Regatta Cancellations - Henley on Hunter & Newcastle Uni Pre-IV

In July, a major flood of the Hunter River deposited large quantities of mud and sand over the Berry Park regatta site. The flood also scoured out Endeavour’s beach, cutting back the boat launching area from 6 metres wide to 2 metres with a treacherous drop off at the edge making the beach unsafe to use. An excavator has recently completed cleaning up the flood deposits and recontouring the bank between the levee and the river. There is not yet any grass to hold it together.

Planning for the twin Henley-on-Hunter and Pre-IV regattas was dependent upon all crews using the HVGS beach. This could have been possible with good weather, but with heavy rain over the last 2 days and further rain expected this week, the bank is not stable enough to withstand the concentrated traffic of a regatta. The slope down to the river is slippery and unsafe.

After careful consideration of the safety of the site, Endeavour Rowing Club and Newcastle University Boat Club have made the decision to cancel the Henley-on-Hunter and Pre-IV regattas on 10^th and 11^th September.

Thank you to all those who had planned to attend these regattas – we are sorry for the cancellation.

Peter Bond
Regatta Scretary