Boaties heading to Haast have been issued with a warning to
be better prepared before going out on the ocean, after two
incidents this week where ''complacency'' got the better of
people.
Senior Constable Robin Manera, of Haast, said in the past
fortnight good weather conditions had resulted in an influx
of people - mainly from Central Otago - into the Haast area
for recreational boating. However, an alarmingly large number
of them were arriving unprepared and not following the basic
requirements of safe ship management.
''Conditions are really good; they couldn't be better - it's
been like a lake out there,'' Snr Const Manera said.
''But there's been a lot of people come over and, just with
the law of averages, some day someone will go out there
unprepared like that and things will go wrong.''
On Monday afternoon, one group had to radio for help after
their boat's engine broke down near the Open Bay Islands.
With no back-up motor on board, they had to be towed back to
shore.
Within hours, a second group got into difficulty out on the
water between Jackson Bay and Cascade Point after their boat
ran out of fuel. They were rescued after a friend delivered
fuel to them. Snr Const Manera understood both boating groups
were from Central Otago.
''Have a back-up motor, make sure there's plenty of fuel,
make sure your radio's working ... it's just a reminder to
sharpen up before there's a mistake.''
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