Safe Boating an Essential Guide 2011

8/4/2019 Safe Boating an Essential Guide 2011

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An ESSEnTIAL GUIDE

2011


2/23

Welcome

Wecoe to the word of peasure boating.

This booket gives you essentia inforation you wi

need to know for an enjoyabe and safe tie on the

water sea, river or ake.

Keeping safe eans understanding the environent,

knowing the rues, having a the right equipent

and using penty of coon sense.

If you are a responsibe skipper

the water wi be a safer pace for a of us to enjoy.

SAFE BOATING

The inforation in this booket and ore safety tips,

aong with oca knowedge of any boating paces

is avaiabe free on DVD.

To order contact: recreationa.boating@aritienz.

govt.nz

Revised and reprinted February 2011

ISBN 978-0-908979-49 3

CONTENTS

GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT .......... 2Buying a boat ......................................................................2Skipper responsibility ..........................................................3Essential equipment ............................................................4Lie jackets and PFDs..........................................................6

VOYAGE PREPARATION......................... 8Marine weather ...................................................................8Sources o marine weather orecasts ..................................9Keep in touch ....................................................................10

OPERATING THE BOAT ........................11Launching and retrieving ...................................................11Starting out .......................................................................12Steering.............................................................................13Boat handling power crat ..............................................14

SAFETY ON THE WATER ................... 15Rules o the road on the water ........................................15Radio ................................................................................17Navigation .........................................................................18Charts ...............................................................................19Lights or small crat .........................................................20Buoys and beacons ..........................................................22River ba rs ..........................................................................24Emergencies .....................................................................25Distress signals in lie-threatening situations ......................28Preventing injuries on boats ..............................................30Boats and young children .................................................31

BOATING ACTIVITIES ............................32Water-skiing and towing ....................................................32Diving ................................................................................32Board sailing .....................................................................33

Jet boats ...........................................................................33Rowing dinghies and small sail boats ................................33Kayaks ..............................................................................34Personal water crat ..........................................................35

ENVIRONmENT ............................................36

TERmS USED IN BOATING............... 37

COASTGUARD BOATINGEDUCATION.....................................................38

FURTHER INFORmATION .................. 40

BOATING CHECKlIST ............................42


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GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT

Buying a Boat

Beore you buy your boat, think about the type oboating you want to do and understand your ownknowledge and experience. It is essential that youget a boat that matches your needs and capabilities.

Dnt fret t allw fr the cst f safet

eiment and the nin maintenance f

r bat. Mst calls fr assistance are the

reslt f mechanical failre.

Here are a ew points to consider when buying a boat:

whetheryouchooseaneworusedboat,buying

rom a Marine Industry Association (MIA) memberensures you will receive sound advice backed byan industry code o practice

anewboatshouldhaveaCPCCompliance

Plate, which is a saety certiication romCoastguard and MIA

nearlyallboatingfatalitiesoccurinboatsunder6m and involve swamping or capsize

ifyouarebuyingausedboat,getitstructurally

checked by a marine surveyor, boat builder orsimilar expert

getprofessionaladviceontheengine,mechanicalsystems and other itted equipment beore youbuy a used boat

joinalocalboatingclubandattendaCoastguard

Boating Education course no matter howexperienced you are, with changing tec hnologythere are many developments and updated

inormation that only a course will provide

makesureyouunderstandthe limitationsoftheboat you are looking at buying, what it is suitableor, whether it can handle rough water, or whether itshould only be used in calm c onditions

knowthemaximumnumberofpeopleyourboatis suitable or and the maximum load it can carry

boatsthatwillremainafloatevenwhenswamped

or ater a capsize will be much saer better still,try to make sure the buoyancy itted or includedin the design will ensure the boat will remain level,even i it remains inverted ater a capsize.

Skipper reSponSiBility

Safet is the siers first ririt. N

matter hw bi r small, ever bat has a

sier wh is resnsible fr the safet f

thse n bard, and that means manain

the riss f bein n the water.

Going out in any boat entails some risk. Ithose risks are properly managed there is verylittle danger, but i they are not addressed, thedanger to those on board is increased.

Understanding the risks is very important perhaps the greatest danger inherent in boatingis an accident that results in the crew suddenlyinding themselves in the water. Understandingthe bodys response to sudden immersion (coldwater shock) will reduce the tendency to panicand increase survival chances.

A sier wh ensres that thse n bard

are reared fr an neected accident

b wearin life jacets and carrin

effective cmmnicatin eiment

redces the ssibilit f a fatal accident

b at least 80%.

The skipper is legally responsible or the saetyo the boat and or all the people on board.

Even though no licence is required to operate apleasure boat in New Zealand, ignorance o anymaritime rules or bylaws is not accepted as an

excuse. Failure to comply can lead to ines orprosecution.

You should also encourage your crew andpassengers to take part in the operation o theboat to increase their knowledge and enjoyment.

I you are the skipper you must:

ensureyouhaveaboardthenecessary

equipment or the trip you intend to make

makesureeveryoneonboardknowswhat

saety equipment is carried, where it isstowed and how it works

haveonboardalifejacketorbuoyancyaidthat meets NZ Standard 5823:2005 (or hasotherwise been accepted by Maritime NZ), inthe right size and type or every person on theboat

itsalegalrequirementtowearlifejackets

at times f heihtened ris, sch as when

crssin bars r after drinin alchl.Ensre that children and nn-swimmers

alwas wear them

in many places, navigation saety bylawsrequire all persons to wear a lie jacket onboats under 6m unless the skipper has givenpermission to remove them due to low risk atthe time

alwaysoperateyourboatinawaythatdoes

not endanger people or property

neveroverloadyourboatwithpeopleor

equipment

makesureeverythingonboardisproperlystowed and secured

ensureeveryoneissittingsafelyandholdingon when in choppy seas or when travellingat speed

alwaysmaintainyourboat,itsmotor,

electrics and equipment and checkeverything beore you go out

getamarineweatherforecastbeforeyou

head out, listen or regular updates while youare out and remember to check the tides if in dbt dnt t

alwayscarrytwomeansforcommunicating

distress and, in boats under 6m, make sureat least one means is waterproo

reportanyaccidentsonthewatertoMaritimeNZ and the local harbourmaster within 48hours.

Fr maritime rles that al t batin

visit www.maritimenz.vt.nz.

managing the risks

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eSSential equipment

AnchorTo determine the right size or your boat, theanchor should weigh not less than 1.5kg permetre o boat length, with chain at least equalto the length o the boat. A non-loating ropewell secured to the boat should be as long as ispractical.

Bailing systemEven i you have an electric bilge pump, alwayscarry a bucket or bailer. It can also be used toput out ires and has many other uses.

NavigationIn all but the smallest o boats you will need achart. You will need a compass i you go morethan a mile or two rom shore. A GPS and adepth sounder are also very useul. Exactlywhat you carry will depend on the size andtype o your boat and how ar rom land yougo. Talk to Coastguard or Maritime NZ oradvice.

Communication equipmentThis includes distress beacons (EPIRB orPLB), VHF radio, lares, and cell phones.On any trip you need to carry tw means ocommunication and three means i you areover 2 miles rom shore.

Dont drown because you can not tell someoneyou need help. The number o lives lost couldbe reduced by 60% i a waterrf meansf cmmnicatin distress was carried on

all boats under 6m.

Throwing line

A loating line at least 12m in length with aloating weight at one end.

Knie

Has many uses keep it sharp.

Torch

Always carry a torch with spare batteries and bulb.Protective clothing

Carry adequate warm, protective clothing.

First aid kit

Your kit should contain enough supplies tocover minor accidents or injuries. Remember

to carry a remedy or sea sickness as well assun block.

Alternative power

A spare outboard motor, oars or paddles willhelp you manoeuvre the boat in the event o

a power ailure or i the wind dies away whilesailing.

Fire

extinguishers

I you have an engineor cooker on boardalways carry at leastone ire extinguisherthat is suitable or yourtype o boating. Knowhow to use it andensure it is servicedregularly.

