WELCOME TO RV E-NEWS

It was a fantastic weekend at the Foot of the Goulburn, congratulations to Nagambie Rowing Club on hosting another great event!

With no Victorian regattas scheduled this week, it’s the perfect time to get organised for the weeks ahead. Entries are now open for regattas across the next 3 weekends, including the return of school racing to Albert Park Lake!

Meanwhile, competition has continued indoors, with strong Victorian participation in the Australian Indoor Rowing Championships, which are currently underway across the country.

Read more below.

Rowing Victoria

       UPCOMING REGATTAS

2026 STATE TEAM - NOMINATIONS OPEN

We are excited to open nominations for the 2026 Victorian Senior, Para, & Youth State Teams, set to compete at the Interstate Regatta on Lake Barrington, in March 2026.

Please review the full Selection Requirements before nominating.

Nominations close on Monday 12th January 2026.

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

ROWING IN THE PORT OF MELBOURNE

Thursday 27th November 2025

The Port Authority are hosting an edcuation/information session specifically for rowing & paddling in the Port of Melbourne. All clubs and schools are welcome and encouraged to send at least one representative to this session.

The in-person session will begin at 10am and include presentations from Ports Victoria, Parks Victoria, and the Water Police, with a Q&A and lunch to round out the morning.

STATE TEAM SELECTORS - NOMINATIONS OPEN

Rowing Victoria is calling for nominations for selectors to assist in the selection of 2026 Victorian Pathway (U18), OTRC (U22), & Masters State Teams. Selection activities for the teams occur at various times between January and March.

Do you have experience and are you up for the challenge of being a Selector for one, two, or all of these teams? Rowing Victoria would love to hear from you!

Nominations close 5pm Wednesday 5 November.

AUSTRALIAN INDOOR ROWING CHAMPIONSHIPS

The Australian Indoor Rowing Championships are well underway!

It's great to see that members from 10 Victorian clubs and schools have jumped in and given it a go, and it's not too late to join them, with the virtual event continuing until Sunday.

See where they stand on the live leaderboard with every result featured!

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.