WELCOME TO RV E-NEWS

With the Aussie campaign wrapping up last weekend, the focus now returns to Victorian waters, with more than 300 athletes taking on the Head of the Barwon this Saturday.

A friendly reminder to submit your entries for upcoming October regattas, with entries for the Gippsland Grammar Sale Head Race and the Head of the Mitchell remaining open until 5pm Monday.

Read more below.

Rowing Victoria

       UPCOMING REGATTAS

AUSSIES CLOSE OUT CAMPAIGN

The Rowsellas signed off on their 2025 campaign following a huge week of racing at the World Rowing Championships in Shanghai, China.

Our Victorian stars gave it their all, featuring in 3 A Finals and 2 B Finals, but fell just short of the podium this year. We're very proud of their efforts on the world stage and look forward to watching them continue to develop in the years ahead.

The Aussie Para crews delivered the standout performances of the regatta, with Erik Horrie (NSW) claiming Bronze in the PR1 Men's Single Sculls, before Lisa Greissl (NSW) & Sam Stunell (SA) followed suit with Bronze in the PR3 Mixed Double Sculls.

CREWS FEATURING VICTORIANS

Images: Rowing Australia

HEAD OF THE YARRA - CONFIRM CREW DETAILS

A capacity start list of 283 crews is entered for the 2025 Head of the Yarra. Congratulations to all crews who have secured a start slot for this year’s race.

All crews please note that 9am October 13th is the lock-in for your final crew entry details.

After this time there will be no 50% seat fee refund for any crew entry.

A number of international and interstate crews looking to hire boats for the event. If your club or school has boats and equipment they are willing to loan out, please visit the Hire/Loan Facebook page via the link below.

ROWER OF THE YEAR AWARDS

Tickets are now on sale for the 2025 Hancock Prospecting Rower of the Year Awards & Rowing Australia Centenary Ball.

📅 Friday 5 December 2025
📍 Hotel Realm, Canberra

Celebrate 100 years of Rowing Australia and recognise the outstanding achievements of our athletes, coaches, officials, and volunteers. Enjoy an unforgettable evening of fine dining, live entertainment, and the announcement of our prestigious awards - including the 776BC Rowers’ Rower of the Year.

Accommodation: The hotel partner is Doma Group, and the discount code for their hotels is CONFERENCE. The event is being held at Hotel Realm, but the other hotels which are all nearby include; The Little National, Burbury Hotel, Brassey Hotel. The code should be able to be used when booking online, alternatively Doma Group can be contacted at reservations@domahotels.com.au

Spaces are limited, so be sure to secure your tickets early.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Rowing Australia Team via RSVP@rowingaustralia.com.au

ESAFETY WEBINARS

Online Safety 101 for Community Sport Clubs

These sessions are for community sport leaders and volunteers who want tips to create safer online spaces and learn how to respond to online abuse.

📅 12 November 2025
🕧 12.30pm – 1.15pm AEST

Social Media Self-Defence for Athletes

These sessions are for state, national and pathway athletes (18 years and over) who want to set up safer social media accounts and learn strategies to respond to online abuse.

📅 26 November 2025
🕧 12.30pm – 1.15pm AEST

Webinars for parents and carers

eSafety also offers a range of webinars to support parents and carers in helping their children navigate the online world safely. 

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.