Please select your home edition
Edition
Leaderboard FD July August September 2023

Auckland boaties resist life jacket change

by Nancy Knudsen on 6 Jun 2014
We don't have to wear life jackets because our boat is more than 4.8m and less than 6m SW
According to recent submissions, Auckland boaties don't want to be forced to wear life jackets where there have been no fatalities in New Zealand recently on certain size boats. They want an exemption to compulsory lifejacket wearing in pleasure boats under six metres long but longer than 4.8 metres.

An amazing 80% per cent of written submissions were opposed the Auckland Council's draft navigation bylaw proposal which would introduce the regulation.

The boating community submissions were, however, almost unanimous in supporting the carrying of lifejackets on all boats and the need for skipper's discretion to allow non-wearing at times of lower risk, such as when anchored in sheltered waters, according to spokesman for the Hibiscus Coast Boating Club Mike Cahill.

Mr Cahill says the council should wait until the Maritime NZ sponsored National Pleasure Boat Safety Forum updates its safety policy, possibly this week, so there's a consistent nationwide regulation.

The majority of boating community submissions advocated that compulsory wearing (with skipper discretion) should apply to boats under 4.8 metres long.

The argument put forward for this involves the fact that, in the last five years, no occupants of boats in New Zealand between 4.8 and six metres have drowned.

The submissions received do support continuing education programs targeted at the most vulnerable groups, rather than 'poorly' drafted regulations that 'criminalise responsible boaties'.

A council review panel will deliberate on the submissions before making a recommendation on the issue.
North Sails Loft 57 PodcastHenri-Lloyd Dynamic RangeSydney International On-Water Boat Show 2025

Related Articles

The latest in fleet monitoring and tracking
Join us on October 22nd for an in-depth exploration of the latest in tracking technology Fleet monitoring and tracking are essential for efficiency, safety, and compliance with real-time visibility into fleet movements critical.
Posted today at 9:30 am
Record fleet set for 13ft Skiff 2026 Championships
The biggest fleet in the event's history is set to line up in January The pain of handing over the national 13ft crown after owning it for a year is driving Manly's Theo Franklin to recapture the title when the biggest fleet in the event's history lines up for the 2026 Australian Championships in January.
Posted today at 5:29 am
2025 Six Metre World Championship Day 2
Eau Vive and Jill claim first victories in Oyster Bay After the disappointment of a wind and raceless day one, the 2025 International Six Metre World Championships at the Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club finally got under way in warm sunshine and a south-westerly of around 6-8 knots.
Posted today at 3:23 am
46th Cannes Royal Regatta day 2
A dream day! If we had to give a score for the entry of the "classic " and 5.5 m on Tuesday 23 September, we would hesitate between an 18 and 19/20... knowing that you never put a 20/20!
Posted on 23 Sep
Middle Sea Race set to attract exceptional fleet
Royal Malta YC has 118 entries already At midnight on Friday, 19 September the 46th Rolex Middle Sea Race had amassed a fleet of 118 yachts. The entrants represent 30 countries and territories: from Australia and New Zealand to Finland and Norway, and from the United States to Romania.
Posted on 23 Sep
52 Super Series 2025 Porto Cervo day 1
Solid Sled earn early lead in Sardinia Takashi Okura's Sled lead the 52 SUPER SERIES - Porto Cervo - Range Rover regatta after the first two windward leeward races.
Posted on 23 Sep
Melges 24 Worlds 2025 at Trieste, Italy Day 1
No racing possible on the first day Good things are worth waiting for, and that was the adage at the opening day of the Melges 24 Worlds, which ended without any races in the scoreline. The weather in Trieste proved too unstable, with storms in the morning followed by a lack of wind.
Posted on 23 Sep
Formula Kite Worlds Quartu Sant'Elena preview
9th Sardinia Grand Slam is the first major step towards Los Angeles 2028 Next September 28th to October 5th, the Poetto beach will host the event that crowns the new World Champions. Among the top contenders: Maeder, Vodišek, and Pianosi in the men's fleet; Nolot, Aldridge, and Kampman among women
Posted on 23 Sep
SailGP, TOR Europe, Women's Match Racing Worlds
Good things often happen when preparation meets opportunity Good things often happen when preparation meets opportunity. Such was the case for the Germany SailGP Team presented by Deutsche Bank squad when they notched their first-ever SailGP event win at last weekend's Rolex Switzerland Sail Grand Prix.
Posted on 23 Sep
Melges 15 Fittings Guide
A breakdown of the fittings based on a complete Allen Brothers fit-out If you are looking to upgrade or replace the hardware on your Melges 15, it helps to know exactly which fittings you need and what their role is on the boat.
Posted on 23 Sep