Safety, Risk Management and EMERGENCY, PErmits

6.0 SAFETY

The Head of the Yarra is a major and complex event, and warrants careful planning as well as the preparation of detailed policies and plans to cover possible problems.

Extracts from the Risk Management and Emergency Plan and the related Rowing Victoria Heat Policies are also included below. 

7.0 Risk Management and 8.0 Emergency Plan

The Organising Committee has developed a comprehensive Risk Management and Emergency Plan. <DOWNLOAD 2023 SAFETY PLAN>

The Head of the Yarra Organising Committee has several contingency plans and procedures in place.

8.1 The main contingency plans relate to:

8.2.1. Moving the start line

This would reduce race distance and may need to happen if river obstructions occur, or if bridges cannot be passed safely

8.2.2. Moving the finish line

Similarly, this would reduce race distance and may need to happen if river obstructions occur, or if bridges cannot be passed safely.

8.2.3. Delaying the start

A high risk event when course umpires take their places and call into the race referee to confirm the course is clear – or they have identified an obstruction.

  • The starter will make announcements to those at the start line.

  • Start line staging marshals will use megaphones to make announcements at the staging.

8.2.4. Suspending racing after the start due to an accident, obstruction on the course or a logjam at the finish line

This is a particularly difficult scenario with crews on the course.

  • Race referee will instruct course umpires to stop crews on the course from racing.

  • The Starter will cease starting crews.

  • Start line marshals will stop crews coming onto the water.

  • Course umpires will manage crews already on the course.

  • Start line team will manage crews at the start line on the water.

8.2.5. Re-starting the race after a suspension of racing

Course umpires will instruct crews already on the course to row through the rest of the course to the turn around point (no race time recorded).

  • The Start Team and Start Timing Team will exercise their best discretion in starting remaining crews in the remaining time left to conduct racing on the closed river.

  • Staging will keep waiting crews informed of the revised arrangements.

In all circumstances, continuation of the race will depend of the ability of race officials to implement the relevant contingency plan in the time available. Please note that a high risk factor with the race is that our Event Permit (including river closure) has time limitations. We do not therefore have the luxury of taking as long as we need to make up any lost time. Parks Victoria will be the ultimate arbiter as to how long we can extend racing if required.

8.3 Rowing Victoria Heat & Cancellation Policies

Extreme Heat

8.4 Regatta Cancellation Guidelines

Following representations from member associations, the board of Rowing Victoria (RV) has issued the following guidelines for regatta cancellation (prior to race day) to assist clubs and schools:

  • In the absence of extraordinary situations, regattas will proceed. We participate in an outdoor sport which requires us to be tolerant of, and allow for, most factors. RV has existing safety precautions and policies which operate on regatta days. These include the option of cancellation of regattas on the day.

  • If extraordinary situations arise to warrant the cancellation of a regatta prior to race day, the decision will be advertised on the RV website by noon, two days prior to the regatta. For example, for a Saturday regatta, the notice will be posted by noon Thursday. RV will also email club representatives where an email has been registered with them. It will not be necessary to contact the RV office for clarification.

  • As most costs in running regattas are incurred by organising committees prior to an event such as course hire, course establishment, trophies, programs etc., no refunds of entry fees can be made in the event of cancellation either before or during a regatta.

  • Refund where regatta is cancelled due to lack of entries. In this case notification will be available

8.5 COVID -19 CONSIDERATIONS.

The Head of the Yarra will only proceed with sanction of the Chief medical officer of Victoria.