Boat hook

As well as being used to pick up lines, buoysand objects in the water, your boat hook can beused or checking the depth o water, pushingo, or helping recover a person overboard.

Lie jackets

and PFDs

Maritime law requiresALL skippers to carryenough lie jacketso the right size andtype or everyone onboard. Wearing a lie

jacket is mandatoryat all times unless therisk is very low.

Rope

Always carry an extra length (or two) o rope, younever know when you might need to use it.

Radar relector

Assists other vessels to see small boats at night.

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life jacketS and pfdS

Always wear life jackets in boats less

than 6m. Only remove them if the skipper

determines that the risk is very low.

Over 70% of all those who drown when

boating could have avoided death simply

by wearing a life jacket.

You must carry a correctly sized, serviceable

lie jacket or buoyancy aid, which meets

NZ Standard 5823:2005 or another standard

accepted by Maritime NZ, or each person on

board. I not being worn they must be stowed so

that they are at hand and immediately available.

This rule applies to all boats, including tenders to

larger crat.

As the skipper, it is your legal responsibility

to ensure that lie jackets are worn in risky

situations, such as when crossing a bar, in

rough water and during an emergency. We

recommend that you wear a lie jacket at all

times when boating unless you are inside

an enclosed place such as a cabin. Most

accidents occur suddenly with no warning.

There may be no time to grab a lie jacket

unless it is close at hand. The only time they

need not be worn in a boat less than 6m is

when the risk is exceptionally low.

It is important to have the right type o lie jacket.Consider the type o boating you do, the distance

rom shore you intend to go, and the kind o

conditions you are likely to encounter.

Lie jackets provide more than lotation. They

allow a person in the water to keep still thereby

conserving energy and helping to avoid the

eects o cold on breathing and muscle

coordination. They also provide protection rom

injury in collisions or running aground.

Talk to your supplier or contact Water Saety

New Zealand, Maritime NZ or Coastguard

Boating Education or some expert advice.

Buoyancy vests

Designed or ease omovement i you areinvolved in activities likekayaking, sailing andwater skiing. While theymeet the legal standard,

they will not turn anunconscious personto a ace-up loatingposition in the water.

Inshore PFDs

Designed to keep youaloat until help arrives.In rough water these

jackets may ride upand a crotch strapis recommended,especially in childrenslie jackets. Ensure theyare the right type andit and are securelyastened.

Inlatable lie

jackets

Available in pull-to-inlate style or wateractivated. Suitable orall vessel relatedrecreational activitiesand ishing, they arevery comortable towear. They providethe same amount obuoyancy as openwaters jackets. The gas

cylinder in inlatable lie jackets needs to beinspected regularly or corrosion and it.

Open waters

lie jackets

With increasedbuoyancy, these willkeep you in a saeloating position inrough, open water.

Required or oshoreand commercialvessels. They are largeand not suited to everyday use.

Rescue buoys

Designed to help youstay aloat in the water,these include thingslike lie buoys, lie beltsand buoyant cushions.

They should be brightlycoloured and itted with

a light, whistle or lag or marking position inthe water.

Wetsuits

These provide warmth and a level o buoyancy.They are not an approved alternative to liejackets, unless worn by boardsailers and ondive boats within 5 miles o shore.

ONLY INFLATABLE AND OPEN WATERSJACKETS ARE DESIGNED TO TURN ANUNCONSCIOUS WEARER FACE-UP IN

THE WATER.

(personal floatation devices)

Crotch straps - prevent riding up

Even small waves cause lie jackets/PFDs toride up. A crotch strap is essential, especially inchildrens lie jackets. They are inexpensive tobuy and can be easily retro-itted to existing lie

jackets.

lOOK AFTER YOUR mATES, lOOK AFTER YOURSElF,

WEAR YOUR lIFE JACKET!

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marine Weather

Many fatal boating accidents occur in bad

weather. If in doubt, dont go out.

Plan ahead - used the 5 day marine orecast.

Always check the weather beore you go outboating. Weather conditions can make thedierence between an enjoyable day out and

a dangerous, perhaps tragic trip. Rememberthat the weather can change suddenly andwithout warning. At the irst sight o worseningweather head or shelter. Use the 5-dayoutlook to plan ahead.

Marine orecasts are almost always accuratewhen predicting major weather events, suchas gales. They can be less accurate whenpredicting local changes o conditions,so you should always be prepared orthe unexpected.

When the wind starts to blow, the waterbecomes very rough, ve ry quickly, especiallyon lakes and rivers. Forecasts are only thebest prediction at any given time.

Make sure you always use amarine weatherfrecast. Land and general orecasts do nottake into account wind speed over water, whichis double that over the land, or the sizeo waves. I you are planning ahead or intendto be away or a day or two, obtain a long-range weather orecast.

Coastal and local marine weather orecastsconsist o the ollowing parts:

WARNINGS

These are issued or gales, storms or squallsanywhere on the New Zealand coast. A strongwind advisory is issued in recreational areas ithe wind is expected to be over 25 knots (about40km/hr).

SITUATION

A description o the position and movementso highs, lows and rontal systems expected toaect the New Zealand coast within the next36 hours. It also names those areas aectedby warnings.

RECREATIONAL AREAS

Most boating areas are covered by therecreational marine orecast.

FORECAST DETAILS

A description, covering the next 24 hours oexpected average conditions over open water.

wind direction, such as north-west, isthe direction the wind is expected to comerom. Speed is given in knots, and 1 knot isapproximately 2km/hr. This is an average speed,so always expect that gusts may be 50% higher.

Also allow or unnelling between headlands,causing the wind speed to double.

sea a description o the waves ormed by thelocal wind.

swell caused by longer waves that comerom the ocean. Swells increase in height whenthey reach shallow water.

visibility given when visibility is expected tobe less than 6 miles (10km).

outlook all marine frecasts are fr t48 hrs, with the tl fr a frther 3

das.

WIND AND TIDE

When the wind is opposing the tide, e xpecta much rougher sea.

When the wind is with the tide, expect acalmer sea.

VOYAGE PREPARATION

The two most convenient sources o 5-daymarine orecasts are VHF radio and te lephone.

VHF radio Maritime NZ Maritime Radio provides

orecasts which are announced on Channel 16 at

0533, 0733, 1033, 1333, 1733 and 2133 hours.

SourceS of marine Weather

forecaStS

Brett 60Colville 61Plenty 62Portland 63Castlepoint 64Cook 65

Abel 66Conway 67Rangitata 68

Chalmers 69Foveaux 70Puysegur 71Milord 72Grey 73Stephens 74Raglan 75Kaipara 76Chatham Islands 78

MetPhone CoastalDial 0900 999 + map area number

Recreational Marine forecasts around NewZealand:

North Island

Bay o Islands Marine 0900 999 98 Auckland Marine 0900 999 99Coromandel Marine 0900 999 07Bay o Plenty Marine 0900 999 07Lake Rotorua 0900 999 18Lake Taupo 0900 999 13Hawkes Bay Marine 0900 999 06Kapiti Coast Marine 0900 999 17Mana Marine 0900 999 14Wellington Marine 0900 999 22

South Island

Christchurch Marine 0900 999 44

Legend

CoastalForecastAreas

RecreationalMarineForecast Areas

Brett 60Kaipara 76

Colville 61

Raglan 75

Portland 63

Stephens 74

Castlepoint 64

Conway 67

Grey 73

Rangitata 68

Milford 72

Chalmers 69

Foveaux 70

BayofIslands98

Auckland99

Coromandel07 BayofPlenty07

LakeRotorua18

LakeTaupo13 HawkeBay06

Kapiti17Mana04Wellington22

Christchurch44

Cook 66

Abel 65

ChathamIslands 78

Plenty 62

Puysegur 71

Dial 0900 999 followed by the two digit area code.e.g. Brett: 0900 999 60. Calls cost $1.30 per minute incl GST.

Marine Forecast Areas

MetPhone dial 0900 999 + map a rea number.

