Yarra River Race

Date: Saturday 20 August

Where: The Wharf Hotel, 18/38 Siddeley St, Melbourne

Parking: Various, with the closest at https://www.carepark.com.au/find-a-care-park/world-trade-centre/

Distances for racing (two options)

1) 10km - From the Wharf Hotel to under Church St Bridge and back

2) 5km - From the Wharf Hotel to under Swan St Bridge and back

Final race draw - subject to final late changes

https://www.dragonboatvictoria.com.au/regattas/

On water course - Maps

5km course: View colour version here

10km course: View colour version here

Categories:

Mixed 20's & Mixed 10's

Schedule: (Provisional)

Thurs 18 August

• 8 pm - Online optional Zoom briefing and Q&A for Sweeps and Team Managers

Register to attend: here

Join Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83908432229?pwd=cEpzanVuSHNOQ2FNQVgrNVMvV0JCUT09

Saturday 20 August

• 11:30 am - In-person briefings for Sweeps, Team Managers and SES
• 12:00pm: Race 1 (Four Boats)
• 12:45pm: Race 2 (Five Boats)
• 1:15pm: There will be a separate briefing for the sweeps in race 3 at the DBV Admin tent. Jen Reilly will conduct this on behalf of DBV and thus eliminate the need for attendance at the earlier briefing
• 2:00pm: Race 3 (Four Boats)
• From 2:30 pm onwards: Social Food & Beverage followed by presentations at the Wharf Hotel at approx 4 pm

Age Categories

Within the Seniors category, the DBV By-Laws specifically enable clubs to put together crews based on age. To provide some flexibility while maintaining fairness, the rules allow Senior A, B and C age crews to include up to two ‘out of age, i.e. younger paddlers in a Standard Boat and one in a Small Boat.  There is no need to apply for an exemption to do this. Clubs can also enter a specific age category by including up to 4 Junior members of their club Clubs in a Small Boat and up to 8 Juniors in a Standard boat, without this affecting their age category. 

It is important to be aware that there is no barrier to entering a crew with more than two ‘out of age’ paddlers – it is just that the crew entry would need to ‘drop’ to reflect the age grouping of the additional out of age paddlers. The following examples may assist understanding if there are more than 2 under-age paddlers:

Handicapping

The current understanding for DBV Regattas is that a category will not run unless at least three teams are in the category.  In order to provide races for all Senior categories (A, B and C), our Regattas combine the three senior age groups into one senior category.  In an attempt to ‘level the playing field’, we use a handicap system so that the older paddlers are not disadvantaged in any race against younger paddlers. The handicapping system works by providing rounds, not heats and finals. Usually, there are three rounds but sometimes only two, depending on how busy the program is. Times from rounds are added together, and then the handicap is applied. The handicapping system can also be applied where there is a single race, e.g. the 5.5km race at Geelong. The handicapping system does not apply where we have heats and finals.

Before introducing the handicapping system in Victoria, work was undertaken by Chris Alexandrou, Serghei Cucsa and Philippa McLean to examine the race results from Auschamps over a number of years and to look at the patterns in times. This advice was forwarded to DBV and accepted for use over a couple of seasons, then to be reviewed in the light of experience and Victorian results compared to the national trends. In Seniors’ events, where Senior A, B and C age crews might be competing against each other the following formula is used:

• Senior A = 1.00 i.e. the time recorded by a crew is assessed at the actual time recorded
• Senior B = 0.97 i.e. the time is multiplied by 0.97 to get a revised/handicapped time
• Senior C = 0.92 i.e. the time is multiplied by 0.92 to get a revised/handicapped time

DBV used the handicapping system in some regattas last season and will continue to trial implementation during this season. DBV is continually reviewing results to determine if the current formula is appropriate.

Crew/Boats used from Hub

Standard boats 

Return boat logistics from the Community Boating Hub

DBV has set up a rotating club pre/post schedule for the next 12 months for clubs bumping in/out of boats at Regattas

The following five clubs are requested to paddle one fully dressed boat each from the Community Boating Hub to the Wharf Hotel and return to the CBH at some stage on Saturday.

Note distance from the Hub to the Wharf Hotel is 2.5km so aim to leave Hub at 10:30am-10:45am

1. From the Hub to the Wharf by 11:15am: MUDS, Storm, Pink Phoenix, DA Bendigo and CYSM

2. From the Wharf to the Hub: Pink Phoenix, Flames, Storm, CYSM and MUDS

Cost:

$21 for juniors/students, $42 for adults, free to watch 

What's included for participating

Racing of either distance

On water Safety vessel provided by SES during races

First Aid during the event provided by St John

Complimentary drink voucher to use at the Wharf Hotel for every participant.

Complimentary food platters and options provided in the Portside Room

Presentations and social at the Wharf Hotel following the event.

Partnership with the Wharf Hotel and Australian Venue Co:

1) Download the Australian Venue Co app on your phone.

2) Enter 'DBV' in the voucher code tab on the main menu.

3) Receive a welcome $10 credit to use on any F&B at the Wharf Hotel on any day of choice.

• Note this is in addition to what DBV will be providing attendees for a F&B package

View the promo flyer here

Added safety requirement:

Both Sweeps and Drummers to carry a mobile phone on the boat in case of emergency, due to the distance away from the Wharf Hotel base and SES on water safety vessel and first aid.

Laminated cards will be provided to Sweeps/Drummers with key phone numbers in an emergency.

Crew entries 

Open now and close Sunday 13 August at 11:59 pm

Crew modifications close at 11 am Saturday, 20 August

Crew list recording: Sweeps or Team Managers to mark off the crew and the Sweep with Chief Marshaller before getting in the boat, who will be using an electronic tablet.

Once crew has been entered, DBV will issue a voucher for each crew member for a complimentary drink at the Wharf Hotel

Victorian By-Laws and other relevant documents

View here

Volunteers or Officials 

Register here

Chief Official

Ali Sutton

Weather

http://www.bom.gov.au/vic/forecasts/melbourne.shtml

Notice to River Users from Parks Victoria issued 17 Aug

View here