WELCOME TO RV E-NEWS

This week, we're keeping a keen eye on the Australian Under 19 Team as they proudly represent the nation in Lithuania.

We’ve recently celebrated the incredible contributions of our umpires and look forward to recognising more of our members' achievements, with nominations now open for the RV Annual Awards.

Plus, there are some exciting new community initiatives and events on the horizon!

Read more below.

Rowing Victoria

       UPCOMING REGATTAS

The full 2025/26 Draft Regatta Calendar will be available soon.

WORLD ROWING U19 CHAMPIONSHIPS

The World Rowing Under 19 Championships are well underway in Trakai, Lithuania, with the racing action continuing until Sunday.

The Men's Quad, featuring Victorian's Max Mason and Monty Sallabank, are through to the Semis following a third place finish in their heat on Thursday.

We will be cheering the boys on, and you can too, with LIVE video streaming available on the World Rowing website for ALL races.

VICTORIANS IN ACTION

Image: Brad Redfern Photography

BEACH SPRINTS REGATTA - ENTER NOW

Beach Sprints is BACK! As the sun begins to shine come September, it's the perfect time to try out the excitement filled new variation of our sport!

Everyone is welcome - whether you're an experienced rower or completely new to the sport.

You can register with a friend, or on your own and we'll match you with a partner.

Ready to hit the beach? Fill out the form below and join the action!

YARRA RIVER CLOSURE - SAT AUGUST 16

Please be advised that the Yarra River will be closed on Saturday August 16 from 7:30am to 10:30am, for the Scullers Head of the Yarra.

The closure will be in place from VRA landing (MUBC) to the upper side of Hawthorn Bridge.

RV UMPIRES CELEBRATED

An Umpires' Awards and Recognition Luncheon was held last month to celebrate the amazing efforts of our umpiring team.

Rowing Victoria would like to thank and congratulate the following umpires for their outstanding contribution to our sport over many years.

24HR ROW FOR GOTCHA4LIFE

🗓  12pm September 13 - 12pm September 14

📍  MUBC Boatshed

Come jump on an erg as an individual or book a whole one as a club, and help raise funds for Gotcha4Life - dedidcated to promoting mental fitness and preventing suicide!

Join the movement. Push yourself. Support your mates. Let’s row for those who can’t – and make every stroke count. 💙

Enjoy a BBQ from 5:30pm Saturday, familes are welcome!

NOMINATIONS OPEN - RV ANNUAL AWARDS

Nominations for the below awards will close on Monday 29 September 2025.

Awards will be presented at the 2025 Rowing Victoria AGM & Annual Awards, with the date and venue still to be confirmed.

To be eligible to nominate, you must have been a member of an RV Association, Club or School in the 2024-2025 season and clearly state your name and affiliated body upon nomination.

The following awards are open for nominations:

Club Person of the Year
Coach of the Year
School Person of the Year
Regatta of the Year
The William Waterfield Outstanding Service Award
The Kath Bennett Community Service Award
The Bob Duncan Award
The Susie Palfreyman Award

INTRODUCING THE NATIONAL CLUB OMNIUM

A new annual regatta hosted by Rowing ACT and supported by Rowing Australia will launch on October 11th and 12th, 2025, at Lake Burley Griffin, Canberra.

Inspired by Amsterdam’s Heineken Roeivierkamp, the National Club Omnium is a two day point score regatta for Men’s and Women’s Senior Club crews, featuring double scull, coxless four, and coxed eight events.

The eligibility criteria for Club category events combined with the handicap format of the Omnium’s final leg, allows almost any standard of crew that trains and races well, to be competitive and win!

STRIVE SPORT SPRING SERIES WEBINARS

Spring Clean Your Club. Strengthen Your Systems. Support Your People.

Bite-sized, high-impact webinars for club volunteers, committee members, and community leaders who want less chaos and more clarity.

What’s in the series? Over the next three months, they’re delivering expert-led webinars focused on the issues clubs care about most: 

1. Inclusive leadership

2. Volunteer retention

3. Smarter governance

4. Practical tools you can use immediately

Join one session or sign up for all, it’s made for time-poor legends like you. Don’t worry if you can’t attend live, recordings will be available to all registrants.

Click below to view the Strive Sport Spring Series Schedule.

REMINDER: BOW & STERN LIGHTS

It is important that ALL rowers on ALL waterways (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 by LAW 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).

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.

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. Rules and maps for all waterways can be found on our Venues webpage. 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.