WELCOME TO RV E-NEWS

Well done to Gippsland Grammar on hosting their first-ever regatta, the Sale Small Boats Head, over the weekend. Crews were treated to great conditions and plenty of enthusiasm was seen throughout the day.

This weekend, school racing returns to the Barwon River, while clubs and schools will also make their way to Lake Weeroona for the Bendigo Sprint Regatta.

In Melbourne, the universities will be in the spotlight at the Australian Boat Race.

Read more below.

Rowing Victoria

       UPCOMING REGATTAS

AUSTRALIAN BOAT RACE RETURNS TO MELBOURNE

The 160+ year old rivalry between Melbourne University and Sydney University continues this Sunday with their annual showdown in the Australian Boat Race.

This race sees the best men and women student-athlete rowers from the University of Melbourne and the University of Sydney battle it out for bragging rights. Final crews have been announced - we hope to see the locals get the job done this Sunday!

WOMEN

MEN

EVENT SCHEDULE

9:15am Women's College Race - Trinity College (M) vs St Paul's College (S), 2km course 

9:30am Men's College Race - Trinity College (M) vs St John's College (S), 2km course

10:00am Men's 2025 Australian Boat Race, 3.2km course

10:30am Women's 2025 Australian Boat Race, 3.2km course

Approx. 11:10am Presentations from MUBC Balcony

LEVEL 2 UMPIRES WANTED

The Rowing Victoria Umpires' Commission is recruiting new Level 2 Umpires to help with the growing demand to run regattas in a safe and fair manner.

Umpiring is a fantastic way to be involved in rowing and allows people to gain a great appreciation of the sport while developing lasting friendships with fellow umpires, athletes and coaches.

You will be provided all the training necessary, supported by Umpiring mentors, and can select where and how often you volunteer.

If you have any questions or would like to get involved, please contact 📩 secretaryumpires@rowingvictoria.asn.au

POWERBOAT HANDLING COURSE

If you drive a motor boat for umpiring or coaching you can increase your skills by undertaking a Powerboat Handling Course on Albert Park Lake!

Take the helm with confidence! The Australian Sailing Powerboat Handling Course at The Boatshed is the perfect way to build your skills and knowledge on the water. Designed for coaches, volunteers, and boating enthusiasts alike, this hands-on program teaches you how to safely and effectively operate a powerboat under a variety of conditions.

You’ll learn essential techniques in close-quarters manoeuvring, towing, anchoring, rescuing and displacement boat handling, and understanding weather, tides, and safety requirements. Delivered by qualified instructors in a supportive environment on Albert Park Lake and Port Phillip bay, this nationally recognised course is your ticket to greater skills on the water.

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.