More Northland boaties sign up for skipper courses

Camilla Sanson loves the fact she can now competently share skipper duties with her husband. Photo / Michael Cunningham

Participant numbers in day skipper courses rose by 20.3 per cent in New Zealand from July-December last year and Coastguard general manager Kirstin Brown said if numbers from 2019 were compared with 2020 statistics, there is a clear jump.

The total number for the six-month period in 2020 was 2034 compared with 1691 the previous year. The highest increase was in November when 409 people, compared with 268 the previous year undertook the two-day course. The numbers are from across classroom delivery, online delivery and through home study.

Although it was not known what percentage of these participants were from Northland, Brown said regular courses were delivered in Northland.

"We know it's a region that needs education for its recreational boaties. There are more of them on the water than usual, like the rest of the country, plus it's a reasonably popular boating spot so the more education they have access to, the better."

Northlander Camilla Sanson loves the fact she can now competently share the skipper duties on the 10m launch she and her husband own.

Sanson recently undertook a Coastguard Day Skipper course and said, although the couple have spent a lot of time on the water over the last three years, she had learnt a lot from the course.

"It was really accessible and brilliant. I was probably the least experienced there but it made no difference to my enjoyment and understanding. I love the fact that when we're out there, I now know what the navigational markers in the channel mean."

Sanson and her husband were first-time boat owners when he decided to purchase a launch prior to retiring. He already had extensive knowledge through his involvement as a volunteer Coastguard which requires ongoing comprehensive training.

"It just seemed obvious that I too should know what to do. There's only two of us on board so I thought I should know (the rules). Things turned out very well; it means we share the duties, such as reading the charts, anchoring or steering or he can go and sort the fishing tackle."

She said that as well as safety and harbour knowledge, she learned practical things, such as tying different knots for various reasons, along with how to calculate where to anchor, and with how much chain, for changing tides.

Sanson said boating doesn't have to be a male-dominated hobby and was planning on taking the boat, moored at Opua, out with a friend.

"Women are so capable; my theory is, if you can reach the controls, you can do it."

She is also planning to undertake the Maritime VHF Operator Certificate course which will enable her to use the radio competently and file trip reports. She is currently only able to make mayday calls.

"I had been confident in my ignorance before and suddenly you go out there with all this new knowledge and you realise you don't know much. I'm only on the first rung of the ladder and I may as well keep expanding my knowledge."

She added: "Everyone deserves a good day. You've got to be respectful and mindful. I don't think there's anyone who wouldn't benefit from it."

# Further information, including an online quiz, can be found at www.boatingeducation.org.nz or www.maritimenz.govt.nz