WELCOME TO RV E-NEWS

Last weekend Wentworth Rowing Club hosted another hugely successful Flying Doctor Rowathon, with crews rowing up to 72km!

This week our eyes have been Interstate and International, as Victorians compete at the Australian Beach Sprints Championships, and our Aussie stars prepare for the World Rowing Championships.

Read more below.

Rowing Victoria

       UPCOMING REGATTAS

ROWSELLAS READY FOR WORLD ROWING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Our stars will be back in action for Australia from this weekend, with the World Rowing Championships taking place from 21-28 September, in Shanghai, China.

The Australian team, including 29 debutants, will race in 11 boats in Shanghai. 16 Victorians are set to compete, with their crews and first race times outlined below.

Live tracker and video streaming will be available for ALL races, from Sunday 12PM AEST.

CREWS FEATURING VICTORIANS

Image: Rowing Australia

RFDS FLYING DOCTOR ROWATHON

Well done to Wentworth District Rowing Club on their efforts in hosting another successful Flying Doctor Rowathon, raising more than $41,000 for the Royal Flying Doctor Service!

A number of Victorians journeyed up to row on the Murray and Darling Rivers, with some crews pushing their limits and rowing up to 72km!

The funds raised will go straight into outback communities via the Rural Women’s GP Service, Flying Doctor Wellbeing, and Flying Doctor Speech Therapy. Learn more about the impact the funds will make here.

If you'd like to support the cause, you can still donate via the link below!

ROWERS DIG DEEP FOR GOTCHA4LIFE

We saw a fantastic effort from MUBC and friends last weekend, as they took on a 24 hour row in support of Gotcha4Life. Across the 24 hours they managed to keep 2 ergs moving, with up to 6 going at any 1 time, rowing a total of 1018km!

The team raised an impressive $9,103, making them the 9th largest fundraising team. Well done to all involved from rowers, parents, cooks, aux masters, donors, and supporters.

By raising vital funds, they'll be helping Gotcha4Life deliver life-changing programs that equip people with the skills to get through life’s ups and downs, so no one ever worries alone. Any final donations can be made below.

AUSTRALIAN BEACH SPRINTS CHAMPIONSHIPS

The Australian Beach Sprints Championships are well underway at Monterey Beach, NSW, with the action continuing through until Sunday.

Victorian athletes from Banks, Hawthorn, Korowa, and Mercantile have made the journey north for some exciting competition, with many having warmed up at our Williamstown Beach Sprint regatta earlier this month.

WORLD ROWING MASTERS REGATTA

The 2025 World Rowing Masters Regatta was held from 10-14 September in Banyoles, Spain.

It was fantastic to see athletes from Bendigo, Essendon, Hawthorn, Melbourne, and Nagambie competing at the regatta and bringing home a bunch of medals.

You can view all their results via the link below.

Image: Essendon Rowing Club

AUSTRALIAN U23 TEAM - NOMINATIONS OPEN

Nominations are now open for selection in the 2026 Australian Under 23 Team.

Under 23's is a pivotal stepping stone for pathway athletes pursuing selection into the senior team. The team competes at the Under 23 World Championships each year giving them the opportunity to compete against the best in the world.

Athletes attempting selection must be 22 years of age or younger on 31 December in the year of selection. Nominations close 5PM Friday 28 November 2025.

HEAD OF THE YARRA - ENTRIES & BOAT HIRE

The 2025 Head of the Yarra is fast approaching, with a number of international and interstate crews looking to hire boats for the event.

If your club or school has boats and equipment they are willing to loan out, please visit the Hire/Loan Facebook page via the link below.

Please note that there is still some capacity for Victorian entries, with approximately 10 spots remaining!

NOMINATIONS OPEN - RV BOARD DIRECTORS

There are two positions open for Rowing Victoria Board Nominations, following the completion of the terms of two present RV Board Members.

In accordance with the Rowing Victoria Constitution, nominees are asked to please complete the nomination form, accompanied by a one page supporting word document, by 5pm Thursday 25th September 2025.

NOMINATIONS OPEN - STATE TEAM SELECTORS

Rowing Victoria is calling for nominations for selectors to assist in the selection of 2026 Victorian Senior, Para, & Youth State Team. The team will compete at the Interstate Regatta on 29 March 2026, on Lake Barrington, Tasmania.

Nominations close 5pm Friday 26 September.

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.