How the draw
is done
In 2007 HOY organisers piloted the idea of running the event by race categories. After a full review after the event it has been decided to continue to run the regatta in this way.
Race categories are run in order of notionally slower race categories concluding with the notionally fastest Open categories. The main objective is to have crew categories of relatively similar boat speed / competitiveness starting close together. Importantly, we wish to have the open categories starting last for all to see at the end of the regatta. But we also wish to have other genuine contenders for the HOY fastest time (ie B category and School A) starting as close together as possible – and therefore, under as similar race conditions as possible.
Within the race categories, seeding will occur. Therefore crews who have raced in the prior year, in the same race category, will be given "grid positions" within their race category based upon where they finished the year prior. Crews racing in a new category, or those who are new to Head of the Yarra, will then be randomly ordered after those crews given a "grid position".
Where there are more the 8 crews within a race category, a 5 minute break will apply after each 8 crews. A break will also be applied between race categories. The break between categories may vary slightly, based upon fastest and slowest times expected in those race categories, however an estimate of a 5 to 15 minutes break is expected. This is to minimise race categories catching up to other race categories.
The race is expected to be run in the following order (subject to change based upon fastest and slowest times in prior year of each category):
| Race Category | Break after catgeory |
| Men's Masters H+ (Handicaps Apply) | 15 minutes |
| Men's Masters E-G (Handicaps Apply) | 5 minutes |
| Women's Masters D+ (Handicaps Apply) | 10 minutes |
| Men's Masters D (Handicaps Apply) | 10 minutes |
| Women's Masters B & C (Handicaps Apply) | 15 minutes |
| Men's Masters B & C (Handicaps Apply) | 10 minutes |
| Mixed Eight (Handicaps Apply) | 15 minutes |
| Schoolboy D | 10 minutes |
| Schoolboy C | 10 minutes |
| Men's C | 5 minutes |
| Women's C | 15 minutes |
| Schoolboy B | 5 minutes |
| Schoolgirl B | 15 minutes |
| Schoolboy A | 5 minutes |
| Schoolgirl A | 10 minutes |
| Men's B | 5 minutes |
| Women's B | 10 minutes |
| Women's A | TBC |
| Men's A | |
| Total race time with 180 - 200 crews = 5 hours |
Additional information
For non school entries, where more entries within a race category exist from the one club than grid positions, names may be checked against last year's entries, to allow the crew with the greatest number of rerowers within the same category to take the grid position(s). Entries in Male and Female A, B, C and Masters entries are matched for 4 names or more compared to last year's crew in the first instance, or then given to the club, provided the same race category is entered.
A provisional draw will be available and published on our website shortly following close of entry. HOY management will then take corrections. We will not however swap crews around – ie move crews up the grid within their race category. Please ensure Masters ages are correct on ROMS as we will only accept the average age given to us through ROMS for each crew. A re-worked final draw will then be produced and placed on the HOY website.