Victorian Sculling Association Inc
Round the Island

Start TimeStart LocationFinishApprox. distance
8:30 amJudge’s BoxJudge’s Box6km (racing)

Instructions for competitors

Bow numbers and instructions will be available from MUBC from 7:30AM. You will need a $10 deposit.

The Round the Island race starts at the Judge’s Box downstream of the Henley landing, proceeds upstream, around Herring Island counterclockwise, and finishes at the Judge’s Box.

  1. Getting to the Start

Boat from the staging outside the Prices Bridge boatsheds, or row down from one of the clubs upstream. If you row down, you must be below the Judge’s Box well before your start time.

Once on the river, assemble in bow number order.

  1. Start

There will be a flying start, with the first boat away at 8:30 am. The starter at the Judge’s Box will call scullers by bow numberto start rowing and you will be timed from the moment you pass the Judge’s Box.

  1. Course and Bridge Arches

Scullers must take note that the river is NOT closed, and that there may be other crews or boats on the river during the race. Normal traffic rules apply, do not cut any corners. Generally you may use the south arches going upstream and the centre and north arches coming downstream.

Swan Street- South arch up, centre and north down

Morell (Anderson Street) – south up, centre down

Punt Road – South up, centre and north down

Rail Bridge (Cremorne)– Centre up, North down

Chapel Street– South up, North down (be careful of the litter trap immediately downstream of Chapel Street when going upstream)

There is a no overtaking zone between the Cremorne rail bridge and the Chapel Street Bridge in both directions. If you come up behind a slower sculler in this section, you mustnot pass them until you are through the next bridge. This section will have buoys marking the up and down lanes. You will be disqualified if you overtake in this section.

There will be a map available at the bow number collection point, but if you are in doubt ask for an explanation when you collect your bow number.

  1. The Island

The river is very shallow on the south side upstream of Chapel Street and before you get to the turn into the island loop, and also shallow on the inside of the bend around the island - where there is also a new jetty and a buoy sticking out as you exit the first corner.

  1. Finishing and returning to the landing

Once you have finished, proceed through the centre or north arch of Princes Bridge and turn around anticlockwise (to stroke side), so that you return upriver on the south side of the river.

  1. Overtaking

If a competitor boat is being overtaken by a faster boat, then the slower boat must yield the best racing line to the overtaking crew and warn the faster crew if they should alter their course. A crew is deemed to be overtaking if a faster crew has its bow ball within half a length of the stern of the slower crew. For safety reasons, the faster boat must be prudent and delay the act of passing if a pass cannot accomplished without incident. As above there must be no overtaking between the Cremorne rail and Chapel Street bridges.

  1. Disqualification

Scullers may be disqualified if they:
1) Pass another sculler between the Rail Bridge and Chapel Street bridge.

2) Use the wrong arch of any bridge.
3) Attempt to return upstream of Princes Bridge.
4) Ignore these or on course officials’ instructions.

  1. Bow Numbers

Bow numbers and sketch map can be collected from Melbourne University Boat Club after 7:30 am. A $10 deposit will be payable.

  1. Results

Results will be posted on the website late on Saturday.