Yamaha WaveRunners On Bondi Rescue

by Bob Carter on 1 Jul 2009 Bondi Beach is an iconic Australian landmark. Local residents mix with countless tourists from Australia and overseas year round at Bondi. With up to 50,000 people on Bondi beach on a warm summer’s day, the potential for human tragedy is ever present.

Luckily for swimmers and surfers at Bondi, Waverly Council professional lifeguards are on the beach year round. And supporting them all the way is Yamaha with WaveRunners and Rhino work vehicles.

'As professional lifeguards employed by the local Waverley Council, our aim is to provide the safest environment possible for our beach visitors,' said Terry McDermott, Waverly Senior Lifeguard and Media Officer for the professional ocean lifeguard association, APOLA.

'We have a stated objective of using the best equipment available. In the case of our PWC’s we believe the Yamaha FX HO is the ultimate in surf lifeguarding.'

According to McDermott, the Yamaha WaveRunner has numerous attributes that has made the old rubber duckie (IRB) virtually obsolete.

'The PWC with rescue sled is a true single person operation. It can operate in shallow water, much closer to the beach than an IRB. The PWC with rescue sled is more manoeuvrable in the surf and tight situations amongst swimmers. And above all it is quicker.'

At locations like Bondi, the professional ocean lifeguards are called on to provide rescue support outside of the immediate patrolled beach area. When the call goes out to reach a swimmer in distress on a neighbouring beach, speed is of the essence.

'When we were exposed to the new 2009 model Yamaha FX HO at our annual conference last year, we at APOLA quickly realised that Yamaha had taken the performance of the PWC in lifeguarding to a whole new level.'

'We use PWCs to save lives, so we demand the very best in performance and reliability. The Yamaha FX HO delivers on both counts.'

The FX HO has the right power-to-weight ratio, meaning it can operate in both large and moderate seas. It is large enough and powerful enough to effect mass rescues. And it is fast, thanks to the new 1.8 litre EFI four stroke engine.

APOLA is a nationally respected organisation whose members are employed by local councils throughout Australia to provide lifeguarding services at public beaches. The group is so well respected that members have visited locations such as Japan and Bali to train locals in lifeguarding, including use of Personal Water Craft with rescue sled.

At Bondi alone, Waverly Council lifeguards are responsible for more than 2000 rescues each year. 

The Yamaha WaveRunner FX HO, while used in rescue situations, is also utilised in a wide variety of routine work. Regular patrol work to herd swimmers back to the designated patrol zones and shark surveillance are commonplace activities.

There are some 35 Waverly Council lifeguards on the roster at Bondi Beach and every one of them is qualified and trained to operate the Yamaha WaveRunner.

Yamaha has a long and envious record of supporting surf lifesavers across Australia. The sponsorship of APOLA extends Yamaha’s involvement to now encompass career and professional lifeguards.

'The work that is undertaken by Waverly Council lifeguards in association with APOLA and their members is extraordinary by any measure,' said Iain MacLeod, National Sales Manager for Yamaha WaveRunners.

'We are proud to be associated with Waverly Council lifeguards in association with APOLA and support them in their exceptional work.'

For further information on this story contact:


Iain MacLeod
National Sales Manager
PWC Products

Yamaha Motor Australia
Tel (07) 3906 7000
Fax (07) 3906 7099
www.yamaha-motor.com.au

Check out the WaveRunner website: www.waverunner-fan.com

Or click on the link on the front page of: www.yamaha-motor.com.au