With the state government imposing a cap of 20 people on outdoor gatherings, the Head of the Lake's usual crowd of hundreds of students and parents will be forced to watch on from home.

While the event was expected to take place Friday afternoon while parents were at work and students were in class, the weather threw a spanner in the works with anticipated 40km/h winds causing the event to be postponed until Sunday morning.

Rowing Victoria guidelines mandate that regattas cannot take place in winds exceeding 30km/h.

The City of Ballarat announced Thursday that the lake would now be open to the public on Friday afternoon, but closed to all 'non-approved Rowing Victoria vessels' from 6am to 2pm on Sunday.

In a letter sent to parents, Ballarat Associated Schools Rowing chair and Ballarat Grammar headmaster Adam Heath asked parents, families and supporters to not attend the regatta.

IN OTHER NEWS:

Mr Heath said the Department of Health and Human Services could potentially shut the event down if spectators were to attend.

"In rescheduling the event, it was done at a time when government guidelines were not clear and we determined that it was not going to be possible to meet the COVID-safe guidelines for the event so we've proceeded with no spectators to meet all the guidelines required," he said.

"We want it to proceed so we've had to be very careful with spectators to ensure it can proceed and we don't have the DHHS asking us to stop.

"We'll have security guards and council intends to fence off the Spit and Loretto Point areas but we're asking the community to help us out and support the rowers by watching the livestream."

Mr Heath said the stream of the event, available on thecourier.com.au or YouTube, would feature three course-mounted cameras and boat-mounted camera from the one-kilometre mark.

"The coverage will be excellent and we expect it to be a really good capture of the event," he said.

"Our community, first and foremost, want the opportunity for the students to row, understand there will be heightened restrictions and are accepting of that.

"People are naturally disappointed but we have to do everything we can to get our rowers through their big event of the season, which is the Head of the Lake."

EARLIER: The Head of the Lake regatta will no longer be held tomorrow.

Instead, the event will take place on Sunday, February 21, with all spectators banned from attending the event.

Stern warnings have been issued that if people do attend, it could be closed down by the Department of Health and Human Services.

Chair of Ballarat Associated School's Rowing and Ballarat Grammar Headmaster Adam Heath sent out a notification to parents on Thursday afternoon.

In line with Rowing Victoria guidelines, Ballarat Associated School's cannot compete with wind strength exceeding 30km/h.

Due to Friday's forecast expected to be above this limit for more than half of the regatta, the day has been re-scheduled for Sunday, with racing to begin at 9am.

READ MORE ROWING:

In the updated permit from Rowing Victoria, spectators are prohibited and are asked to view the regatta from home to follow the Victorian Government limit of 20 people at outdoor gatherings.

The race will instead be livestreamed on YouTube and thecourier.com.au.

If spectators attend the regatta, it is anticipated the Department of Health and Human Services will shut down the regatta and prevent the rowers from being able to compete.

Heath said the main focus was to get the rowers down the course, albeit in different circumstances to a traditional Head of the Lake.

"We remain committed to providing an event which is the highlight of the rowing calendar for our student athletes," he said.

"Whilst the 2021 Head of the Lake will be very different, our school communities remain grateful that we are at least able to provide this opportunity for our rowers to enjoy and showcase all of their hard work and training."

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