Other sources o marine orecasts include:

localCoastguardstationsonVHFradio

ontheinternet:www.metservice.co.nz

localnewspapers,butremembertheycanbe published many hours earlier, making

them out o date localradiostations,especiallyinsummer

onNationalRadioat0500hours

privatecoastalradiostationsandishermens radio.

NOWCASTING

Details o current wind strength and directionare available on VHF Channel 20, 21, 22, 23in most areas.

For further information or assistance,

please call the MetPhone helpline toll-free on:

0800 WEATHER (932 843)

Or write to MetService, PO Box 722,Wellington or visit their websitewww.metservice.co.nz

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keep in touch

If you cant contact us no one can rescue

you. The ability to communicate from your

boat or the water is vital!

Always carry at least TWO reliable forms

of emergency communication.

MARINE VHF RADIOA hand-held waterproo marine VHF radio isone o the cheapest and most reliable orms ocommunication currently available to boaties.Using a VHF radio means that other vessels inthe area will oten hear a distress message andbe the irst on the scene.

Every boat with a VHF radio should stay tuned toChannel 16 (the distress channel) while at sea, toprovide the best possible saety network or all.

Many boaties have a ixed VHF radio. I theradio or battery is swamped, it stops workinginstantly so a reliable alternative means ocommunication, such as a hand-held radio, isessential.

CELL PHONES

While not a suitable substitute or a hand-heldVHF radio, a cell phone can be useul. Keepit in a sealed plastic bag and in your pocketand conserve the battery or essentialcommunication.

Do not remove it rom the bag, the plastic will notaect its use and provides essential protectionrom moisture.

DISTRESS BEACONS

A distress beacon is one o the surest means

o signalling you need help in a n emergency.Registering your beacon is a legal requirementand making sure the registration details are up todate will mean that rescuers can quickly obtaininormation about your vessel and eliminate alsealerts. Having a GPS equipped beacon will resultin a quicker response and earlier rescue.

VISUAL COMMUNICATION

Flares and waterproo torches are very eective,widely recognised and should be carried by allboats.

SHARE YOUR PLANS

TRIP REPORTS

Use your VHF radio to ile a trip report withMaritime NZ radio or your local Coastguard,letting them know where you are going, howmany people on board and when you expect to

return. Dont orget to

cancel your trip reportwhen you return saely.

A good back up is the 2Minute Form. Fill out theorm and leave it with areliable riend or relativewho can raise the alarmi you do not return asplanned.

launching and retrieving

When you arrive at the boat ramp, park well outo the way o other boats as you prepare yourboat or launching and make inal saety checks.

Mae a checlist fr r bat, and se it!

Preparations include:

putinbungsandchecktheyaresecure

checkthatallyoursafetyequipmentisaboard and working

checkthatyouhaveenoughfuel

makesureyourradioisworking

briefyourcrewandpassengersrememberyou are responsible or their saety

moveawayslowlyfromtheramp,rememberthe 5 knot rule.

At the end o the day, retrieval is the reverseprocess. Remember to wash o all the salt romyour boat and put protective spray or greaseon your boats vulnerable parts.

OVERHEAD POWER LINES

It is extremely dangerous to pass under apower line when a vessels total height exceedsthat given or SAFE CLEARANCE as shown on

the marine chart o the area, because electricalarcing may occur.

When rigging yachts near launching rampsor at the beach, always check the area oroverhead wires beore you put the mast up andremember to keep a careul watch or powerwires over lakes, rivers and estuaries. Seriousburns to those aboard could occur i anycontact is made with power wires.

OPERATING THE BOAT

2 Minute Forms

are available free of

charge from Water

Safety New Zealand.

More information onemergency communicationscan be found on page 28.

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You must understand the operation o yourboat beore you head out on the water.

Remember, it is an ffence t erate

a bat in a manner that cases an

nnecessar ris t a ersn r rert.

Read the instruction manual and become

amiliar with starting and running your boat.

Some general points to remember:

withallmotors,makesuretheengineisin neutral beore starting (although somemodels can be started in gear)

withoutboards,makesurethehandpump

(uel bulb) is pumped up hard and the re areno uel leaks

sitdowninyourdinghyandmakesurethethrottle and choke are correctly set

beforepullingthemanualstartcord,ensure no-one is sitting where your elbowmay strike them

allowthemotortowarm-upandrun smoothly without choke beoreapplying power

ifyouhaveanelectricstart,makesureyou

understand how to use the warm up lever,and ensure the engine is properly warmedbeore leaving the trailer or berth

allboats,includingtenders,mustcarry

a correct size lie jacket or each person,and they will not work unless worn

when eratin an tbard eninealwas attach the initin ct-t crd

t r wrist r cli it t r life jacet.

Starting out Steering

Unlike a car, when you steer a boat it is thestern (back) that swings across when you turnthe wheel or move t he tiller.

You also have to allow or some slip sidewaysmade by the whole boat when you are steering,particularly at low speeds.

Pick a calm day to get comortable manoeuvringyour boat. Practise starting and stopping, turning,driving and picking things up out o the water.

Take your time to become competent andconident new skills take a while to master.Make sure your amily and regular crew developtheir skills too, in case you need them.

At all times make sure all your passengersare sitting comortably and holding on. Those

standing up can be thrown o balance easilyand it is important to operate the boat with theoptimum trim.

Stern swings

Side slip

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Boat handlingpoWer craft

You will almost certainly encounter a host odierent water conditions in your boat, eachwith its own peculiarities.

All these conditions have a varying eect onthe sae speed you can maintain and aectthe way you trim and steer.

Head seas

The waves are cmin directl tward r

bw (frnt).

Slicing through the waves is an option, providingthey are not huge. Adjust your speed to avoidwaves breaking over the bow. When crossingthe wake created by another boat, always tryto move with the bow at an acute angle to thewave ormation.

Following seas

The waves are behind and fllwin .

The boat will seem to be nose heavy. Vary the

throttle constantly to keep the nose up. Thebuild-up o a wave at the stern will give theeect o suring, and can adversely aect thesteering capabilities. Try to keep at right anglesto it and ride the crest and back o the wave.Dont get ahead o the wave or it may swampyou. I you do have to turn, do it while in thetrough between waves and do it quickly.

Beam seas

The wave frmatin is cmin frm r

side r beam.

Glide up each wave, moving rom wave troughto wave trough gently at a 45 degree angle.

Then slide down the other side, maintaining the

same angle. Slow down so that the boat doesnot become airborne.

Should you get caught in a larger sea thananticipated, re-adjust the weight in the boatto stabilise it. Put heavy things on the loor,securely stowed, keeping the centre o gravityas low as possible. Get your crew to sit on theloor o the boat.

I in doubt about the conditions, slow down.Come o the plane and try to keep the bow(ront) rom dipping. I you have bilge pumpsitted, make sure they work. Otherwise, havea securely astened bailer handy just in case.

I you take in a lot o water, try to keep the boatmoving. Once you stop it ca n be diicult to getgoing again.

SAFETY ON THE WATER

90% of boating accidents involve the

skipper not having enough boating

knowledge and experience.

It is the skippers responsibility to ensure saety,which includes knowing and understandingthe rules that a pply, beore heading out on the

water.If have an accident, inrance

f the law is nt acceted as an ecse.

Heav fines r risn sentences are

ssible fr breaches f maritime rles.

LOOKOUT

You must keep a good lookout at all t imes. It isyour responsibility to stay alert or other boats,swimmers, dive boats, kayaks, hazards andobstacles. Keep ocused on the water ahead,especially at speed. Listen as well as look.

SPEED

All boats must travel at a sae speed, takinginto account the amount o boat traic in thearea, weather conditions and when visibility isaected by glare.

Speciically, you must not exceed a speed o5 nts (a ast walking speed) i you are:

within200moftheshore

within200mofaboatdisplayingadiversflag

within50mofanyotherboat

within50mofapersonswimming

onapowerboatifanypersonhasanypart o their body outside the rails or edge othe deck.

