Life Jackets on all boats under 6m

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This is to advise – in case you haven’t already heard – that Waikato Regional Council adopted their new navigation safety bylaw yesterday.

The key change is that it is now compulsory to wear a PFD (lifejacket) in vessels 6 metres or less while underway, in the Waikato Region.

The area covered by Waikato Regional Council includes all of the Coromandel Peninsula and the Mercury Islands, Slipper Island etc.  This means, amongst other things, that whenever you go ashore in your dinghy, in this area, you will need to be WEARING (not just carrying) a lifejacket.

For any more information, please contact the Waikato Regional Council’s Navigation Safety team on 0800 800 401.

Powerboat Safety

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Powerboat Safety

Originally posted by Rachel Solon posted on May 08, 2013 16:58


Driving a Powerboat this Summer?
Here are 7 ways to stay safe… 

1 Get Trained
Appropriate training is probably the most effective investment in safety you can make. One and two day courses are run by ISA Training Centres all over the country all year round. See www.sailing.ie for details.

2 Wear A Lifejacket
Wear a lifejacket or buoyancy aid appropriate to the area you are 
operating and the activity you are taking part in.

3 Use A Killcord
Ensure that the driver of any powerboat uses a killcord or an engine cut out lanyard at all times and that it will turn the engine off if activated.

4 Mind Your Speed
Always proceed at a low speed when manoeuvring in the vicinity of any other water users. 

5 Watch Where You Are Going
Be aware of the dangers of allowing the driver of a powerboat to be distracted in any way while the boat is underway.

6 Watch That Propeller
Always ensure that your engine is turned off when in the vicinity of people in the water.

7 Be Prepared
Always ensure that your boat is adequately and appropriately manned,  equipped and that it is seaworthy. If you are not sure contact the RNLI for free “Advice on Board” www.rnli.org/adviceonboard.

A safety message from your national authority

Posted in: ISA News

Boatmaster courses

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Ours are tailored to suit you, because of this you can expect to enjoy getting high scores. But more than that you'll have fun learning more about the type of boating that interests you. If the class room isn't for you then we run practical courses covering the same info as Boatmaster, the majority of info delivered and learnt whilst actually driving a boat. Click here and ask for more info.. Peter@elementswatersports.co.nz These students all scored between 90 and 97%.

Doing all we can to help Boaties avoid incidents like this

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source - http://iwcp.co.uk/news/news/teenager-dies-in-boat-accident-45379.aspx

Teenager dies in boat accident

By Emily Pearce

Saturday, July 21, 2012

 

A 14-YEAR-OLD boy has died from his injuries after falling overboard from a boat and hitting the propeller.

 

The teenager was travelling to the Isle of Wight from Dorset on a small rigid inflatable hull boat (RHIB) on Friday, with his father and two school friends, also 14, when the accident happened just off the Needles.

One of his friends was taken to St Mary's Hospital, where he remains with serious injuries.

The boy's father and other friend were not injured.

The group are all from Surrey.

The Solent Coastguard launched a search and rescue operation shortly before 5pm in response to a 999 call.

The Yarmouth RNLI lifeboat and coastguard rescue helicopter, already airborne on an exercise, were called to the scene.

The boy was airlifted to Southampton General Hospital with life threatening injuries, where he later died.

Solent Coastguard watch manager Tony Wheeler said yesterday: "We understand two of the four people on board the RHIB fell into the water and sustained injuries from the propeller."

UPDATE 12.10 A statement issued by police today said: "Hampshire Constabulary is now in a position to confirm the death of a teenage boy who was injured on board a RHIB off the coast of The Needles on the Isle of Wight on Friday, July 20, 2012.

"The boy, aged 14 from Surrey, was pronounced dead at Southampton General Hospital. He had been airlifted from the boat by a Coastguard rescue helicopter.

"Immediate next-of-kin have been informed, but police will not be in a position to confirm the boy's name in the media until all formal identification procedures have been completed.

"The death is not being treated as suspicious. An initial post-mortem examination is due to take place in the next few days. Police will prepare a file for HM Coroner who has been informed. HM Coastguard has notified the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB)."

Senior investigating officer Det Insp Floyd Higginson of Hampshire Constabulary's Public Protection Department said: "Although the death is not being treated as suspicious, it is routine procedure for specialist detectives to make initial enquiries into the sudden death of someone aged under 18.

"We are providing support for the other three people on board the boat to help ensure their welfare, and to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the death.

"A second 14-year-old boy from Surrey received a serious injury, which was not life-threatening. He is receiving treatment at St Mary's Hospital on the Isle of Wight. An adult man and a third 14-year-old boy from Surrey were not injured.

"The RHIB was taken by Hampshire Constabulary's Marine Unit to Hamble from Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight on Friday, July 20, 2012 to be secured as evidence pending further enquiries.

"Police would like to thank HM Coastguard, the RNLI and the NHS for their considerable assistance during the response to this emergency."

"The Solent Coastguard, NHS and Hampshire Constabulary are working together to contact relatives and the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has been informed."

UPDATE 17.25 A second statement issued today by police said: "Hampshire Constabulary is now able to confirm more information about the circumstances surrounding the death of a 14-year-old boy after an incident on board a rigid hull inflatable boat off the coast of the Isle of Wight.

"The privately-owned boat was travelling from Dorset to the Isle of Wight with four people from Surrey on board.

"The four people were a 14-year-old boy, who later died, and his father, a man aged in his 50s, who was the driver and owner of the boat. Two other boys, both aged 14, who are school friends of the family."

 

 

Variety is the spice of what we do

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Hi, one of the things that makes running elements watersports so much fun is the variety. For example in the last few days I've been teaching powerboating and VHF from a super yacht in Auckland Harbour and then back in Tauranga getting a new sailor cruising up and down wind in an Omega dinghy from Kulim Park, Tauranga Harbour). This variety is not just good for us, it's often given as the reason for why students choose us, particularly on the more advanced or big group bookings. When run an activity we are also drawing on delivery methods and skills from other activities. In my experience the best seasoned instructors always have a random coaching qualification, gained to improve instructional technique/ diversity. In my case it's a basketball coach award, I can't say I've used it much on a court but it comes to mind every time I develop drills and brief groups for an activity.