would want to drive up to SIRC with Delwyn, the VIC State Pathway Coordinator (willing to share driving would be helpful) leaving at 8:30am Wednesday 7th February.

Thursday includes setting up the marque and preparing for the Pathway athletes who will be competing. During the regatta you would help to ensure the Pathway athletes have what they need; nutrition, ice towels, warm-up ergs etc. Sunday involves the pack up and drive home, arriving on Monday 12th February.

This is a volunteer opportunity with all accommodation and meal costs covered. If you are keen please contact Delwyn via email delwyn@rowingvictoria.asn.au or phone 0447 373 456.

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

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

BARWON REGATTA - RECAP

The 2024 Barwon Regatta was a great success last weekend with 34 events on Saturday and 83 events on Sunday. We saw a total of nearly 2000 rowers, coxes and scullers, and a total of 3134 seats for the weekend, making it the biggest Barwon Regatta in its 143rd year!

It was near perfect rowing conditions with mild temperatures and a slight following wind at different times during both days. Interstate entries included from NSW, St Ignatius and Newington in the Male School Eights Open Div 1, Shore in the Male School Eights Year 10 as well as Newcastle RC in Masters events.

Corio Bay RC won the inaugural Champion Club Barwon Regatta trophy with 15 wins, with Mercantile RC in 2nd (12 wins), followed by Barwon RC and Yarra Yarra RC equal 3rd (9 wins). Barwon RC had wins in both the Male and Female Beginner Coxed Quad Sculls, which is exciting for the clubs future!

Images: Boathouse Drive

MICHAEL TEHAN OAM

Rowing Victoria would like to congratulate Michael Tehan of Euroa on his receival of the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) last week.

Michael played a crucial role for the lasting benefit of rowing in two respects. Both as a Commissioner of the Strathbogie Shire Council and Chair of the Nagambie Lakes Authority. In these roles, he supported the development of the Nagambie Lakes Regatta Centre, including the eventual design, funding levels, further development, and promotion of the facility.

Michael chaired the NLA until the local Council took over the management of the Centre in 2002. The Regatta Centre has proved to be a major driver in the wider development of Nagambie with the town now a thriving, popular and growing community.

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.