Unless very closely supervised by an olderperson, who is in constant reach o thecontrols, you must be over the age o 15to operate any power boat that is capableo speed exceeding 10 knots. This includesdinghies and personal water crat.

alwas chec r wae effects you mustnot create a wake that causes unnecessarydanger to other boats or people.

WHEN TWO BOATS MEET

When two boats are approaching each other,one has the right o way and it is called thestand n boat.

The other boat is called theive wa boat. Theive wa boat must make an earl and bvis

manoeuvre so there can be no conusion.

The ive wa boat must pass astern o (behind)the stand n boat, while the stand n boatmaintains the same course and speed.

Ever boat that is vertain must give way.You are overtaking i you are approaching anotherboat anywhere in a 135 degree sector at its stern.

ruleS of the road on the Water

In channels and harbours:

everyboatmustkeeptothestarboard(right)side o any channel

insideaharbour(normallyshownonthe

pilotage limit on the chart) you must keep outo the way o any ship over 500 tons (which isabout 50m in length). Stay at least 500m clearwhen ahead o the ship

youmustnotanchorinachanneloranywhere

that could be dangerous to other crat

allsmallcraftmustkeepoutofthewayof

larger vessels that are restricted by the channel

stay200mawayfromtankers.

Remember can be fined r rsected

fr breain maritime rles

r blaws.

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When power meets sail or a boat

being rowed or paddled: thepowerboatgivesway(unlesstheother

boat is overtaking)

asailingboathastogivewaytoaspecial

case power boat, which displays certainlights or day shapes

sailingboatsshouldavoidsailinginanarrowchannel. They have to keep out o the way opower boats restricted by the channel.

When power meets power:

Remember, you can be ined or prosecuted or breaking maritime

rules or bylaws.

youmustgivewaytoanotherboatonyour

starboard (right).

ifyoumeetheadon,bothboatsmustturn

to starboard (right).

When sail meets sail:

whenthewindiscomingfromdifferentsides,the boat with the wind on the port (let) sidehas to give way.

When things go wrong:

ifthegivewayboatdoesnotappeartobegiving way, the stand on boat must takeaction. The stand on boat should turn tostarboard (right). I it turned to port it couldturn in to the path o the give way boat.

whenbothboatshavethewindonthesameside the windward (upwind) boat has to giveway

specialrulesmayapplybetweenyachts

competing in the same race.

VHF RADIO

RECEIVE frecasts and messaes and

CALL fr hel if needed

VHF radio oers group protection by allowingmany boats in the area to listen to calls. Indistress situations or when a boat breaks

down, VHF radio is the most eicient means ocommunication. The only signiicant limitation oVHF radio is that it will be useless i swamped bya wave or i the boats battery is underwater. Ahand-held VHF radio that is waterproo or keptin a sealed plastic bag can be used.

I you are considering using a c ellphone as yournl means o communication, remember theadvantages VHF radio has over your cellphone:

bettercoverageandfewershadowareas

collectivesafetywithbothshorestationsandother boats listening i you are in distressyou want everyone possible to know

batteriesinaVHFradiolastlonger

thereisnoneedtorememberphonenumbers

youarenotrelyingonjustonepersontopass on the message

cellphonecoveragevarieswiththearea,andthe volume o phone traic.

Everyone should keep a constant listeningwatch onVHF Channel 16, the internatinaldistress channel. However, a cell phone that isin a sealed plastic bag and kept in your pocketmay be a liesaver i you capsize suddenly,provided you are in an area where there iscoverage. Dial 111.

All operators o VHF radios must hold anoperators qualiication and need a call sign. Thisqualiication involves about six hours tuition.

To obtain a call sign, contac t CoastguardBoating Education on 0800 40 80 90 or detailson how to obtain a VHF qualiication and a callsign. Advise Coastguard Boating Education iyou are buying or selling a boat equipped with

VHF, or changing address.

I your boat capsizes or swamps, water willmake the VHF radio inoperable. Back up the

VHF radio by carrying a cellphone in a sealedplastic bag.

RULES FOR RADIO USE:

listen beore transmitting

dontmakeunnecessarycallsandkeepallcalls as brie as possible

dontallowchildrentoplaywiththeradio

alwas se the name f the bat are

callin first, then identif rself sin

r call sin and bat name

alwaysstowyourmicrophonecorrectlytoavoid accidental transmissions which will lockup the channel

useChannel16formakingyourinitialcall,

then move to an agreed working channel

foremergencies,stayonChannel16unlessyou are directed to another channel byMaritime NZ Maritime Radio or Coastguard

returntoChannel16whenyouhave

completed a call

whenmakingadistresscallyouarenotrequired to have an operators qualiicationand call sign.

Natinwide, Maritime NZ Maritime Radi

ees a 24 hr listenin watch n Channel16. There are als man vlnteer castal

and Castard statins eein a listenin

watch n Channel 16 and ther channels

lcall. Sme erate a 24 hr service.

radio

16 17


11/23

Navigation is knowing at all times where youare in relation to the land.

The level o skill and navigational equipmentrequired will depend on the type o boat you have,the areas where you go boating and how ar yougo rom shore. The urther rom shore you go, the

more knowledge and equipment you need.

Take a Coastguard Boating Education courseto help you learn about navigation.

Always keep an eye on the weather. It canchange very quickly with a sudden reductionin visibility. Finding that you ca n no longersee land is a very rightening experience. VHF

radio is the best source o up-to-date weatherinormation.

navigation

Tide inormation

You can ind high andlow water times inyour newspaper, inother marine tables,boating magazines,on Teletext and in theNew Zealand Nautical

Almanac available romLand Inormation NewZealand.

Global positioning

system GPS

GPS gives you an

accurate position, butto use it you will needto carry the correctchart and understandhow longitude andlatitude are marked.

The GPS also displaysother useul inormation,so make sure you haveread the manual andully understand it.

Compass

Necessary i you aregoing any distancerom shore, or havereduced visibility.

Depth inder

This displays the deptho the water and should

be switched on at alltimes. Keep an eye onyour depth inder soyou know when youare getting close toshallow water.

Chart

A chart shows things such as water depth, rocks above and below the water, underwater cables,tidal lows, buoys, beacons, lighthouses and the coastline. Make sure you have the largest scalechart o any area where you go boating.

chartS

Navigational aids:

CATCH FISH - NOT CABLESDont anchor or ish near cables marked on the chart. They are very easily damaged.

18 19


12/23

At night all boats are identiied by the patterno lights they display. This pattern o lightsalso helps you to know which way a boatis heading.

Allboatsmustcomplywiththeregulationsconcerning lighting. Check that the lightsitted to your boat are showing through thecorrect arc.

Lightsmustbeswitchedonfromsunsettosunrise and in rain and og.

Failuretodisplaythecorrectlightsmayresultin ines or prosecution.

There are the lihtin reirements fr all

vessels nderwa:

Powerboats over 12m

in length

This includes a sailing boat i it is operatingits engine. Display red and green sidelights, awhite sternlight and a white masthead light.

Powerboats less than 12m in

length

May combine their stern and masthead lightsto one all-round white light.

Powerboats less than 7m in

length and not capable o speeds

over 7 knots

Need only display an all-round white light.

lightS for Small craft

Sailing boats

Must show red and green sidelights and awhite sternlight. These three lights may becombined into a single tri-colour light mountedat the top o the mast on yachts less than20m in length.

Dinghies and kayaks

All non-powered boats under 7m in length,such as a rowing dinghy, canoe, kayak orsailboat must show a white light or torch to

indicate its presence.

Sailing boats motoring or

motor-sailing

Are considered to be powerboats and mustdisplay sidelights, a sternlight and a mastheadlight.

MASTHEAD LIGHT

Masthead lights shine orward in a 225 degreearc and must be at least 1m abovethe sidelights.

ANCHOR LIGHT

Every boat at anchor must show only a whitelight that is visible rom all directions betweensunset and sunrise.

RANGE OF LIGHTS

On boats up to 12m in length, white lights musthave a range o 2 miles and sidelights a rangeo 1 mile.

