Head of the Lake will be COVID-safe at Lake Wendouree next Friday

The schools have managed to secure a safe running of the event, albeit it with a crowd number restriction.

Ballarat Grammar Head of Rowing Sam Pullin said it's great to see it go ahead.

"It's just exciting to get a season, it's been such a distorted 12 months that to actually have them training and then to be able to do some racing and then actually say 'okay we're going to have a Head of the Lake', it's exciting," he said.

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Schools will be placed on the north-western area of the spit and will consist of student-athletes competing on the day, as there is a 110-person limit per school following the one person per two-square metres DHHS regulations.

Parents and supporters will be situated on the Loreto College side.

Members of these groups will be unable to cross-over.

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Spectators will be required to check in via QR Code and hand sanitise, and the school zones will have COVID-safe marshals and bathroom facilities.

A live stream will be published to all the families and students unable to attend on the day, once a map is finalised.

The limits mean, however, the fun and noise of the school 'spit crews' of non-competing student supporters are unlikely to take their normal positions.

The process has been worked through with the school principals, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) guidelines, the Education Department guidelines, Rowing Victoria's guidelines and working with the City of Ballarat.

Ballarat Grammar Headmaster and Ballarat Associated Schools Chief of Rowing Adam Heath said the event will run smoothly if those in attendance can follow DHHS regulations.

"What we're asking parents to do, family members and supporters is to come for their child's or family members race and then to go, so that we can have family members rotate through so that everyone has an opportunity to watch their child's race," he said.

The Loreto point area has a limit of 1500 people, so security guards will have clickers and once the area hits that mark, it will be one spectator out, one in.

Protocols have been put in place to ensure the event does not break DHHS regulations and risk being cancelled prior to racing or during the day.

Mr Heath said the event program will be reversed.

"We've reversed the regatta, we know from experience that crowds build throughout the regatta and if they build as they do normally towards the end, the regatta will not be able to proceed," he said.

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