South Island Masters’ 2023 Rowing Championships

Hosted by Picton Rowing Club Saturday 3^rd – Sunday 4^th June 2023

 The South Island Master’s Rowing Championships is an annual event held at alternating venues around the South Island. This year the event is being held in Picton over the Kings Birthday Weekend on 3^rd and 4^th June.

Competitor Numbers and Racing Programme

The event has attracted over 300 people, with 250 rowers competing from 17 rowing clubs around the country. Most people are expected to arrive on Friday afternoon and leave on Monday.

 Race Programme and event schedule

There will be a full programme of racing on both days, which means there is going to be a lot of water activity around the finish line at the Queen Charlotte Yacht Club and the race start for 1000m racing at Bobs Bay.

As such, the club would be extremely grateful if boaties and marine traffic could be mindful of the crews, and limit speed to minimise wash as much as possible up to the start at Bob’s Bay, as large wash is a serious hazard and can capsize crews. 

Saturday 3rd June
8am – Crews lining up for start of 8km race at QCYC.

8.30 am to 10am – 8 km long distance race.

11am to 4pm – 1000m Mixed Races

Sunday 4th June – 1000m age group racing
8am – 4pm – 1000m races

The racecourse and circulation plan of boats moving to and from the racecourse.

• The short distance course will have crews racing eight abreast on a 1000m course from Bob’s Bay to the finish at the yacht club. Races will be running every 5 minutes.
• The long-distance race will be a time trial from the Yacht Club to a 4km turnaround buoy at the small lighthouse at Picton Point, the far end of Karaka Bay. Total 8km return.

Boat launching and return.

On Saturday morning, crews will launch from Shelley Beach and assemble along the shoreline in front of Queen Charlotte Yacht Club ready to start the long-distance race for an 8.30 start. Crews will race from the yacht club to the Snout and back.

On Saturday afternoon and Sunday, crews will launch from Shelley Beach and make their way to the 1000m start at Bob’s Bay. A circulation pattern will be in place with racing crews finishing and rowing back into the southern end of Shelley beach, in an anticlockwise direction.

 Course Safety

• The harbour master will notify marine users that an event is on over the weekend in the bay.
• All rowers, safety boats and course umpires will attend a safety briefing on Saturday morning outlining the course, circulation pattern and emergency procedures.
• There will be seven safety boats spread across the course to manage crews rowing to the start and to umpire the racing crews, as well as two Coastguard boats.
• The event crew will be operating on Marine Channel 77 and listening on Channel 18.