20 21


13/23

These are the road signs on the water.The meaning o each navigational buoy, orbeacon, is ound in its shape, symbol on thetop (topmark), and its colours.

Take time to study the buoys to amiliariseyoursel with their meanings.

CHANNEL MARKERS

These show well-established channels andindicate port (let) and starboard (right) sides othe channels. One o the ollowing may be used:

Lateral marks (red or green)

Port mark

A red can shape. At night, a red lashing light

may be shown.

Starboard mark

A green conical shape. At night, a greenlashing light may be shown.

Coming in

Upon entering a harbour, the red port markshould be kept on the boats port (let) side,and the green mark on the boats starboard(right) side.

Going out

When leaving a harbour, the red port markshould be kept on the boats starboard (right)side, and the green mark on the boats port(let) side.

Water-ski access lanes

Black and orange bands.

Reserved areas

Black and white bands.

BuoyS and BeaconS CARDINAL MARKS

Yellow and black

Each indicates where there is deep waterclose to a danger and they show this relativeto the compass, that is deep water is to thenorth o a north cardinal mark, to the easto an east cardinal mark.

Isolated danger red and black

Indicates an isolated danger, such as asubmerged rock and so tells you not to passtoo close. This mark is coloured black with oneor more horizontal red bands. I lit at night, itshows a group o two white lashes. The topmark has two black spheres.

Special marks yellow

Indicates a special area and that you shouldbeware. Coloured yellow and, i lit at night,shows a lashing yellow light. The top mark is asingle yellow cross. Check your chart to identiywhat is special in that area.

Underwater cable marks

These are indicated by a white triangle onthe oreshore. When in pairs, they indicatethe direction o the cable. Do not anchornear these cables. The skipper o a boat thatdamages a cable will be held responsible,with ines up to $100,000.

For further information, refer to the Maritime

NZ book, New Zealands System of Buoys

and Beacons.

North South East West

22 23


14/23

There are three types o bars along a typicalNew Zealand coastline: the dangerous bar,the very dangerous bar, and the excessivelydangerous bar.

The secret to understanding the techniques orcrossing a bar lies in gaining local knowledge.

This means understanding the state o thebar, being able to interpret the conditions,and assessing the ever-changing shape andlocation o the channel through the bar.

Beore you leave, talk to the locals, checkweather and tides, and inspect the bar at lowtide.

Secure all moveable objects in the boat andensure that weight, including your passengerload, is kept low down. Check that your engineand steering are perorming correctly. Makesure you and all your passengers a re wearinglie jackets. Remember, nt wearin a lifejacet when crssin a bar is an ffence.

Beore you cross the bar, warm up the motor,observe the state o the bar, secure all hatchesand approach with caution. Study the natureo the seas to ind the best route to take.

The best time to cross a bar is at high water.Avoid crossing when the tide is going out. Put in

a call on your VHF radio to the local Coastguard

or Maritime Radio immediatelybefre and after

crossing the bar.

Going out should be done slowly and

cautiously, picking up the rhythm o the waves,

seeing the opening and ollowing it. Once you

are on your way, dont turn back. Keep thebow (ront) o your boat directly into the waves.

Throttle back at the top o the wave, then get

ready or the next one.

Coming in involves preparing your boat and crew

the same as or going out. Keep the weight low

and at (towards the rear) in the boat to help avoid

digging in the bow and broaching (slewing round

sideways). It is much more diicult to read the

waves rom out at sea than ashore.

Wait until the conditions are suitable beore you

cross, or come ashore at a less dangerous place

i possible. Again, remember to call Coastguard

by VHF radio beore you attempt to cross.

Cross when the tide is coming in, keeping the

boat on the back o a wave. Be ready to either

slow down or accelerate as conditions dictate.

Remember t rert t Castard when

are safel acrss the bar.

river BarS

MoST SERIouS EMERgENCIES oCCuR

uNExpECTEDLy AND VERy quICkLy.

BEINg pREpARED MAy SAVE youR LIFE.

CAPSIZE

85% f batin fatalities in bats nder 6m

are the reslt f swamin r casize.

Almost always, a capsize is totally unexpectedand happens in a ew sec onds. There is nopossibility o grabbing anything other than whatis immediately to hand. Countless people have

died very soon ollowing a capsize beore helpreached them. Men on a ishing trip are themost likely casualties.

Being prepared means:

realisingthatanaccidentcanhappento

anyone, no matter how experienced theyare, or how sae their boat is

wearinglifejacketsinboatsunder6m.In larger boats, lie jackets must beimmediately accessible not stowed underseats

knowingwhetheryourboatwillsink,willloat with just the bow above water, or willloat level. Almost certainly, equipment suchas distress lares or a distress beacon willbe able to be retrieved rom a boat that isloating level, even i it is upside down. Manyaccidents have shown that equipment cannot

be retrieved i the boat loats bow up, evenor experienced swimmers or divers

understandingthatcoldwatershockcankill very quickly. Initial response to suddenunexpected immersion causes a number ochanges to a persons breathing and pulserate. Many people inhale water and drown,suer heart problems or panic. Without a lie

jacket many people do not survive the irstminute or two

ensuringyouhavethemeanstotellsomeone

you are in trouble once you are swimmingbeside a capsized boat. Unless sealed in aplastic bag, a VHF radio will not work aterimmersion, although some hand-held VHFradios are waterproo. Cell phones mayprovide the communication needed to savelives but only i sealed in a plastic bag. Theyshould be kept in a persons pocket orimmediate access. There is no loss o signalstrength i cell phones or VHF radios areused while in a bag

knowingthatredhand-heldflaresarethebest visual distress signal and can be usedby day or night. They work well in spite oimmersion. Orange smoke is a daytimesignal. Every boat should also carry apowerul waterproo torch.

Having equipment that is not able to be retrievedor will not work when wet is pointless. I yourboat loats bow up or sinks, ensuring saetyequipment is available will almost certainlyturn a capsize rom a atal accident into aninconvenience.

emergencieS

24 25


15/23

SINKING

If r bat starts tain in water, the

first thin t d is ensre everne n

bard has their life jacet n and that it is

rerl fastened.

Try to locate the cause o the leak and reducethe low o water by pushing something into thehole. Make a distress call and he ad towardsshallower water.

Bail the water out as best you can.Should the boat submerge or turn over,sta with the bat you have a much greaterchance o being ound. Never attempt to swimto shore unless you are wearing a lie jacket.

Accidental immersion

The irst reaction when suddenly entering coldwater is shock, with breathing diiculty andincreased heart rate, which can cause death ina ew minutes. Those who survive then rapidlylose heat rom the limbs, causing severe loss omuscle strength and inability to carry out simpletasks, such as putting on or manually inlating alie jacket or setting o a lare.

Wearing a lie jacket with a secure crotch strap(to prevent it riding up) will help you to survive thecold shock and will reduce loss o strength. It willalso remove the need to tread water or move thearms to keep aloat, thereby preserving warmthin the body.

A life jacet can redce the chance f death

b 70%, rvided there is means t smmn

hel.

Heat loss is greater in water than in air o thesame temperature.

I you are in the water with loating objects e.g.upturned boat, then raise as much o your torsoout o the water as possible.

For more on how to survive in cold water, visitwww.maritimenz.govt.nz

FIRE FIGHTING

In the event o a ire, remove one o theollowing:

fel turn o the gas or petrol supply, or

remove combustible material

heat by applying cold water

en smother the ire with CO2dry powder or oam, or cover with a ireblanket. When using an extinguisher, keeplow and aim at the base o the ire.

Prevention o ires

NEVER smoke while reuelling!

Ventilatetheboatthoroughlyafterrefuelling.Petrol and LPG vapours are heavier than airand will accumulate in the lowest areas wherethey may be ignited by a spark.

Removeallragsandmaterialsthathaveinlammable products on them, such as oily orturps-soaked rags.

Maintaintheelectricalsystemsonyourboatto prevent shortouts and sparks.

Fitasmokedetectorinthecabin.

