Safety reminder for small-craft users
New Plymouth sea kaykaker Hans Konlechner is not afraid of being ‘‘fussy’’ when he goes offshore to fish.
‘‘You know you are vulnerable out there, so we always let family know our plans, and we take a personal locator beacon and cellphone,’’ Konlechner, who fishes with his wife, Marianne, said.
‘‘You are always vulnerable out at sea so it pays to be fussy about the weather.’’
Water safety authorities are urging kayakers and other small craft users to play it safe on the water this summer.
Kayak fishing is increasingly popular, convenient and relatively inexpensive, but many users still take risks, authorities say.
Surf Life Saving New Zealand (SLSNZ) has launched a campaign – Ready. Set. Summer. – to highlight water safety messages for anyone involved in kayaks, inflatables, jet skis, dinghies or paddle boards.
Last year lifeguards rescued 577 people out of the water nationwide, with many involved in small crafts activities, SLSNZ chief executive Paul Dalton said.
Among the essential rules to follow if venturing out to sea is to check weather, tides, wind forecasts and water temperature right up to the time you launch the kayak.
You should also inform Coastguard, family and friends of your plans, take a VHF radio, personal locator beacon (PLB), or cellphone, and always wear a lifejacket or personal buoyancy device.
Taranaki Volunteer Coastguard duty officer Peter Chapman said kayakers can use the service’s trip login app, or use the VHF61 radio channel to inform operators their plans.
Chapman said the Taranaki Coastguard registered 250 log-in calls over New Year from small boats to kayakers.
‘‘What is important is for everyone who is going out is to treat the sea with respect. It is always challenging,’’ he said.
New Plymouth man Herb Spannagl has 25 years of experience sea kayak fishing, and says the biggest risks are not having the paddle tied to the kayak, and being tossed out of the craft and having it drift away.
‘‘The kayak will drift with the wind faster than you can swim,’’ the
85-year-old said.
‘‘With the paddle tied on you can at least stay with your kayak and perhaps get back on board.’’
Spannagl will often venture out
10-15 kilometres offshore to chase tuna – but he never takes unnecessary risks.
‘‘I only go out if the weather is good, the other day we went out but soon came back in when the wind got
up to 18-knots.
‘‘I check the forecast in real time from the Port Taranaki website right up to the time before I put the kayak in the water,’’ he said.
He always radioed Coastguard of his plans when going out. ‘‘It’s reassuring to have people like Coastguard looking after you but very few kayakers log in to the voluntary service.’’
Spannagl recently saw a kayaker one kilometre offshore without a lifejacket, or any means of emergency communication to use if he got into trouble.
New Plymouth water sports retailer Peter van Lith, of Canoe and Kayak, said PLBs, hand-held VHF radios and cellphone dry bags were big sellers with customers.
Van Lith said it was important people who are starting out with their first kayak to practice getting on and off the craft before heading offshore.
‘‘We still get people going out unprepared.’’