Wellington Rowing Club eNewsletter

Logbook

There is currently a trial of an online logbook in progress for crews that row out of the Petone shed. The intention is to replace the paper logbooks at both sheds with the online version. This does require that people have a mobile that can access a web page. Coaches, please remember to try out the online version when rowing from the Petone shed and provide any feedback or improvement suggestions to clubcaptain@wellingtonrowing.org.nz.

Safety / Coach Boats

A grant is being pursued to purchase more PFDs and to fund the installation of navigation lights on our clubs safety boats. The need for navigation lights is a requirement from the audit of safety equipment performed by Rowing NZ late last year.

We are also looking at getting more beach trailers for the town shed and storing the road trailers in the Frank Kitts car park. This will mean less wear and tear on the road trailers (saving $$) and make things less cramped in the shed. One coach boat will be left on a road trailer in the shed to allow for easy transportation if required. The committee is also looking into what any future replacement coach boats may look like (eg. inflatable boat options, etc.)

Boats

As some of you have already observed, a 'new' second hand refurbed coxed quad/four is now in the shed. This was purchased using the insurance payout from Mahina which was written off in the wind incident last year. It will be based in the Petone shed and will be named Matairangi which means 'to examine the sky' and is also an old name for Mt Victoria.

The club will also take delivery of a new coxless quad/four this weekend in time for the North Island Rowing Championships. The purchase of this boat was made possible by a generous donation from an Alumni member, Russell Black. This boat will be named 'Full Bore'.

We are also looking to replace the wide double (Momona) and single (Metimeti) that were returned to Rowing NZ using a combination of funds raised by Learn to Row and grant funding.

A big thank you to Deidre Burke and the maintenance crew for the incredible structural repairs of the Kio- on top of keeping al of our boats in strong working order.

Shed

I have been made aware that there have been some thefts at waterfront businesses recently where people have walked in and walked off with stuff. A reminder to ensure that the front door is kept locked and the shed closed up when out on the water.

Billy Webb Challenge

This took place over Wellington Anniversary weekend and a number of crews from the club raced. Kudos to Max Newton and Tom Bone for placing 2nd on prognostic times racing . For results and other information about the event check out: Billy Webb Challenge.

New Club Truck

Our club truck has been a workhorse around the club but is starting to show its age. As it is imperative that the club maintain its ability to transport boats, riggers, rowers, and other equipment, we are needing to raise funds in order to purchase a replacement.

The new truck will be used by all members and is a critical component of our ability to attend regattas, camps, and training sessions.

Funds raised from the Boys in the Boat Movie night – This Wednesday, Jan 31st, 6PM, will go towards this purchase.

To purchase tickets for this event, please contact secretary@wellingtonrowing.org.nz Please plan to arrive before 6pm to leave yourself enough time to collect your tickets, view the exciting raffle and auction items, and purchase movie snacks from the Penthouse theatre in advance of the movie screening.

As part of this event, we have an exciting online auction. Bidding will start this Monday, January 29th at 10AM, and finish Saturday February 3rd at 9pm.

A sneak-peek of the auction can be found here:

https://www.32auctions.com/WRC_2024

You will have to register to bid- there is no cost. We have opted for the free version so that all the funds raised go to the club.

New auction items will be added in the upcoming days- we are still gratefully accepting any donations to the auction or raffle.

Please share this link with anyone you know who may be interested, even if they are not WRC members.

Happy bidding!

ICB Building

Those of us who have been rowing out of the Green Shed over the past 12 months, or travelling along the Esplanade at Petone, would have noticed the progress of the new ICB building on Honiana Te Puni Reserve. This is probably the most exciting development for rowing in Wellington for many decades.

Below are photos of what the exterior of the shed will look like, and a photo of what the interior looks like. There is no doubt this will be a leading facility in the country, and whilst some rowers may shed a quiet tear when the old Green Shed is demolished next month, we will all appreciate being able to row out of the new facilities. The facilities have cost

$3.15 m, of which WRA has contributed approximately $560k fully funded via grants.

The ICB (Integrated Club Building) will be handed over to the WRA at the end of January, and will be fully operational for the official opening and blessing on 24th February. All members will be invited to the official opening/blessing, which will also be attended by the Acting CEO of Rowing NZ and the Minister of Sport. After this date, our boats will be transferred from the Green Shed to the ICB, and the Green Shed will then be demolished (or relocated if another community body wants it). The WRA has also sought guidance from iwi and seeking their support regarding a culturally appropriate formal name for the building.

A WRA sub-committee has been working on how the ICB will operate across the WRC, Star and Petone rowing clubs. The key principle is to encourage more cooperation and interaction across the 3 rowing clubs, and this may include some sharing of boats, scratch races during training and mixing of crews to ensure that boats get on the water. There will also be formal user agreements covering H&S, incident reporting, management of facilities, use of shared equipment, member conduct, child protection, disputes resolution, cleaning and budgeting. An Operations Manager for the ICB will also be appointed to ensure smooth day-to-day operations.

The Wellington Water Ski Club will also have a bay for their use in the ICB, but will not be using it until their access ramps are completed.

Our Committee is working through which boats we will store out at the ICB, and we will call for your assistance in transferring boats, safety boats and equipment into the ICB after the official opening/blessing.

And finally, best of luck to all of our crews racing at the KR2 regatta this weekend!