kayaking the pacific islands. - Canoe & Kayak

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New By-laws now in force on the Waitemata & Manukau Harbours. – by James Fitness The ARC (Auckland Regional Council) have bought in a number of law changes which affect all boaties in the Auckland & Manukau waterways from the 1 st July 2008. The changes that affect kayakers are Clauses 2.14 & 2.17. (See clauses on page 21)The clause on naming your vessel is not a major issue, put your name and contact number on your kayak and you comply. Fairly sensible really and helps recover stolen kayaks. (I never got mine back!) The clause that has caused uproar is 2.17. The worrying thing here is that the ARC took recommendations from John Dilley, the Auckland Harbourmaster, that no changes to the law regarding kayakers were required. They then put out public notices to a large data base (5 x A3 page contact list) on which there was only one kayaking organisation. As this law affects us so much, surely more kayakers should have been contacted. The meeting was held and new laws passed. The law is ambiguous and badly written. What is the definition of a “high visibility vest”. According to the Harbourmaster this can be any colour except grey! Black vests are classed as high visibility in certain conditions. Accusations have been made that these laws are intended to take the blame off the boatie. But I draw your attention to the maritime safety rule 22 amendment. Reflective tape works well. 20 ISSUE FORTYsix • 2 0 0 8
Amendment to Maritime Rules Part 22: Collision Prevention Rowing - Power vessels must now give way to rowing vessels as well as sailing vessels. (Every overtaking vessel always gives way to any vessel being overtaken.) I have come to the opinion that these rules, albeit badly written, are not a bad thing. We all know we should wear buoyancy aids, fly flags and at night we should display a light. Unfortunately few of us fly flags and use lights. The specification that a light must be visible from 2 nautical miles in good conditions indicates the power of the light and not necessarily a hard and fast rule. Will it be seen against the Auckland skyline at night Probably not, but then on a dark night a ship is difficult to see against all those lights. This law has been designed to encourage education, rather than prosecution. With this law in place the ARC & Harbourmaster can get funding for an education program, similar to the ‘even blokes wear life jackets’ campaign. Put yourself in the shoes of the boatie. You look out and see nothing. Next thing you know you’ve run someone over. Surely it is the responsibility of both parties The boaties to keep a vigilant look out and kayakers to make themselves as visible as practically possible Take courses on navigation, learn what other water users are likely to do and try to keep out of their way. I have been under the harbour bridge in a kayak with a racing fleet of yachts bearing down on me. It was only knowing that they were likely to tack across the harbour to their finish line that I felt comfortable. I have been on the water all my life, as a yachtie, diver, fisherman, kayaker. Everyone thinks that the other person is at fault. Yachties don’t like the wash from Gin palaces. Who slows down for a dive flag No one likes Jet skis! The reality is we all need to take responsibility for our own personal safety and do our best to be seen. Who drives a car during the day with their lights on to make sure they are seen I do (sad really). As always, most of us are responsible. It is a case of educating the remainder. 2.14 Vessels to be identified 1. The master and owner of a vessel shall ensure the vessel is marked with its name or similar identifying marks. This shall be displayed, on each side of the vessel. The number or name shall be a minimum height of 90 millimetres and each character shall be legible. 2. Clause 2.14.1 shall not apply to non-mechanically powered vessels of less than 6 metres in length. Such vessels should be marked with a name, or the owner’s name or contact details somewhere on the vessel. 3. Clause 2.14.1 shall not apply to mechanically power driven vessels of less than 4 metres in length. Such vessels should be marked with a name, or the owner’s name or contact details somewhere on the vessel. 2.17 Visibility of kayaks and paddle craft 1. Every kayak and paddle craft that is navigating in waters beyond 200 metres from shore shall ensure it is highly visible to other vessels. This shall include: (a) wearing a high visibility vest or high visibility PFD; and (b) use of reflecting tape on oars or paddles and also on clothing; and (c) at night, showing a continuous white light visible in all directions from a distance of two nautical miles. This is all a boatie is likely to see! Environment Waikato are reviewing their rules too. – by Sue Tucker During October and November this year 14 public meetings have been scheduled to review Environment Waikato’s navigation safety bylaw. The subject is ‘Safety for all surface water activities’. Our contacts list includes anyone who has submitted on the bylaw previously, Iwi and those fishing/boating clubs, kayak clubs, water skiing clubs, rowing clubs, boating retailers etc who have requested inclusion. All will be advised by letter, and public notices will appear in local papers. Environment Waikato will repeat the ‘See and be seen’ campaign for 2008/2009, ‘Staying bright on top’. This ‘paddling to be seen’ safety initiative has been developed by Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) in collaboration with the paddling community to encourage recreational kayakers, canoeists and boaties in low profile watercraft to make themselves more visible to others on lake, river or sea. Skippers are required by maritime rules to keep a proper ‘look out’ and maintain appropriate speeds near other water users, but it is difficult to see kayaks and craft which sit low in the water. “The trick to being safe is being seen. Use the right combination of colour, contrast and movement to maximise your visibility”. There are now more kayaks on the waterways and more complaints about vessels failing to show lights. To avoid a collision, or being run over, skippers need to know the rules... Maritime regulations require any craft under oars/paddle to show a torch or lantern with a white light, in sufficient time to prevent collision. Environment Waikato has produced a card providing information about visibility ‘Day and night, keep it bright’ ‘Out at night Show a light!’ Call our navigation safety team for a copy: 0800 800 401. Check our website:www.ew.govt.nz/navigation. ISSUE FORTYsix• 2008 21
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