Editorial: Make sure you are safe on the water

Andrew Austin, Editor of Hawke's Bay Today

I don't own a boat myself and probably never will, but I do enjoy going out on the odd fishing trip when the occasion arises.

A few years ago, I spent a very pleasant day out in the Malborough Sounds in the South Island, hopping by boat from secluded beach to sheltered bay.

It certainly was a pleasant way to see breathtaking scenery that I probably would not have been able to get to by road.

At night from my home near Havelock North, I sometimes catch glimpses of fishing boats out on the ocean. It seems so idyllic, but as most of us know, the sea and any large body of water needs to be respected.

It is incredible how many times you hear stories of happy outings ending in disaster because safe boating practices were not followed.

Safer Boating week is currently on and lasts until October 21. It is run by the Safer Boating Forum, which was established in 2000 to coordinate and implement recreational boating safety initiatives. It is made up of government agencies and local government, water safety and recreational boating organisations, and the marine industry. The Forum's work is aimed at reducing boating injuries and fatalities and improving boat safety behaviour.

One of the key messages that the forum is trying to get across is the importance of wearing lifejackets on all craft under 6m - it is actually compulsory in Hawke's Bay.

It is simply no good carrying a lifejacket, it needs to be worn. Trying to put a lifejacket on in the water probably when you are panicking anyway would not be very easy to do.
Rather be prepared so that if something does go wrong, you live to tell the tale and don't become a horrible statistic.

With Labour Day Weekend next weekend, the forum has three handy tips for boaties - Prep your boat, Check your gear, Know the rules.

This is good advice and following those simple tips could be the difference between having a pleasant day out on the water and disaster.