Please select your home edition
Edition
Henri-Lloyd Dynamic Range

Harbourmaster calls for drunk boating laws

by Sail-World Cruising on 18 Feb 2014
Drunk boating is SO 70’s SW
After a number of incidents involving alcohol and boats in New Zealand, one of them causing serious injury to involved parties, Queenstown Lakes Harbourmaster has spoken out, calling for 'a law to test boaters for their level of intoxication' to be made New Zealand-wide.

Martin Black's comments, published by the Otago Times, came this week just after the jet-boat driven by two Queenstown men, who had been drinking, hit rocks near the Kawarau Falls Bridge at Frankton, on Friday, about 10.45pm.

The harbourmaster was joined by Coastguard Queenstown, police, Frankton and Queenstown volunteer fire brigades, St John Queenstown and a rescue helicopter in a major search and rescue operation when the initial report was there were more than two people in the water in distress.

The pair were found by the coastguard at 11.24pm, about 100m downstream of the bridge. The boat had some damage, but the two men were uninjured.

The men were tested by police on site and Mr Black said one registered 690mcg and the other was also over the legal limit of 400mcg.

The other incident purported to involve alcohol occurred this week also, with a speed boat with two people on board ramming two stationary yachts at a wharf in West Auckland, then sliding over the wharf and sinking.

The incident caused serious damage to one of the yachts, in which a family of four was sleeping, and injuries to a number of those involved.

'Boating is the last bastion where you can probably drink till you're drunk and the chances of getting picked up for a misdemeanour, with the exception of Queenstown and a couple of areas, are remote.

'If it's a hot day and you're sitting somewhere, have a beer. No problem at all. But if you're over 400mcg, you've had a few.

'You're not allowed to drive on the road like that, so why should you on the water?

The issue of testing came to the fore when the national Pleasure Boat Safety Forum wrote to the New Zealand Transport Minister about five years ago, but nothing happened, he told the Otago Times.
Barton Marine Pipe GlandsMaritimo S SeriesSelden 2020 - FOOTER

Related Articles

Fastnet Race 2025 | Pre-Race Interviews
Interviews with Gordon and Charlie Maguire, David Witt, Mark Bradford, and Luke Parkinson Interviews with Gordon and Charlie Maguire, David Witt, Mark Bradford, and Luke Parkinson
Posted today at 12:19 am
Fastnet Race 2025 | David Griffith and Whisper
Discover the motivation for entering Whisper in the Fastnet Race and getting boat to the UK David Griffith's JV62, Whisper, is in the UK for the Fastnet. Discover the motivation for entering Whisper in the Rolex Fastnet Race and the logistics of getting the boat to England, as well as hear from crew member Jules Hall.
Posted today at 12:09 am
Admiral's Cup 2025 | Zen's a winner!
Big day. Big results. A bullet marks a special day... The end of racing, and only the Fastnet to come. Zen collects a bullet from the final three inshore races.
Posted today at 12:04 am
Rolex Fastnet Race/Admirals' Cup: Big questions
"So far we've under performed as a boat in the Admirals' Cup. We're looking to put that right." The defending Rolex Fastnet champion, Caro (NZL) faces some big questions given their performances to date in the Admirals' Cup. However the Botin 52 has a reputation for scoring strongly in longer offshore racing - will they repeat in 2205?
Posted on 25 Jul
Canada's entry into the iconic Rolex Fastnet Race
Team Be Water Positive returns to settle unfinished business Canada Ocean Racing - Be Water Positive will line up this weekend for the centenary edition of the Rolex Fastnet Race, one of the most iconic offshore races in the world.
Posted on 25 Jul
Fuerteventura PWA Grand Slam Day 7
Sarah-Quita Offringa survives Super Final scare to earn 16th Freestyle world title Sarah-Quita Offringa survives Super Final scare to earn 16th Freestyle world title and 27th overall, while Yentel Caers powers to victory in Men's.
Posted on 25 Jul
Vaikobi V-DRY-X Team Kit
We speak to Pat Langley and Bart Milczarczyk V-DRY-X is a major launch for the Australian technical clothing brand Vaikobi, launching into the yacht racing team market with high performance outer layer clothing specifically designed to be customised with the branding and colours of that team.
Posted on 25 Jul
Admiral's Cup Tom Hicks Thursday Photo Gallery
He is always ready to capture Solent action Tom Hicks is always ready to capture Solent action, and the Admiral's Cup naturally delivered. These shots are from Thursday 24th July 2025.
Posted on 25 Jul
WASZP Games 2025 Day 4 Photo Gallery
A snapshot of the day by Mark Jardine It was a case of grabbing the wind and sunshine while it lasted on Day 4 of the 2025 WASZP Games, and each of the fleets got a bit of racing in before the rain started to fall and the breeze died away.
Posted on 25 Jul
Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race Preview
This year's edition is looking to break the light wind pattern and possibly set new records The Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race (NSGCYR) has long been regarded as a cornerstone of any Australian offshore yachtie's calendar.
Posted on 25 Jul