Extinguishers Therearedifferenttypesoffire

extinguisher, each suited to aparticular type o ire. A dry powderextinguisher is a good generalpurpose type which will workwell on most ires. It needs to beshaken occasionally to prevent thepowder compacting.

Fireextinguishersshouldbekeptoutsidetheengine space in places where they can bereached rom the open deck or cockpit aterthe ire starts.

Ensureallonboardknowwheretheextinguishers are stowed and how touse them.

Protectfireextinguishersfromsaltsprayand the elements. and have them servicedregularly.

under n circmstances shld water

be sed n fel r electric fires.

PERSON OVERBOARD

The our basic things to remember when aperson goes overboard are:

SHouT very clearly MAN OVERBOARD so thateveryone on board is aware o the emergency.

THRoW a lie buoy, throwing line, cushion oranything else to hand that will help the person inthe water to loat, and mark the position.

WATCH the person in the water careully,have someone on the boat point continuouslyat the person. Record the position on GPS iyou have one.

STop immediately to keep the distancebetween the person in the water and the boatto a minimum.

Remember that when you turn, the stern(back) o the boat swings and the reore thepropeller swings when you alter course. Toavoid injury, turn the stern (back) o the boataway rom the person in the water.

Agree on, and practice, your personoverboard drill with all those on your boat, so

that everyone is aware o what to do in anemergency situation.

Person overboard is a distress situation.Do not hesitate to call mada on your VHFradio i you are unable to rescue the person inthe water immediately.

RECOVERY OF PERSON

OVERBOARD

Ensuring you are clear o the person in thewater, approach the person rom downwind(into the wind). Stop the engine when you arenear the person, so you can throw a line orthey can swim to you.

In small open boats and those with a lowreeboard, boarding should be over the boatsbow (ront) or stern (back). I your boat doesnthave a boarding ladder, use a rope to make aloop over the side or the person in the water toput their oot into.

REPORTING ACCIDENTS

On average there are 15 deaths in pleasureboats each year, most o which could have

been avoided.Understanding the reasons or boatingaccidents is an important unction o MaritimeNZ. They need your help in reporting accidents,so lessons learned can be shared with theboating community.

It is an oence i you do not report an accidentwithin 48 hours to Maritime NZ a nd, i theaccident is inshore, to the harbourmaster.

26 27


16/23

There are some important distress signalsyou need to know, i you ind yoursel in alie-threatening situation on the water.

use ne r mre f the fllwin:

RADIO

Use Channel 16 on your VHF radio to callMAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY. Give the nameo your boat and your call sign, then give yoursitin and details o your distress.

In an emergency situation you do not have tohave an operators qualiication to use a VHFradio. Make sure all your passengers knowhow to use the radio in case o emergency.

ARMS

I you have no other method, raising andlowering your arms repeatedly is a recognisedshort distance distress signal.

DISTRESS BEACONS

Switch on your beacon and the satellite willrelay your distress signal and position tothe Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand

(RCCNZ). Keep it switched on until help arrives.

Two types o distress beacon can be used onboats: EPIRBs (emergency position indicating

radio beacons) and PLBs (personal locaterbeacons). EPIRBs are speciically designedor marine use. Only 406MHz beacons aredetected by satellites.

Ensure your beacon registration is up todate and regularly check the expiry dateo the battery in your beacon, and replacebeore expiry. Call RCCNZ on 0800 406111 or email [email protected] to register your beacon. There is nocost to register your beacon but it is a legal

requirement

I you have activated yourbeacon inadvertently,phone RCCNZ on 0508472 269 immediately, or callMaritime Radio on Channel

16. There is no charge oran inadvertent beaconactivation i the reportis made as soon as theactivation is discovered.

diStreSS SignalS in

life-threatening SituationS

CELL PHONES

Call 111 and ask or the Police. Give yourposition, inormation about your em ergency, andcell phone number, so that you can be called iurther inormation is needed by rescue services.

Keep your cell phone in your pocket in asealed plastic bag or purpose-made waterproocontainer so it will not be useless in a capsizeor swamping. Keep the cell phone in a plasticbag when you use it.

Make sure the battery is always ully chargedand carry spare batteries. I you rely on yourcellphone or saety, conserve the battery.Do not use it or other calls.

Misse f an distress sinal can reslt

in sbstantial enalties.

VISUAL DISTRESS SIGNALS

LIGHTS

Send an SOS ( ... ... ) by any signalmethod such as a bright touch.

FLARES

Ensure that youand your crew know

how to use them. Regularlycheck the expiry date on your lares,and replace when expired.

There are three common types available.

Orange smoke lare

Eective as a line-o-sight distress signal ordaytime use only.

Red hand-held lare

Eective as a line-o-sight distress signal byday or night, with a good visibility range. Veryvisible rom aircrat, this lare burns or up to 60seconds.

Red parachute lare

Capable o attracting attention in daylight or upto 10 miles. Night time range is up to 40 miles.

The rocket launches the lare up to 300m. Thelare burns or 40 60 seconds as it slowly

descends under the parachute.

Always hold a lare outside the boat wheniring. Never ire into the wind alwaysdownwind, preerably at a 15 20 degreeangle o vertical.

In an emergency, ire one lare as soon asyou realise you are in distress. Keep otherlares until you need to attract the attentiono searchers.

Familiarise yoursel with the iring instructionson each type o lare beore you need touse them. You will not be able to read theinstructions in the dark.

28 29


17/23

As a responsible skipper:

beforesettingout,briefyourpassengersabout saety

alwaysapplythrottlechangesgently

avoidexcessivespeed,especiallywhen

conditions are rough

knowtherulesoftheroadatseasoyou

can avoid collisions

makesureyoukeeptheboatwell-balanced

when you stow gear

minimisetheamountofalcoholyoudrink

beore or during a trip.

To make your vessel a sae one:

ensureappropriatesafetyequipmentisonboard and in working condition

installhandrails

stowthingsawayproperlyavoidclutter

onyachtswatchoutfortheboom

haveeveryonewearlifejackets;theyhelpwith lotation and provide protection romchest injuries in collisions and groundings.

As a passenger:

wearalifejacket-youarelesslikelytoinhalewater in and accident or mishap

maintainyourbalanceonehandfortheboat, one hand or yoursel

gobackwardsdownladders

sitdowninroughweather

dontgooverboardwiththebooze.

Dont let your amily or mates become astatistic on the water.

For more inormation, check out

www.maritimenz.vt.nz

All the advice outlined in this sae boating guide is aimed at helping you enjoy sae, injury-reeboating. It could help you save a lie. Below are a ew important acts you should also know aboutinjuries on boats.

The people most likely to get injured on boats are male. The types o injury commonly sustainedare more severe than you might irst think injuries to the ace and jaw (teeth), broken bones,severe head injuries and burns.

The most common cause o injuries on board a boat is people losing their balance and allingover, or people colliding with one another or a hard object. Lung and brain injuries can result rominhaling water.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

preventing injurieS on BoatS

Children and boats are a great combination spending time out in the resh air, learningabout the world around them and having un.

As the skipper, you are responsible or all thoseon your boat, but children need extra careaboard the boat and around water.

Here are sme imrtant ints t cnsider,befre head t:

childrenandnon-swimmersshouldwearlifejackets at all times

alifejacketmustfitproperlyachildwillslipout o an adults size lie jacket in the water.Lie jackets itted with crotch straps areessential or children

useachildsafetyharnessforyoungchildren

when appropriate

teachchildrenaboutthedangersandrisks

when boating

workthroughanemergencyplanforall

those on board, thinking about situations likeperson overboard, capsize, running aground,ire and collision

dontgooutalonewithyoungchildren.Youneed to have another adult aboard who cancope i something happens to you

makesureeveryoneissittingsafelyand

holding on when travelling

alcoholaffectsjudgement,balanceandsurvival time in the water. With childrenon your boat, your alcohol consumptionwill aect their survival chances as well asyour own

anyonesupervisingyoungchildrenonthe

water must know how to swim and be

amiliar with water survival techniques theminimumageforbeinginchargeofa

power boat capable o 10 knots or moreis 15 years old. This includes PWCs anddinghies. Those under 15 are allowed tooperate the boat i an adult remains withinreach o controls.

