IMPORTANT RACE DAY INFORMATION FOR COMPETITORS (TBC for 2022)
1. RACE DAY SCHEDULE AND TIMING
Actual Crew race times will be available by Thursday 25/11 <Here>
The Race will be run in two regattas on Saturday November 27th, 2021.
River is closed to non-race traffic from 7.30 am.
Regatta 1 - Events 1-14
From 7.30am Crews Transit to start area (both upstream from city & downstream of Hawthorn)
Last crew to leave city staging by 8.00am for their transit upstream to start area at Powerhouse.
Regatta 1 Race Start time 8.30 am. River is closed. Full river (unbuoyed)available.
Regatta 1 conclude with last crews (approx. 9.20 am). see*
Regatta 2 -Events 15-30
From 9.30am Crews Transit to start area (both upstream from city & downstream of Hawthorn)
*Crews from regatta 1 from club sheds upstream of city may also transit back to their clubhouses at this time.
Last crew to leave city staging by 10.00am for their transit upstream to start area at Powerhouse.
Regatta 2 Race Start time 10.30 am. River is closed. Full river(unbuoyed)available.
Regatta 2 conclude with last crews (approx. 11.20 am).
River to be reopened by Race Referee (approx. 11.45pm)
2. BOW NUMBERS
Bow Number and Bow seat bib number will be available for collection from Race Registrar Janet Conos (0417 359 915) at Hawthorn Rowing Club between 4pm - 6pm Friday 26/11 or on race day from 7.00am at the front of Yarra Yarra Rowing Club.
Return bow numbers to Janet at Yarra Yarra after your race.
3. THE COURSE (Click on map Below for course brief video) available at:
Click on Image for Course briefing video
4. BRO’s ARE NOT REQUIRED.
Participating clubs do not need to supply BRO’s. Hawthorn Members and RV officials are on duty.
5. THE RACE SITE LAYOUT is below.
6. TRAILER AND CAR PARKING
NOTE, WE WILL BE SHARING THE PARKLAND WITH ANOTHER EVENT OCCURRING ON THE SAME DAY. ROAD CLOSURES WILL BE SET UP AND MANAGED BY BOTH EVENTS.
BOAT HOUSE DRIVE WILL BE CLOSED from 4.30am on Saturday morning, so competitors and spectators should make alternate arrangements for parking. The car parks at Southbank and Alexandra Avenue probably the best option.
It is highly recommended that those Clubs and Schools wishing to bring their boat trailers into the regatta do this by 4pm on Friday 26th November. Due to precinct set up for this and the other event, access for boat trailers will close at 6.30am on the Saturday morning.
There will be no boat trailer parking at Hawthorn in Creswick Street. Creswick Street is not available for unloading boats from the roadway due to Melbourne sewer construction works.
Clubs and Schools requiring boat trailer access to the City Boatshed Precinct will need to nominate this requirement via the registrations page on the website Trailer parking & Boat Storage — Head of the Yarra by midday Nov 23rd. The day and time the trailer is being brought in together with the number of boats on the trailer are also to be nominated. We encourage you to arrange to share a boat trailer to limit the number trailers requiring parking. Contact details will be required to provide you with access to drop off and pick up your trailer.
A trailer parking plan will be available at the same link as the trailer registration page together with details and parking arrangements.
7. LAUNCHING AND LANDING BOAT MOVEMENT
There will be significant boat traffic over the morning of the Victorian Eight Challenge. The staging in the City Boatshed Precinct will be divided into two zones during these times of heavy traffic:
• The western (Princes Bridge) end, crews coming in
• Eastern end (MUBC end) - crews going out •
The landing zones will be modified to facilitate launching and landing movements as needed. This will ensure the landing is cleared as quickly as possible before and after each bracket. Please look out for and follow the directions of the landing marshals.
Victorian Eight Challenge crews must be at the landing, ready to launch 60min before their allocated bracket start time. Crews boating from the City will leave the staging in bow number order and transit upstream to the marshalling area beyond Big Bend. Boats are to assemble into and remain in numerical order as they move under MacRoberston Bridge heading toward Big Bend. A start Marshall will advise crews when to commence rowing up to the start line, being at pace once timing commences. Refer to the Victorian Eight Challenge Start Line Set up, attached which illustrates the traffic flow around the start line.
The river will be closed for the regatta and normal river rules apply when rowing up to the start line. Crews rowing up should use the southern arches of all the bridges INCLUDING THE CREMORNE RAILWAY BRIDGE. Crews should avoid stopping, rowing part crew or otherwise holding up other crews unless necessary for safety reasons. Crews boating from upstream of Herring Island will need to join the procession to the start just upstream of the Powerhouse Landing, in numerical order.
The race will conclude at the Judges box. On completion, crews are to row up to and thru Princes Bridge moving along the north (City side) of the river, thru Princes’ bridge before spinning and returning to the landing.
8. RESULTS AND MEDAL COLLECTION
Live regatta results will be available <HERE>
There will be no official medal presentations, but winners’ medals can be collected on the day, after your results are posted on the mobile site, from regatta operations official Andrew Vogan (located at Yarra Yarra boathouse).
There are medals for the fastest crew in all listed race categories. Uncollected medals on the day will be sent out to each club.
9. REGATTA OPERATIONS AT YARRA YARRA.
Race referee will be based at Yarra Yarra Rowing Club for any issues or protests
10. RACE MERCHANDISE
Regatta Shop Race Merchandise is available for purchase from their regatta stall on the day or online at https://www.theregattashop.com.au/pages/head-of-the-yarra-vic-8s-challenge-2021
11. ROWING EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES
Perfect Balance Rowing will have a parts and supply stall available for those interested in race equipment.
Visit Alistair and Katelyn to talk about your equipment needs or to pop in some extra entries for their Swift Scull Raffle which they will draw on race day.
To enter the scull raffle <CLICK HERE>
