Victorian Drag Boat Club. Australia's Fastest Boats

Parks Victoria as the declared waterway manager for the Patterson River, upstream of the Nepean Highway Bridge to Eumemmering Creek (including the National Water Sports Centre), makes the following declaration under section 203(3) of the Marine Safety Act 2010 (Vic).

For the purposes of boating activity conducted by the Victorian Drag Boat Club Inc (VDBC), persons and vessels involved in the Victorian Drag Boat Series 2026-27 are exempt from the following requirements:

State Rules made under the Marine Act 1988

1. Clause 2(a) – must not exceed 5 knots within 50 metres of a person in the water
2. Clause 2(c) – must not exceed 5 knots within 50 meters of another vessel
3. Clause 3(a) – must not exceed 5 knots within 50 metres of the water's edge
4. Clause 3(b) – must not exceed 5 knots within 50 metres of a fixed or floating structure

Marine Safety Regulations 2023

5. Regulations 61(5) & 62(1) – Master requirement to carry listed safety equipment on vessel on inland waters (bucket with lanyard, waterproof buoyant torch and paddle) and carry suitable portable fire extinguisher(s) on board.

Modification

For the purpose of boating activities conducted by Victorian Drag Boat Club (VDBC) involving enclosed cockpit and capsule vessel drivers, a lifejacket of a type described in Parts 2 to 5 of "Schedule 1 - Types of Lifejackets", of the Marine Safety Regulations 2023 (MSRs) is modified to include a lifejacket is deemed a Level 100 plus, Level 50 or Level 50S lifejacket if competitor complies with rule 9.8 of the current VDBC Official Racing Rule Book.

Subject to the conditions detailed below:

• Masters of vessels providing rescue services must ensure they comply with the gazetted waterway rules and Marine Safety Act 2010 in respect to minimum speed and distance requirements, unless otherwise undertaking a rescue operation to retrieve persons in distress, provide for their initial medical or other needs and deliver them to a place of safety on shore.
• Masters of rescue and support vessels are exempt from items 1 to 4 to enable course set-up, course testing, course pack-up, event operations, mock rescue exercises, and response activities associated with the safe and efficient conduct of the event.
• Masters of competing vessels are only exempt from items 2 to 5 when competing in the events, and item 2 applies only if within 50 metres of another competitor or competing vessel.
• Masters of competing enclosed cockpit and capsule vessels must wear suitable buoyancy and personal safety equipment that complies with item 6 modification and rule 9.8 of the current VDBC Official Racing Rule Book.
• All persons on other vessels, including course and rescue vessels involved with the event, must always wear a lifejacket (excluding rescue divers) and all course and rescue vessels must have all prescribed safety equipment.
• In the event of any incident that results in hospitalisation or fatality involving a person or vessel directly or indirectly involved in the event, these must be immediately reported to Victoria Police and Safe Transport Victoria. In the case of all other incidents, Safe Transport Victoria requires notification within seven days and a finalised incident report within 30 days.
• These exemptions are active for the times and dates detailed in Table 1 below, to persons and vessels registered to participate in the Victorian Drag Boat Racing Series 2026-27.
• The exemptions apply provided the stated safety controls and undertakings detailed in the application form, and associated documentation are adhered to.

*Drag boats are not permitted to start engines until 10:00am on Event days.

By order of Parks Victoria Dated: 11⁄11⁄2026

General admission is $10 per person, with children under 16 years of age free entry.

Gates open 9am, Racing starts around 10am.

For new boats that would like to be a part of this event, please have a look at our Membership & Race Day Information located in the menu links above.

Entrants MUST notify the club of their intention to race 7 days before the event!

2025⁄2026 Race Dates & Schedule is located in the Racing Info link in the menu above.

Please have your entries in ASAP with your VDBC Membership paid for 2026⁄2027, this is easier for the VDBC with time to get things organised

The National Water Sports Centre is located at 5 River End Rd, Bangholme VIC 3175.

GPS Coordinates: -38.05521,145.14767.