WELCOME TO RV E-NEWS

Crews embraced some varying conditions last weekend at the JG King Homes Wendouree Ballarat Regatta, with a good turnout from a variety of clubs and schools. This weekend our Schoolboys return to Lake Wendouree, competing for bragging rights at the Head of the Schoolboys' Regatta!

The Morongo Regatta started off a run of schoolgirl regattas on the Barwon River last weekend, with the Junior & Inter crews returning there this Saturday for the St. Catherine's Regatta.

A number of Victorian crews have also ventured north to compete at the NSW Rowing Championships.

Read more below.

Stay Safe, Stay Rowing!

Rowing Victoria

       UPCOMING REGATTAS

ROWING VICTORIA APP - DOWNLOAD NOW

Rowing Victoria are very excited to announce that the RV Live - App is now available. The RV app has been developed to provide direct communication to all athletes, coaches, parents and supporters.

Direct Notifications
Stay up-to-date with regatta news, conditions & weather warnings.

Premiership & Individual Standings
See where you and your club/school stand on the point score leaderboard.

Regatta Calendar
Live access to regatta schedules & race results.

Website Access
Access additional information with a quick link to the RV website.

EXR VIRTUAL ROWING

RV has partnered with the world’s leading virtual rowing company EXR to provide RV members with a 30% discount on all subscriptions by using the promo code RV25.

What is EXR?

• EXR is the app that turns your indoor rowing workouts into exciting online adventures. With its 3D worlds, detailed performance statistics and engaging gamification elements, EXR inspires rowers worldwide to train more and push their limits.
• Everyone can train with EXR: from top athletes striving for new records to novices looking for a fun way to get fit.
• RV members will also have the option to dress their rowing avatars in the Big White V.

What is coming?

• Demo: RV will be staging an EXR demo at the RV State Championships where all will be welcome to have a try.  
• Virtual Regattas: Soon RV will be hosting virtual regattas for all RV members with an EXR account.  
• Social Group Rows: Groups will be held, providing members with the opportunity to either enjoy a social virtual paddle or row alongside some of the world’s greatest rowers.

WENDOUREE BALLARAT REGATTA - GALLERY

Images: Matt Ashley, hosted by Boathouse Drive

NSW ROWING CHAMPS

25 Victorian Clubs and Schools have made the trip up to the Sydney International Regatta Centre this weekend to compete in the NSW Rowing Championships, which began today.

We wish all those competing the best of luck! You can check out today's results or tune in to the upcoming action via the links below.

RV PARA LEARN2ROW PROGRAM - NEEDS YOU!

Are you a coach with experience teaching people to scull?

Do you have time during the day where you could coach?

Would you like to be paid for coaching?

The RV Para Learn2Row program enables people with disability to experience rowing and, if they are suited to rowing, continue learning so they become competent and capable to join a club.

The rowing is out of the Albert Park - South Melbourne RC on Albert Park Lake. Sessions are 1-to-1 and times are flexible, as they depend on rower and coach availability along with suitable conditions.

If you are at all interested, please contact Delwyn at delwyn@rowingvictoria.asn.au.

2025 STATE & NATIONAL TEAMS - NOMINATIONS

Victorian Pathway Team nomination dates are closing in!

Don't miss your chance to wear the Big White V and showcase your ability on the big stage! Nominate now and be part of the fun, with eights and coxless quad crews to be selected.

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

CHANGE OUR GAME - COMMUNITY ACTIVATION GRANTS

Applications for the 2024-25 Change Our Game Community Activation Grants Program are now open.

Supporting initiatives to benefit women and girls of all ages, backgrounds and experiences from across Victoria, the program has 3 funding streams, with grants of up to $10,000 available:

Stream 1 – Participation 
Stream 2 – Capability 
Stream 3 – Community Leaders 

The streams support community sport and active recreation clubs and organisations to encourage participation, build capabilities, and develop community leaders to benefit women and girls in community sport and active recreation.

Applications close 5pm AEDT, Wednesday 26 February 2025.

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.

Applications closing 10th February 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.