THE Head of the Lake will return to its preferred Sunday fixture again this year, but the change is unlikely to remain permanent in the future.
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A vacancy in the Rowing Victoria schedule means Lake Wendouree is vacant for the traditional first weekend of March timeslot, allowing Ballarat Associated Schools to swoop.
The event was last year held on a Friday, with the lake unavailable due to the state titles being held over two days.
However, the titles will be held in Nagambie this year as part of a rotation policy between Ballarat and Nagambie, freeing up Lake Wendouree.
BAS executive officer Sharyn Canny said it was pleasing to be able to see Ballarat's biggest rowing event return to Sunday morning.
"Our priority has always been to have Head of the Lake on a Sunday morning," Canny said.
"We've always had a lot of success with the Sunday morning program when we can get it. It really does allow as many people as possible to get along and watch."
Despite gaining the Sunday fixture this year, it is unlikely BAS will be able to maintain it next year.
The state titles will return to Ballarat in 2016, meaning a separate timeslot will need to be sought.
"We might have to deal with the same issue again next year," Canny said.
"If I could lock it in on a Sunday every year I would do it for 10 years.
"But it would be a shame if we dug our heels in and said we are having this on a Sunday no matter what, at the detriment of Ballarat missing out on hosting the state titles."
The Head of the Lake will be held on Sunday March, 1, with the first race of the regatta to start 9am.
Ballarat High School broke a 14-year drought to take out the boys' title in a course record last year, with Ballarat and Clarendon College claiming the girls' event.
