kayaking the pacific islands. - Canoe & Kayak

Help Coastguard make your
boating safer. by Don Scandrett
Coastguard’s primary role is to save lives at sea. To do
this it provides Coastguard Rescue Vessels, Air Patrols
and fully trained volunteers who can respond quickly to
incidents, Coastguard also has an extensive communications
infrastructure to make boating safer. Kayakers, probably
more than other sailors, are aware of how to be safe when
on the water, but here are some key reminders.
• Make sure your kayak can be seen. The Auckland Regional Council’s
new bylaw about visibility has highlighted this issue, and it really makes
good sense to make sure that you and your kayak are visible, At sea,
everyone must follow the Rules of the Road, and keep a proper look
out for other craft, but that won’t stop all accidents happening. Make
yourself more visible and you reduce the risk of not being seen. At
night display an all round white light which can be seen from a distance.
Good waterproof, pole mounted lights, specially designed for kayaks,
are available. You might be able to see where other people are at night,
but can they see you
• Know the conditions. Conditions on the water can change quickly
with the time of day, the tide and the weather. You may be familiar
with part of the coast during the day, but can you say the same thing
at night An offshore wind against the tide is particularly dangerous
for kayaks. Coastguard runs a network of Nowcasting automatic wind
stations throughout New Zealand which measure the average and peak
wind speeds and direction. This is broadcast continuously throughout
the day, along with other tide and weather forecasts, on marine VHF
channels such as Channel 21 for the inner Hauraki Gulf. The service is
also available by text message.
• Let people know where you are going. It is a good idea to let people
know where you are going and when your plan changes. Many kayakers
carry waterproof handheld VHF radios these days and lodge a trip report
with Coastguard prior to leaving. When you intend kayaking through a
particularly difficult stretch of water, Coastguard can maintain a SAR
watch over you. You make a trip report and if you have not reported back
by the predetermined time, Coastguard will provide assistance.
• Carry at least two communication devices. Coastguard, or anybody
else, can’t help you if they don’t know where you are. You should carry
at least two forms of communication devices so if one doesn’t work,
you have a back up.
By far the best form of communication is a VHF radio. A cell phone
is the next best. Make sure it is in a waterproof bag and the battery
is fully charged. In most cases cell phone reception is pretty good, but
there are places where reception is difficult. In an emergency Flares
are easily recognisable. To be of use you have to have them onboard,
know how to use them and be able to reach them easily. At night you
need a waterproof torch with batteries up to the job.
To find more out about Coastguard visit www.coastguard.org.nz.
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