WELCOME TO RV E-NEWS

The sun and talent shone bright in Nagambie over the weekend at the Rowing Victoria State Championships. A great turnout from our clubs and schools made for an exciting weekend of racing!

We now head into a racing free weekend before we cast our eyes towards the annual spectacle that is the Head of the Schoolgirls' Regatta, with the Scotch Mercantile Regatta also coming up in Nagambie!

In more exciting news, the Victorian Interstate Team has been selected!

Read more below.

Stay Safe, Stay Rowing!

Rowing Victoria

       UPCOMING REGATTAS

RV STATE CHAMPS - SUMMARY

That’s a wrap for the RV State Championships for 2025! 🏆

Thank you to everyone who made last weekend possible, all your contributions are valued and help make our community what it is. A special thank you to our amazing team of umpires and volunteers, who give their weekends to ensure we can have safe, fair and enjoyable racing.

Well done to those who competed and congratulations to all medal recipients! Shout out to Mercantile RC for placing 1st on the overall medal leaderboard, followed by Essendon RC & Melbourne University BC.

A great selection of photos are available via Australian Rowing Images (left) & Boathouse Drive (right).

Images: Australian Rowing Images, Boathouse Drive

VICTORIAN STATE TEAM ANNOUNCED

Rowing Victoria congratulates the following members for their selection in the Victorian Interstate Team for 2025! 💙

These crews will don the Big White V on Lake Barrington on Sunday 30th March. We look forward to cheering them on and are confident they will make Victoria proud.

Please note that extended squads have been formed for some crews, with further selection to be completed.

RV PARA LEARN2ROW PROGRAM

The RV Para Learn2Row program has begun for 2025 and athletes are taking to the water on Albert Park Lake. The objective of this program is to provide people with a disability the opportunity to experience rowing and to begin their rowing journey.

If you are interested or have any questions, please contact delwyn@rowingvictoria.asn.au.

Find more details via the link below.

ARC TRAILER SPACE AVAILABLE

Going to ARC in Tassie? Need some trailer space?

Corio Bay RC has space and are looking for takers!

Contact Ian Bridgland on captain@coriobayrowing.com or 0408 400 161.

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.