Participant Agreement

The VSA insurance requires participants to read and agree to the Participation_agreement (or Waiver), see attached at bottom of this page below.  You agree to this by entering on-line.  You will no longer need to provide a signed hard copy.

You should also read the exemptions below granted by Parks Victoria so the series can go ahead:

PUBLIC NOTICE

DECLARATION OF BOATING ACTIVITY EXEMPTION

Parks Victoria as the declared waterway manager for the Yarra River upstream of the port waters of the Port of Melbourne, the Maribyrnong River upstream of Shepherds Bridge on Footscray Road and Albert Park Lake, makes the following declaration under section 203(3) of the Marine Safety Act 2010 (Vic).

For the purposes of boating activity conducted by Victorian Sculling Association, persons and vessels involved in the 2023 Winter Sculling Series are exempt from the following requirements:

State Rules made under the Marine Act 1988

1. Clause 2(a) – must not exceed 5 knots within 50 metres of a person in the water
2. Clause 2(c) – must not exceed 5 knots within 50 metres of another vessel
3. Clause 3(a) – must not exceed 5 knots within 50 metres of the water’s edge
4. Clause 3(b) – must not exceed 5 knots within 50 metres of a fixed or floating structure

Waterway Rules made under the Marine Safety Act 2010 / Marine Act 1988

5. Clause 3.1 of Schedule 3 – 5 knot speed restriction on waters of the Yarra River
6. Clause 4.1 of Schedule 4 – 5 knot speed restriction on waters of the Maribyrnong River
7. Clause 151.1 of Schedule 151 – 5 knot speed restriction for vessels with engines

Marine Safety Regulations 2012

8. Regulation 96(6) – Master requirement to carry PFD on vessel on inland waters for each person onboard
9. Regulation 100(3) – persons on vessels must wear a PFD of type specified at all times when underway on inland water

Subject to the conditions detailed below:

• • Masters of rescue vessels are only exempt from item 1 to 7 when undertaking a rescue operation to retrieve persons in distress, provide for their initial medical or other needs and deliver them to a place of safety on shore.
  • Masters of competing vessels are only exempt from items 2 to 6 when competing in the events.
  • Occupants of competing vessels are only exempt from items 8 & 9 when competing in the events and on condition that the ‘First Aid Requirements’ outlined in the Victorian Sculling Association Safety Management Plan is provided.
  • Rescue vessels must carry additional floatation devices to support persons that may be required to be rescued.
  • Occupants of powered vessels used in conjunction with the event must wear a personal flotation device at all times and vessels must have all prescribed safety equipment.
  • Certain Victorian Sculling Association powered vessels have approval from Parks Victoria to operate on the waters of Albert Park Lake as per clause 151.2(a) of Schedule 151 of the Notice under the Marine Act 1988.
  • The exemptions apply from 7:30am to 11:00am on the dates and locations specified in Table 1.
  • The exemptions apply provided the stated safety controls and undertakings detailed in the application form and associated documentation are adhered to.

Table 1: Winter Sculling Series 2023

By Order of Parks Victoria

Dated: 2023

Marine Safety Act 2010 Section 208(2)

NOTICE OF BOATING ACTIVITY EXCLUSION ZONE

Parks Victoria as the declared waterway manager for Yarra River upstream of the port waters of the Port of Melbourne hereby gives notice under section 208(2) of the Marine Safety Act 2010 (Vic) that all persons and vessels not registered to take part in the following Victorian Sculling Association 2023 Winter Sculling Series events are prohibited from entering and remaining in the following waters.

Saturday 17 June 2023 - The ‘John Whiting” Round the Island race:

Waters of the Yarra River between a diagonal line from the downstream edge of the VRA Landing to the upstream edge of Federation Wharf and Herring Island.

Saturday 19 August 2023 - Scullers’ Head of the Yarra:

Waters of the Yarra River between a diagonal line from the downstream edge of the VRA Landing to the upstream edge of Federation Wharf and the upstream edge of Hawthorn Bridge.

The exclusion zones will be in effect from 8:30am to 10:45am.

By Order of Parks Victoria

Dated: 2023.