WELCOME TO RV E-NEWS

Anything fantastic weekend on Lake Moodemere at the MRA Rutherglen Regatta! Crews enjoyed some fun in the sun, with fast racing seen over 500 and 800m. Well done to our local clubs & amazing volunteers on another awesome hosting effort. Congratulations to Essendon RC for taking out the Red Gum Shield as winners of the regatta point score!

This weekend, we'll have more sunny conditions as members head to Lake Wendouree for the Ballarat Regatta. With racing over 1000 and 2000m, we look forward to some great small boat racing! On Sunday we take to the sand, with an exciting Beach Sprint Regatta at Williamstown Beach!

Read more below.

Stay Safe, Stay Rowing!

Rowing Victoria

       UPCOMING REGATTAS

2025 STATE & NATIONAL TEAMS - NOMINATIONS

LAST CHANCE - A final reminder that nominations for the Victorian Masters State Team close at 5pm Monday 20th January.

Don't miss your chance to wear the Big White V and showcase your ability on the big stage! Don't be shy, new and returning state rowers are encouraged to nominate and be part of the fun, with 4 crews to be selected.

Please direct any questions regarding selection to Delwyn Oliver on delwyn@rowingvictoria.asn.au.

MRA RUTHERGLEN REGATTA - GALLERY

Images: 'Boathouse Drive'

MIDSUMMA FESTIVAL - BOATHOUSE DRIVE

The annual Midsumma Carnival event will be returning to Alexandra Gardens on Sunday January 19 2025.

Please note that this will impact access to the rowing sheds as well as the allocated car parking on Boathouse Drive.

There will be a road closure of Boathouse Drive from 6am Saturday January 18 until 11:30pm Sunday 19th January.

Further information about the event is available here.

UPCOMING EVENTS

REGIONAL ALL ABILITIES PARTICIPATION GRANTS

Regional All Abilities Participation Grants assist organisations to increase participation opportunities and address barriers to participation for people with disability in regional Victoria.

Grants will support organisations to:

• Purchase modified equipment, assistive technology, adaptive clothing, and environmental aids
• Recruit, mentor, employ, and retain a person with disability to a paid or voluntary position
• Employ a specialised workforce to support people with disability
• Reduce travel costs for active participants with disability
• Broaden the range of on-going, flexible, and place-based sport or active recreation programs; and
• Increase awareness, understanding, acceptance, community pride, and connection.

Key information:

• Grant amount: Up to $25,000 per category
• Applications Open: 6 November 2024
• Applications Close: TBC (Ongoing)

If you have resources that should be shared amongst the sporting community, please reach out directly to your City of Ballarat Club Liaison and Support Officer.

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.