WELCOME TO RV E-NEWS

A huge weekend of racing has begun, with the Head of the Schoolgirls' well underway on the Barwon River. Spectators will be flocking to Geelong across the weekend to support over 2,000 schoolgirls looking to achieve glory for their schools.

Meanwhile, our schoolboys will be heading to Nagambie tomorrow for the Scotch Mercantile Regatta / RV Junior & Inter Schoolboys State Championships. All the best to those competing across the weekend!

A friendly reminder to get your entries in for the Footscray Saltwater Regatta, with entries closing on Monday.

Read more below.

Stay Safe, Stay Rowing!

Rowing Victoria

       UPCOMING REGATTAS

HOSG UNDERWAY

The Head of the Schoolgirls' Regatta is underway on the Barwon River! Friday, the first of three days racing, saw the completion of heats for all events and divisions.

We wish all the best to those competing across the weekend, and look forward to the electric atmosphere!

Can't make it to the regatta? Tune into every race via the regatta live stream.

PATHWAY UPDATE

It has been fantastic to see such a great response from our young Under 18 rowers, with 112 athletes nominating for the 2025 Victorian Pathway Team.

Well done to all for their endeavour in pursuing development opportunities, we look forward to further development through the selection process.

We will see some of our State Team out on the water this weekend across the marquee school regattas. During the Head of the Schoolgirls' lunch break on Sunday, our Women's Youth Eight and Lightweight Quad will be rowing on the Barwon. These rowers are excited to be back in their school colours during the excitement of finals day at HOSG.

Similarly, the Men's Youth Eight will be taking to the water in Nagambie. Racing under bow number 1, they will feature in the time trial and row by invitation in the Open Div 1 Eight. The men are also excited to once again race in their school colours.

These athletes are products of the pathway and school system and are proud to be representing Victoria.

Some members of our 2024 Pathway Team at the SIRC

MERCANTILE JUNIOR WINTER TRAINING PROGRAM

High-performing school rowers and coxswains in Years 10 & 11 are invited to sign up for the Mercantile Winter Training Program.

The program is aimed at athletes who want to put themselves in the best position to achieve their goals in the 2025/26 season by improving their sweep/sculling skills and developing their fitness both on the water and on the rowing machine.

Registration is required by Monday, April 14th, 2025.

The program runs for 9 weeks commencing the week beginning Mon May 5th, and concluding on Sun July 6th before the commencement of Term 3.

SPORTING CLUB GRANTS PROGRAM

The Sporting Club Grants Program provides funding for community sport and active recreation organisations across Victoria, to help address barriers in participation, develop safe and sustainable practices and build social and active local communities.

Grant funding will be made available through four categories:

Category 1: On-field Uniforms or Equipment
Category 2: Volunteers and Officials
Category 3: Access and Engagement
Category 4: Competitors

Check your eligibility and read more about the grants via the link below.

Applications close 27 March 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.