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.
2023/24 Wakatere Safety Officer: Michael Shannon
SAFETY STANDARDS
Important NZ 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.
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.
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 mandatory requirement that anyone skippering a Wakatere Patrol Boat has a kill cord attached to themselves. YNZ about kill cords
Patrol Boat Safety Courses
Wakatere offers members and parents of junior club members, the opportunity to enrol in a certified Patrol Boat Safety Course so they are able to skipper or crew a club boat this season and the next. No previous experience required.
The course is fully subsidized by Wakatere in the expectation that people will support club racing and coaching.
Please register your interest and we will be in touch when the course date is set for the 2023/24 season.