Briefing for those competing in the 2023 Head of the Yarra

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Welcome ‘23HOTY

Congratulations on securing a race slot in the 2023 Head of the Yarra Australia’s Rowing Classic which unfortunately for some was oversubscribed due to race capacity limits. The race returns after a four year hiatus, due to pandemic and flooding, on November 25th 2023.

The day’s racing this year will be staged across 4 brackets, commencing with schools and elder masters in bracket 1 at 8.30 am, finishing with the fastest elite open crews in bracket 4, hitting the water around 2.00pm <Race Program insert link here>

1. Race Overview

The Head of the Yarra, exclusively for rowing Eights, is an 8 km time trial with running start from the Henley Judges box Melbourne to Bridge Road in Hawthorn. The river is closed to downstream traffic from Bridge Road Hawthorn to St Kilda Rd - Prince’s Bridge from 6.30 am till race finish around 4.00 pm. All crews can therefore row the best line up the entire length of the course using the whole river. The Head of the Yarra is a true coxswain’s race. The smallest member of the crew must motivate their charges, navigate the 11 bridges, the tight bends, and the competing eights, for the best line and fastest time over this challenging course.

At the Finish in Hawthorn, all boats are racked in the Yarra Bank Reserve at the completion of your race. The parklands are transformed into a rowing carnival with music, food & drink stalls plus suppliers of goods of interest to rowers. As such, ensure you bring some cash or credit card, comfortable footwear, sunsmart clothing and your party face to enjoy an afternoon of celebration prior to the river being open at race close, to those who wish to return their boats downstream.

One major difference you will notice in 2023, is the addition of a new 80 metre long floating staging which has been completed at the race finish at Hawthorn. Our friendly volunteers will assist crews to berth and to find racking for your boats and oars, so you can find a spot in the parklands to celebrate your row.

For those who may need to return to the start, the 48 and 75 tram routes down Bridge Road to Flinders Street provide a return route with an easy walk back to the start precinct.

2. Course & River Closure

Early on race day, crews wanting to row downriver to the start, make sure your crew is off the water at the city end by 6.30am. The River is closed to downstream traffic from 6.30am. Racing starts at 8.30am. After the conclusion of racing, the river will re-open after the Rowing Victoria Course Umpire clears the river, this is expected to be around 4.00pm

3. START PROCEDURE

Start Grid {4 abreast) 50 Metres back from Henley Judges Box

  • Crews line up four abreast across the river.

  • Crews need to be at the start within grid position 5 mins before scheduled race time.

  • Crews late to the start will incur time penalties.

  • From Rowing Victoria’s Head Racing Rules and Guidelines: “For head racing, all starts should be running and crews should be started approximately 20-40 meters from the timing point”.

Please remember, when the starter calls your crew number and “GO”, it’s a running start, so build up speed gradually. Your race time will not commence until you pass the Judges Box

4. HEAD OF THE YARRA OVERTAKING RULE

  • A boat is deemed to be overtaking when it has its bow ball within half a length of the stern of the boat in front

  • When this occurs the slower boat must not block or obstruct the faster crew

  • The faster boat must be prudent and delay the act of passing if a pass cannot be accomplished without incident

  • In all instances, all crews must obey the instructions of race umpires aligning the banks of the river

In practical terms:

  • A slower crew must yield to a faster crew as soon as practicable

  • The faster crew must wait until it is safe to pass – “spearing” a slower crew on a bend is not safe or practicable

  • If a faster crew gets stuck behind a slower crew in a narrow section of the river, so be it

Passing is much easier in the first half of the race

5. WHERE PASSING IS NOT PERMITTED

Approach to Wallen Rd Bridge which can take only 1 Crew through centre arch only.

Overtaking is not permitted between the Power Street fishing landing about 150m downstream of Leonda landing and Wallan Road bridge

Boats attempting to overtake must yield to the boat in front.

The penalty for disobeying an umpire’s instructions in this area will be a minimum of 20 seconds

6. FINISH AREA

A congested finish area poses a serious safety risk

Please keep rowing beyond the finish line, do not stop, and listen for directions from a course umpire

If the area upstream of the finish line is congested your crew may be asked to proceed further upstream of the turning buoys e.g. Old Carey Ramp or Victoria Street bridge

When you reach the staging remove your boat from the water ASAP

No bare feet are allowed, boats will need to be carried from the staging to the racks so bring easy to slip on footwear in the boat with you

We direct crews to fill boat racks from the rear of the reserve, furthest from the finish staging

Once you have racked your boat, please immediately return to the staging and remove your oars or have someone remove them for you as soon as your boat docks at the staging

The parklands at the finish are transformed into a rowing carnival with music, food & drink stalls plus suppliers of goods of interest to rowers. As such, ensure you bring some cash or credit card, comfortable footwear, sunsmart clothing and your party face to enjoy an afternoon of celebration prior to the river being open at race close, to those who wish to return their boats downstream.

7. POST RACE RETURN DOWNSTREAM TO CITY STAGING

Correct boating behaviour must be observed when returning to the VRA City landing. Coxswains please be aware that authorities enforce .05 alcohol limits on all those in charge of vessels on Victorian waterways.

International Collision Regulations rule 9 narrow channels dictates “a vessel proceeding along the course of a narrow channel or fairway shall keep as near to the outer limit of the channel or fairway which lies on her starboard side as is safe and practicable”. In other words “stay to the right side of the river”.

8. COXSWAINS’ COURSE BRIEF

Youtube video with an overview of the entire course. Provides tips on best line, and steering through the 11 bridges and tackling the notorious “Big Bend”.

9. PARKING & SECURITY

City End : Boat trailer parking on Boathouse Drive

Security from Friday 10:00am to Saturday 6.00am. Boat storage in two designated zones – Peppercorn & Engineers Lawn

Hawthorn End : Boat trailer parking on Creswick Street with limited availability

Security from 8.00pm Thursday to 6.00am Friday and 8.00pm Friday to 6.00am Sunday. Boat storage available until 4.00pm Saturday

10. COURSE MAPS

11. CREW REGISTRATION

Some details & times about race Registration, where to pick up bow numbers & race bibs and details on T-Shirt packs and exchanging sizes.

12. CONTINGENCY PLANNING

Contingency plans are in place for:

Moving the start line, Moving the finish line, Delaying the start, Suspending racing, Restarting racing 

HOTY social media channels will be active with updates should weather or river conditions be problematic.