Coastguard Offer Sea Kayak Course

Coastguard Northern Region will be running its first Sea Kayak Boating Education Course at the Auckland Marine Rescue Centre in Mechanics Bay on the 24th of September 2008.

The classroom course, developed by Coastguard Boating Education, will be run by experienced Sea Kayaker and a Maritime New Zealand Safe Boating Advisor, Ian Calhaem. The course is designed to encourage safe sea kayaking by emphasising the relevance to sea kayakers of knowing basic boating skills, marine safety practices and especially of understanding weather, sea conditions and the maritime environment.

The course compliments the popular Day Skipper and Boatmaster courses run by Coastguard.

Coastguard Northern Region Marketing Manager Don Scandrett says that sea kayaking is one of the fastest growing recreational marine activities in New Zealand and is especially popular in the Northland, Auckland and Waikato regions.

“With more and more people taking to the water each year in kayaks, Coastguard wants to play a more proactive role in helping to make sure that people are safe. A safe sea kayaker has sound nautical judgement to compliment their technical ability to handle a sea kayak.”

“Coastguard Rescue Vessels from around the Northern Region are ready and prepared to provide assistance when needed, but our fully trained volunteer crews much prefer to see lots of people out enjoying our coastline, rather than facing life and death situations” says Don.

The Sea Kayak course is not designed to teach paddling skills as such, but to raise awareness of safe sea kayaking practices. To attain practical skills and tips Coastguard recommends that anyone wishing to go Sea Kayaking should contact a sea kayaking club or a commercial sea kayak operator/retailer.

To get further information on the Sea Kayak course either phone 09 303 9364