Remember that children look to adults orexamples o appropriate behaviour. Wearyour lie jacket and they will wear theirs.

Teach children the pleasures and the riskso boating and they will have taken the irststep on the way to becoming responsibleskippers themselves.

I you plan to take children boating, it is yourresponsibility to ensure that they have theappropriate survival skills. Mae sre thelearn t swim and teach them boating skillsand survival techniques in the water.

Remember, when children can take part theylearn quickly and act responsibly. Encouragethem to have a go at tasks when appropriate.

BoatS and young children

3130 31


18/23

BOATING ACTIVITIES

Water-Skiing

and toWing

This incldes ridin sea biscits,

waebardin and twin anne.

Ittakesaminimumofthree people orwater-skiing one to ski, one to drive theboat and the third person, who must be at

least 10 years old, to keep an eye on theskier so the skipper can concentrate ondriving the boat saely.

Skiersarerequiredtowearanappropriate

buoyancy aid.

Avoidshallowwater.

Whenpickingupaskier,turntheboat

towards the side the skier is on, so that thepropeller swings away rom the skier.

The5knotruleappliesunlessyouareina

si access lane, where you can go right tothe beach at speed.

Youmustkeeptotheriht going in and outo an access lane.

Accesslanesaremarkedbypostspainted

with rane and blac bands.

Water-skiershavepriorityrightstouse

access lanes ahead o other users. I skiersare outside an access lane they must not go

within 200m o shore or a boat with a divelag. They must keep at least 50m rom othercrat or swimmers.

Youmustnotwater-skibetweensunsetand sunrise.

Iftheskierwearsbrightheadgear

the will be mre easil seen when in

the water. Liewise the twin bat

shld disla a red fla when anne

has fallen ff sis r a biscit, this

cmmnicates t ther baties that

there is a ersn in the water, tentiall

sme distance frm the twin bat.

Sail boards and kite boards are classiied in lawas sail boats, and are subject to all the normalsailing rules.

For saety reasons, they must not be used atspeeds over 5 knots within 200m o the beachor 50m o other boats or swimmers.

Unless wearing a wet suit, sail boarders andkite boarders are required to wear a lie jacketor buoyancy vest.

Additionally, wearing non skid ootwear, ahelmet and knee protection is advised.

Many board sailors have been blown out to seaater becoming exhausted, so avoid using sailboards or kite boards in oshore winds unlessyou are very proicient.

Always take a waterproo means o signallingor help in case o gea r ailure or injury.

Board Sailing

roWing dinghieS

and Small

Sail BoatS

No ormal rules o the road apply when thesetwo dierent types o boats meet, so courtesyand good seamanship is expected.

gd seamanshi sas: theboatthatisinthebestpositiontogive

way should do so. This will oten be t heaster or more manoeuvrable boat

itisveryimportantthatanearlyandobvious

change is made so that the other boat isable to respond appropriately

powerboatsgivewaytorowingandsailingboats

lifejacketsshouldbewornatalltimes

fitbuoyancytoalldinghiesandsmallsailboats.

jet BoatS

Jet boats operate mainly on shallow rivers.In addition to the normal boating rules, in riversboats heading upstream must keep out o theway o boats going downstream.

Check with the local council or permittedspeeds in rivers.

diving

It is a legal requirement tha t a divers lag isdisplayed. It must be able to be seen andreadily identiied rom 200m away. The minimumlegal lag size is 600mm high by at least 600mmlong. It must be clearly visible even when thereis no wind. Either a watch keeper let on thedive boat must wave the lag so that it canbe seen when any vessel is approaching, or athree dimensional rigid mounted lag must bedisplayed i no watch keeper stays on board.

The divers lag means a diver is in the water,so keep well clear and move at a slow speed.

Divers sometimes drit away rom their supportboat, so expect them to be well away rom theboat. Maintain at least 200m distance rom thelag or keep your speed down to under 5 knots.

A divers head is hard to see in the water orthey may be just below the surace.

Remember t DiveSafe:

alwaysdivewithabuddy

getprofessionalinstruction

maintainyourequipment

takearefreshercourse.

32 33


19/23

kayakS

BE SAFE BE SEEN

Kayaks are common on lakes, rivers andaround the coast. Used properly, theyare very sae, but their limitations need tobe understood.

Whenkayakinginareasusedbyothercraft,

make sure you will be seen. A kayak can bealmost invisible to skippers o other crat.Wearing bright clothing, having brightlycoloured paddle blades with relector strips,and displaying a bright orange or red lagabout a metre above the water on a rod willgreatly reduce the chance o being run downaccidentally.

Onlyexperienced,fitpaddlersshouldusea kayak in rough water.

Kayakstendtofloatontopofthewaterand can be diicult or impossible to controlin strong winds, unless handled by anexpert paddler.

Kayakscaneasilycapsize.Itisessentialtohave buoyancy itted to make sure it stayslevel so it can be re-boarded.

Gettinginandoutsafelyrequiresmuchpractice, especially in deep water, where youalways need a paddle loat.

Alwayswearabuoyancy-vestorlifejacketdesigned or kayaking.

Makesureyoudonotbecomeseparatedrom your kayak ollowing a capsize.

Kayaks,especiallythesit-onstyle,blow

rapidly across the water in a light breeze.

Betweensunsetandsunriseakayakmust

display a white light. It can be a 360 ixedwhite light or a torch, but a lashing light orstrobe is not acceptable (strobe lights areused to mark a man overboard). The whitelight should be bright enough to be seen2 miles (about 4km) away. Colours otherthan white are not allowed.

GettuitionatakayakingcluboratCoastguard Boating Educationphone 0800 40 80 90.

Watch the kaa mdle nline atwww.cbes.r.nz

These motor crat are very popular at beachesand on our water ways during the summer.

They give us quick and easy access to thewater, with the thrills o high-speed boating.

With the thrills come the dangers. Followthe guidelines listed below and ensure your

experiences on your PWC are sae andenjoyable or yoursel as well as others.

Remember, a PWC is considered awer batin law, and the relevant rules apply to its use.

Keep your distance rom other PWCs collisions at speed are very dangerous.

Unless itted with the required navigation lights(page 20) a PWC must not be used betweensunset and sunrise.

Wear a lie jacket

Itismandatorytowearalifejacket

WatchthePWCmoduleonlineat

www.cbes.r.nz

Obey speed limits

kee t 5 nts (9.25m/hr) r less within: 200mofshore

200mofvesselsflyingadiveflag

50m o another person in the water

50mofanothervessel,includingotherPWCs.

Know the age limit

As a PWC is a power boat, you must be15 years or older to operate one.

Noise annoys

Keep away rom residences or areas wherepeople will be annoyed by noise.

Dont drink and drive

Alcohol and PWCs dont mix.

Know how to swim

Be a survival swimmer.

Turn saely

Apply throttle to turn. When you throttle ocompletely, you lose steering control.

Education is the key

Get more out o your PWC ta ke a CoastguardBoating Education Course.Phone 0800 40 80 90.

Check local bylaws

Check with your regional council regardingbylaws, which may restrict areas or PWC useor reserve special places or their use. Somecouncils require registration o PWCs.

Watch out or swimmers!

perSonal Water craft

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The water is our playground, sports arena,holiday spot and a great source o ood. Marinepollution law requires that we respect andcare or the marine environment to ensure it issustained or our children and grandchildren.Remember, you can be ined or prosecuted oroences.

