WELCOME TO RV E-NEWS

The season is really starting to heat up, with fantastic entries in the lead up to a massive March! More than 2,200 athletes were on the water last weekend in Nagambie and Geelong, well done to all event winners and thank you again to our volunteers!

Another busy weekend of racing ahead across three venues! We see racing return to the Yarra for the last time this season, with warm conditions forecast for the Australian Henley Regatta.

Our Junior & Inter Schoolgirls look to set the standard at their State Championships, with the Head of the Schoolgirls' Regatta not too far away! Lastly, Ballarat schools will be flocking to Lake Wendouree on Sunday for the excitement filled BAS Head of the Lake!

Read more below.

Stay Safe, Stay Rowing!

Rowing Victoria

       UPCOMING REGATTAS

REMEMBERING ED MILLEAR

Rowing Victoria sends its heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Ed Millear, a beloved member of our Victorian rowing community and cherished student at Melbourne Grammar School.
 
Ed's passion for rowing was uplifting and contagious and his sudden passing will be the cause of great sadness across our sport.
 
"Our thoughts are with Ed's family, his friends, teachers and coaches, who will all be trying to process the magnitude of this profound loss ," Rowing Victoria President Deborah Spring said.
 
"The Victorian rowing community is united in our grief but just as united to offer all the support we can in this most difficult time."
 
Rowing Victoria encourages all of its clubs and members to look after each other's wellbeing in the wake of this tragic news.

HEAD OF THE SCHOOLGIRLS' - KEY DATES

Entries for the 2025 Head of the Schoolgirls' Regatta are now open!

Please note that entries close at 12pm Tuesday 25th February.

The Regatta Shop will be present at the regatta selling a range of event merchandise. Merchandise pre-orders are now open and close at 10am Tuesday 25 February 2025.

2025 PATHWAY STATE TEAM - NOMINATE NOW

Victorian Pathway Team nomination dates are closing in!

Don't miss your chance to wear the Big White V and showcase your ability on the big stage! Nominate now and be part of the fun, with eights and coxless quad crews to be selected.

Nominations close March 5th (Athletes).

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

NAGAMBIE REGATTA - GALLERY (SUNDAY)

Images: 'Boathouse Drive'

ROW FOR PRIDE 2025

The Victorian rowing community is proud to be coming together in the months of March and May in support of diversity, inclusion and community within our sport. 

With collaboration from Banks RC, Footscray City RC, Hawthorn RC, Melbourne RC, Melbourne Argonauts RC, Richmond RC, and Yarra Yarra RC,  a series of events will be held in celebration of these values.

RV State Champs - 2nd March

Pride Sprints - 500m, 8+ & 4X

Pride Row - 15th March

Round the Island Paddle - all boat classes

RV Masters State Champs - 4th May

Pride Sprints - 500m, 8+ & 4X

These events are a fun, inclusive opportunity for everyone! Entries for Pride Sprints will be open alongside regular event entries.

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:

Rowing Victoria State Championships - March 1st-2nd

Head of the Schoolgirls' Regatta - March 14th-16th

For further information or to discuss additional sponsorship opportunities, please email kieran@rowingvictoria.asn.au.

NWSC CLOSURE - ST. KEVIN'S REGATTA CANCELLED

Rowing Victoria has been advised by Parks Victoria that Blue Green Algae (BGA) levels at the National Water Sports Centre (NWSC) have exceeded trigger levels, necessitating the immediate closure of the waterway. This closure is indefinite and will remain in effect until two consecutive clear test results, taken at least seven days apart, confirm the water is safe for use. As a result, the NWSC will remain closed for a minimum of two weeks.

Unfortunately, due to this closure, the St Kevin’s Regatta scheduled for Saturday, 1st March 2025, will not be able to proceed at the NWSC. After exploring alternative venue options, including the Barwon River, Albert Park Lake, and Lake Wendouree, it has been determined that no suitable alternative is available for hosting the full-day regatta on this date.

CHANGE OUR GAME - COMMUNITY ACTIVATION GRANTS

Applications for the 2024-25 Change Our Game Community Activation Grants Program are now open.

Supporting initiatives to benefit women and girls of all ages, backgrounds and experiences from across Victoria, the program has 3 funding streams, with grants of up to $10,000 available:

Stream 1 – Participation 
Stream 2 – Capability 
Stream 3 – Community Leaders 

The streams support community sport and active recreation clubs and organisations to encourage participation, build capabilities, and develop community leaders to benefit women and girls in community sport and active recreation.

Applications close 5pm AEDT, Wednesday 26 February 2025.

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.