Welcome to the official Saltwater Challenge website – Australia’s premier quad scull time trial event!

The Saltwater Challenge is held annually on the second Saturday of September (subject to confirmation by Rowing Victoria) on the picturesque Maribyrnong River. Quad sculls attest their endurance over the gruelling 4.5 km course, commencing upstream at the Tea Gardens Reserve near Canning Street Avondale Heights and finishing in the straight best viewed from upstairs at the Essendon Rowing Club.

The first Saltwater Challenge held in 2002 saw 21 entries and has grown every year since, with the 2007 event successfully piloting a morning and afternoon bracket format and attracting a record 70 entries! Recent years entries have included interstate crews, former Olympians, and a strong representation of rowers at all levels from across Victoria.

Each year our regatta is growing larger with a record attendance in 2009 of 86 crews.

Solidarity. Endurance. Determination. Are you up for the challenge?

For the really tough an additional challenge beckons… Could you survive the course twice in one day - competing in both the morning and the afternoon brackets?

Could you be the fastest crew for 2010?

Or will your crew take out the biggest winning margin?

To find out more please refer to the rest of our website, or contact us.