Here are a few simle idelines:

never dispose o plastic or synthetic ishinggear overboard, no matter where you are

takecans,bottles,paperandotherrubbish

back to shore with you

minimalamountsoffoodscraps,cutupvery

small, may be thrown overboard as ar out tosea as possible, but must be at least 3 milesrom shore

untreatedsewagemustnotbedischarged

into the sea within 500m o the high watermark, within 500m o a marine arm, or inwater less than 5m deep

donotdischargeproperly-treatedsewage

within 500m o a marine arm

fishermenmuststicktotherulesregardingsize and limit o catches and must not ish inprohibited areas

keepwellclearofunderwatercables,which

are clearly marked on charts. There areheavy penalties or damaging a cable whileanchoring or ishing

youmustnotanchorwhereyoucould

damage another boat

takegreatcaretoavoidspillagewhenreuelling your boat use a sorbent padaround the uel inlet

ifyouseeanoilspillinourcoastalwaters,

report it immediately to the local authorityor council

remember,youcanbefinedorprosecutedor oences

donotcreateawakethatcancauseinjuryor

damage it is an oence.

For more inormation visitwww.cleanboating.org.nz

environment termS uSed in Boating

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Coastguard Boating Education isNew Zealands leading provider o recreationalboating courses. There are courses or alllevels o knowledge and ability.

Core courses are delivered throughout thecountry. Specialty and practical courses are

available at selected venues. Course studyoptions include correspondence, tutorials,CD Rom or home study. Course durationtimes are indicated.

For more inormation, including a courseschedule, contact Coastguard BoatingEducation:

phne: 09 361 4700

Free hne: 0800 40 80 90

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.cbes.r.nz

CORE COURSES

Day Skipper (15 hours)

An introductory course or all members o theamily or crew, including those new to boating.

Applies to all vessels including yachts,launches, power boats, jet skis, sea kayaks,and waka.

Boatmaster (30 hours)

A comprehensive course or boaties withsome existing knowledge and experience.

Applies to a range o vessels including yachts,launches, and power boats.

Marine VHF Radio Operators

Qualifcation (6 hours)

A requirement or all users o marine VHFradio. Marine VHF call signs are also availablerom Coastguard Boating Education.

SPECIALTY COURSES

Coastal Skipper (55 hours)

An advanced course covering coastalnavigation, weather, passage planning, andseamanship, relevant to those wanting toundertake coastal voyages.

Ocean Yachtmaster (72 hours)

An advanced course covering ocean navigationand passage making, or skippers and crewintending to race oshore or cruise overseas.

Radar (6 hours)

A comprehensive course to help youunderstand and saely operate the radar seton your vessel.

GPS Operator (6 hours)

Covering all principles and limitations,including use o chart plotters and techniquesor more complex navigation tasks.

Race Medic (6 hours)

An essential course covering basic liesaving skills.

Coastal Medic (16 hours)

An intermediate course to manage trauma orup to 24 hours. (Recognised by Maritime NZor commercial qualifcations.)

Oshore Medic (16 hours)

An advanced course to manage trauma andmedical emergencies oshore, where medicalassistance is not available.

Outboard Engine Maintenance(6 hours)

An essential course covering outboard careand trouble shooting.

coaStguard Boating educationInboard Engine Maintenance(15 hours)

A comprehensive course covering dieselengine care, maintenance, and ault fnding.

Basic Sea Survival (4 hours)

An essential classroom-based course coveringsea survival techniques and equipment.

Advanced Sea Survival (16 hours)

A two-day course required by crew competingin oshore races (Category 1). Recognised by

Yachting NZ and ISAF.

Club Saety Boat Operator (8 hours)

A practical on-water training course oroperators o yacht club saety boats.

Sea Kayak (2 hours)

A short course covering sea kayaks,equipment, communication, emergencies,planning, weather, rules, and navigation.

Kayak and PWC Modules

eLearning online or Kayaking and PWCoperations.

Maritime Restricted Radio

Operator (ormally RRTOC)

A legal requirement or commercial operatorsand users o HF/SSB radio.

PRACTICAL COURSES

(In association with the Royal Yachting

Association)

Introductory through to advanced practicalcourses specifc to:

wer batin (runabouts, RIBs [rigidinlatable boats], and other outboard-drivencrat)

sail crisin (keelers and multihulls)

mtr crisin (launches) pWC (personal water crat).

RYA/MCA Certificates of Competence

(Sail or Power) and commercial endorsements

are available.

SCHOOL PROGRAMMES

Sae Boating Programme

A teaching and learning resource designedor year 5 8 students, which links to theHealth and PE, Science, Technology andEnglish curricula. The programme providespreparation or EOTC boating experiencessuch as kayaking, yachting and powerboating. Free to download romwww.cbes.org.nz (school programmes).

Day Skipper Experience

A hal-day practical experience orintermediate and secondary school students,

to discover the thrill o crewing a vessel andlearn essential boating saety.

38 39


22/23

This booklet has outlined some o theimportant areas you need to know aboutas a responsible skipper.

Fr mre infrmatin:

readSafety in Small Craft and The Rules ofthe Road at Sea, published by Coastguard

Boating Education joinaboatingoryachtclubandgetsome

local knowledge and saety inormation

makesureyouhavemarinechartsand

boating guides or your area

takeaCoastguardBoatingEducationcourse

checklocalbylaws.

Fr infrmatin n crses r fr

VHF radi call sins and chanes t

VHF details cntact:

Castard Batin Edcatin

P O Box 91 322, AucklandPh 09 361 4700 or 0800 40 80 90Fax 09 376 4775Email [email protected] www.cbes.org.nz

Fr batin and eneral water safet

infrmatin cntact:

Water Safet New Zealand

P O Box 10 126, WellingtonPh 04 801 9600Fax 04 801 9599

Email [email protected] www.watersaety.org.nz

Fr batin safet infrmatin and

rertin accidents:

Maritime New Zealand

P O Box 27 006, WellingtonPh 04 473 0111 or 0508 22 55 22Fax 04 494 1263Email [email protected] www.maritimenz.govt.nz

Free safe batin DVD the rules, adviceand local knowledge. [email protected]

further information

OTHER INFORMATION

Accident Cmensatin Crratin

Website www.acc.co.nz

Discver Batin

Website www.discoverboating.co.nz

Jet Batin New Zealand

P O Box 339, ChristchurchPh 03 942 3190Fax 03 942 4901Email [email protected] www.jbnz.co.nz

kiwi Assciatin f Sea kaaers (kASk)

P O Box 23, Runanga, West Coast 7841Email [email protected] www.kask.co.nz

NZ. Marine

(Marine Indstr Assciatin)

P O Box 90 448, AucklandPh 09 360 0056 or 0800 600 242Fax 09 360 0019

Email [email protected] www.nzmarine.com

New Zealand Jet Srts Batin Assciatin

P O Box 80 154, Green Bay, AucklandPh/Fax 09 478 0908Email [email protected] www.nzjetsport.co.nz

Whitewater NZ

P O Box 284, WellingtonPh 027 209 6101Email [email protected] www.rivers.org.nz

New Zealand Trailer Bat Federatin

16E Sarawia Street, Newmarket, AucklandPh 09 523 3265Fax 09 914 0055Email [email protected] www.nztb.org.nz

New Zealand underwater Assciatin

P O Box 875 AucklandPh 09 623 3252Fax 09 623 3523Email [email protected] www.nzunderwater.org.nz

Na Waa Federatin

P O Box 9570, WellingtonPh 04 801 7914Fax 04 801 9412Email [email protected] www.maoriart.org.nz

Castard New Zealand

P O Box 91 322, AucklandPh 09 489 1510Fax 09 489 1506Email [email protected] www.nzcoastguard.org.nz

Sea kaa oeratrs Assciatin f

New Zealand (SkoANZ)

P O Box 195, PictonPh/Fax 03 573 6078Email [email protected] www.skoanz.org.nz

yachtin New Zealand

P O Box 91 209, AMSC, AucklandPh 09 361 1471Fax 09 360 2246Email [email protected] www.yachtingnz.org.nz

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23/23

BOATINGCHECKLIST

Check the marine orecast

and tides beore leaving.

Take two means o reliable

communication that work

even when wet.

Wear the right size

and type o lie jacket.

Avoid alcohol.

Be a responsible skipper

complete a Coastguard

Boating Education course.

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Safe Boating an Essential Guide 2011

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