

It's recommended that you carry fewer people and less load when on open waters. This minimises pounding and keeps passengers comfortable. Slow down or alter the angle of your course to the waves. This increases the risk of capsizing.īe careful in rough or choppy conditions. Without power to maintain steerage, your vessel can drift side-on or beam-on to the sea. Keep a safe speedĪlways travel at a speed that allows you to steer your vessel. Make sure everyone on board knows what to do in case of an emergency or incident. Review and practise emergency procedures. For example, a marine radio and a mobile phone. It's recommended that you have a minimum of 2 means of communication. When travelling to open waters, always let someone know where you're going. It's recommended that you check maps and ask locals about the location of bomboras. Stay in deep water and beware of currents that can push your vessel in too close. Take extra care when anchoring near bomboras. Unexpected waves in these areas can capsize your vessel. The waves may only be intermittent, with flat conditions between sets of dangerous waves. In good weather, bomboras can be hard to identify because the water may be calm. These are shallow areas – often created by rocks or reefs – that can cause breaking waves. Look out for shallow areas, particularly along the coastline and close to the shore. If you see these kinds of changes, make sure you and any passengers are wearing a lifejacket and head for shore. While on the water, keep a lookout for signs of squalls – threatening clouds and whitecap waves. Weather conditions can change very quickly on open waters. Check the weatherĬheck the weather before you set out and regularly while you're on the water. A lifejacket can only save someone's life if they're wearing one. Everyone must wear a lifejacket when crossing a coastal bar and in heightened risk conditions.

There's a higher risk of ending up in the water when travelling on open waters or crossing a coastal bar. Make sure you have the right safety equipment for your vessel on open waters. You should always know the limits of your vessel's capability.īefore you head out on open waters, check your vessel is watertight. The way a vessel handles in open waters depends on many factors – for example, the hull design and strength, engine power, steering, and weight distribution on board. Vessels designed for enclosed waters are not usually suited for open waters, especially along the coast where waves are larger. They are also marked on Transport for NSW (Maritime) boating maps. Marine Safety Regulation 2016 Schedule 2 and Schedule 3 list boundaries for open waters. It's recommended that you check whether you're heading into open waters before you go. Many open waters start well inshore from the ocean, for example, inside the entrance to ports and rivers. Make sure you're prepared for the conditions and hazards of open waters.
#OPEN WATER DRIFT 2 HOW TO#
You need to be experienced and know how to handle your vessel in these different conditions. The risk of your vessel getting swamped or capsizing is much higher. You're far more exposed to changes in the weather than on enclosed waters. Coastal bars can be challenging to cross. You can encounter rough, choppy seas and large waves. Open waters are navigable waters that are not enclosed by land or not within a river, bay, harbour or port.
