WELCOME TO RV E-NEWS

We have plenty of exciting rowing action to follow this weekend with the Australian Masters Rowing Championships underway in Penrith.

We wish the best of luck to all Victorians competing!

Everything you need to follow the regatta can be found below.

Rowing Victoria

       UPCOMING REGATTAS

AMRC IS UNDERWAY

The Australian Masters Rowing Championships are officially underway at the Sydney International Regatta Centre!

Members from 24 of our Victorian clubs are entered across the four days, with the action spanning from Thursday 29 May to Sunday 1 June. We wish them all the best of luck, including our Victorian Masters Team who will be racing on Saturday morning.

STATE TEAM CREWS & RACE TIMES

Go the Big White V!

For those supporting from afar, every day of the regatta is being livestreamed, ensuring friends, family, and clubmates can share in the action from wherever they are.

Everything you need to follow the regatta can be found via the links below.

Image: Carrum RC

DUNCAN MACKINNON AWARDED FISA ACCREDITATION

Rowing Victoria is proud to celebrate the achievement of Duncan MacKinnon, who has recently earned his official accreditation as a World Rowing (FISA) umpire, a prestigious milestone in the world of international rowing officiating.

In August 2024, Duncan travelled to St. Catharines, Canada, to sit the highly competitive FISA Umpire’s Examination. This rigorous process, overseen by World Rowing, is designed to ensure that umpires officiating at the highest levels of the sport possess the necessary skills, knowledge, and professionalism to make informed decisions under pressure.

As part of this achievement, Duncan has been confirmed on the World Rowing jury for the 2025 World Rowing Cup I in Varese, Italy, from 13 to 15 June. This event is a key part of the annual World Rowing Cup series and provides Duncan with the opportunity to apply his expertise on the global stage.

We extend our congratulations and thanks to Duncan, not only for this accomplishment, but for the dedication, mentorship, and professionalism he continues to share with umpires and rowers alike.

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.