With Maritime NZ Safety Week on the horizon, a free workshop about kayaking and small boat safety is being held in Howick this Saturday.
Steve Cooper, president of the Kiwi Association of Sea Kayakers (KASK), says the focus for this year’s Safer Boating Week campaign, from October 20-26, is on small unpowered craft.
“We’ll highlight a key risk for small craft users – ending up in the water from a dinghy and struggling to get back in, even with a lifejacket.
“The broader safety theme is: ‘If you end up in the water, how prepared are you?’”
Cooper says three core behaviours will be highlighted: Wear a correctly fitted lifejacket; carry two forms of waterproof communication; and check and understand the marine weather forecast before and during trips.
“KASK runs a series of free workshops around the country which we call KayakSafe, the focus being to inform people about what they need to be aware of before they get out on the water in terms of the weather, the environment in general and the equipment they need.”
He says KASK’s first workshop for this upcoming summer season is at Howick Library this Saturday, October 18, from 10am to lunchtime.
“That will be followed by an on-the-water session at a local beach if conditions are suitable.
“This is not to teach how to kayak, it’s teaching how to stay safe by understanding the environment and what kit you should have, though of course we’ll give tips and tricks about kayaking basics.”
Cooper says he’s also written a book about sea kayaking safety.
“It’s intended to be a comprehensive look at the sea kayaking environment and how to be sure you have the correct safety equipment available.
“Understanding the weather, including how to read and utilise forecasts and what it looks like on the water, sea conditions, water quality and temperatures, currents, rules and regulations, other water users, indigenous wildlife issues, the surf environment, specific river hazards, cold water hazards and much more.
“Exercises and examples help you hone your skills in interpreting the information and making the right decisions,” Cooper says.
“Sea kayaking seems so safe and easy, yet the rescue and casualty statistics tell a very different story.
“The main reason people get into trouble almost always comes down to lack of knowledge.”
- For more information about and to register interest for the free KayakSafe workshop at Howick Library on Saturday, October 18, go to: https://kask.co.nz/kayaksafe-nz/.
