Health & Safety
SAFETY POLICY
As a club member, it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to ensure that any of your actions or inactions do not cause harm or injury to you or anyone else.
Personal flotation devices (PFDs) must be worn by everyone afloat. This includes coaches, sailors & parents in club patrol boats.
NO ONE under the age of 15 yrs may be in control of a Wakatere club patrol boat, this applies whether there is an adult present or not. The skipper must have completed a certified Rescue Patrol Boat course or be a 'Wakatere approved skipper'.
Sign on/off for the use of each club patrol boat by scanning the QR sticker on each boat. This is an important part of our Club's H&S procedure.
For the launching & recovery of club patrol boats - centre console and larger boats must use the public vehicle access ramp (south/east of the club). Smaller tiller steers may use the central beach ramp.
2024/25 Wakatere Safety Officer: Michael Shannon
Wakatere H&S Information
H&S Docs
Safety Standards
Safety standards applied to activities at Wakatere Boating Club include:
Local Water Hazards
First Aid
VHF Radios
Safety depends on clear communication and Wakatere owns a number of waterproof VHF marine radios for comms on the water. They are in frequent use on patrol boats for coaching & racing and report back to 'Waka Base' in the Race Office or for comms between coaches. This allows us to manage assistance to sailors if required.
After each use, radios must be rinsed under a tap (they're waterproof), dried off and put back in their correct charging position in the Race Office or Training Room. This will ensure they are ready for the next coaching group, club race or away regatta.
Wakatere’s VHF radios are a valuable asset to the club and its members. Please use under advice and with care.
Wakatere uses Channel 17
Tractor Conditions of Use
Only persons given familiarisation training of the tractor are allowed to operate this equipment and they must be a club member. Formal training is organized by our Safety Officer or senior Club Member.
The tractor may never use the central beach ramp. It must only operate on the public vehicle ramp.
A hi-vis vest must be worn.
Note: It’s a strict requirement that only drivers listed on the Qualified Tractor drivers list (kept by the Club H&S Officer) may drive the tractor. If you are not on the list (or don’t know whether you are on the list), don’t drive it.
Incident/Accident Form
Procedures for Coaches / Volunteers
Beach Trailers
It is an Auckland Council by-law at Wakatere that -
ALL BEACH TRAILERS BE REMOVED FROM NARROW NECK BEACH WHEN NOT IN USE i.e. when you are out sailing.
This is to provide full and safe use of the beach to the wider public.
Sailors, parents and supporters can all pitch in to help with this, even if it's not your own beach trailer, bring it up to the old road.
Keep them clear of the cycleway.
Trailers, trolleys, it's all the same
Car Parking
Kill Cords
It is a mandatory requirement that anyone skippering a Wakatere Patrol Boat has a kill cord attached to themselves.
Swimmers vs Boats
Rule reminders:
Swimmers have the right of way. Expect to see them and be especially alert if you are coming in or going out while also looking into the sun.
The speed of all vessels (dinghies, boards, patrol boats) must be no more than 5 knots when the vessel is:
Within 50m of any person in the water
Within 200m of the shore
Within 50m of any other vessel - except when you are involved in a YNZ affiliated sport for training or racing.
Parents, please show your junior sailor what 5 knots is like by driving your car at 9kms.
Safety Course Registration Forms
Qualify to Drive
Wakatere offers members the opportunity to enrol in a one-day certified Patrol Boat Safety Course run by the Auckland Sailing School so they can skipper a club boat as an 'approved skipper' this season and the next.
This course is a legal requirement of our operating procedure and is subsidized by the club. Open to all Club members (15+yrs) and parents/partners of members. Numbers are limited.
REGISTER YOUR INTEREST
Patrol Boat Rescue Course
New date to be advised 2025
Continue to register your interest as this will help build future courses
Already Qualified?
If you have prior patrol boat safety qualifications and are an experienced patrol boat skipper, get in touch with our club H&S officer. Please use the club contact form below
REQUEST TO HAVE YOUR QUALIFICATIONS REVIEWED
Patrol Boat Driving
Patrol Boat Docs
Patrol Boat Conditions of Use
Patrol Boat Safety Checklist
QR Codes and Patrol Boats
We love scanning codes at Wakatere!
Sign on/off for the use of each club patrol boat by scanning the QR sticker on each boat. This is an important part of our Club's H&S procedure and applies to all race management, coaches, parents and supporters using club patrol boats.
This is a mandatory requirement as part of our Maritime NZ Moss Exemption and our H&S policy.
Maintenance
Report any damage or maintenance issues as soon as any problems arise. Write clearly on the whiteboard in the training room. If left unreported, a small problem now could lead to a much larger one later on.
Our Patrol Boat Maintenance rep is happy to take a quick call or text to go over any immediate concerns. Graeme Milne - +64 21 244 5000
