WELCOME TO RV E-NEWS

More than 2,700 athletes took on the Yarra River last weekend, bringing the energy for the 776BC Melbourne Head Regatta! We also saw our first racing in Ballarat for the season, as schools warmed up Lake Wendouree before we return there in January.

The excitement continues, as we look forward to seeing crews back on the Yarra this Saturday, for the much anticipated Head of the Yarra! Schools will also be going head to head in Nagambie, whilst Junior & Inter Schoolgirls will also be racing on the Barwon.

Read more below.

Rowing Victoria

       UPCOMING REGATTAS

ROWER OF THE YEAR AWARDS - VICTORIAN FINALISTS

Rowing Victoria congratulates the following members for their selection as finalists for the upcoming 2025 Rowing Australia ROTY Awards.

⭐️ Official of the Year
Tony Lawless

This award recognises the officials who uphold the integrity of our sport through their professionalism, fairness and commitment.

⭐️ High Performance Club of the Year
Melbourne University Boat Club

This is awarded to the high performance club that has made the most significant
impact in their local community by driving the performance pathway during this year.

Winners will be announced at the 2025 Rower of the Year Awards on December 5th, we wish these finalists all the best!

BOATHOUSE DRIVE OPEN DAY

SUNDAY 30TH NOVEMBER | 9:00AM -11:30AM

Are you a past rower looking to return to rowing, or a school leaver looking to continue rowing? Perhaps you're looking to join an elite program, or a recreational club? If so, this event is for you!

The rowing clubs located on Boathouse Drive are opening their doors and welcoming you into their rowing clubs on Sunday the 30th of November, from 9-11:30am. The amazing facilities and wonderful club members will ensure your time on Boathouse Drive shows you the many opportunities available to you in rowing.

Participating clubs include Banks, Melbourne, Melbourne University, Mercantile, Richmond, and Yarra Yarra. Register via the link below for the chance to row on the Yarra with one of these clubs. Come along and be part of the action!

776BC MELBOURNE HEAD REGATTA - GALLERY

Images: Boathouse Drive

ALBERT PARK LAKE - ALL ABILITIES DAY

FRIDAY 12TH DECEMBER | 11:00AM-2:00PM

📍 The Boatshed, 3 Aquatic Dr, Albert Park

This all abilities event invites people of all ages and experience levels to try rowing, sailing, or paddling in a safe and supportive environment.

WHAT IS PROVIDED
 ✅ Boats and equipment suitable for all abilities
 ✅ Safety gear and experienced support staff
 ✅ Opportunities to connect with local clubs and programs

Registration will cost $30, with the event registrations now open.

POWER HOUSE MO BROS

These brave souls are prepared to compromise their appearance and wellbeing to shine a light on mental health. Did you know that almost 1 in 2 Australians will suffer from a mental health disorder during their lifetime?

Too often mental health has been treated like an elephant in the room, but this needs to change. The Power House Mo Bros are walking billboards that encourage conversation about mental health, raising awareness along the way. Being aware paves the way for understanding and empathy.

Beyond this, if you have capacity, a donation to the PH Movember team will support Beyond Blue which does incredible work in the mental health space.

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.