THERE ARE MORE FATAL BOATING ACCIDENTS ON HARBOUR & RIVER BARS THAN ANYWHERE ELSE !
TAKE EXTREME CARE IN DECIDING WHETHER OR NOT TO CROSS A BAR.
A bar is an underwater sand hill at the entrance to any river or harbour mouth, formed by silt carried down river and deposited just outside the entrance. This uneven shallow area causes waves to become steep and dramatically increase in height. This effect is made much worse with an outgoing current flowing against an on-shore wind, causing waves to break in an unpredictable pattern.
A bar with any breaking seas (white water) across the channel should not be crossed (either in or out) in an open boat.
Always ask a responsible and experienced person with local knowledge such as the local Harbour Master or Coastguard for details about the bar, such as where the channel is and how best to negoitiate the bar. The safest channel across a bar constantly changes depending on tide, weather conditions and movement of the silt that forms the bar.
VITAL ACTIONS FOR CROSSING BARS
Observe the bar for some time (at least 15 minute ). Do not attempt to cross the bar if your vessel cannot cope with the largest wave you have seen. If there is any white water across the channel do not attempt to cross the bar.
Get an up-to-date weather forecast. Do not go out over a bar if the weather is forecast to get worse. It may become unsafe to return!. Beware of a 'Sea Breeze' (an on-shore wind in the afternoon) that may pick up suddenly, making conditions on the bar dangerous.
- Get experienced local knowledge and advice.
- Communicate with a responsible person by VHF radio immediately before and after crossing
- Cross at slack water (high tide or just before)
- Everyone must wear a life jacket, securely fastened.
-Close any hatches, keep weights low and all gear stowed securely.
- Going out - cross quickly but safely.
- Coming in - keep boat speed the same as the wave speed, and stay on the back of a wave keeping a sharp look-out astern.
- Avoid turning back once committed to an approach. You could get caught side-on.
Don't gamble with your life, or the lives of others. If it looks dangerous to cross, wait for the conditions to change. Do your boating within the river, or if you are already out at sea, find a safe harbour or anchorage and wait for conditions to improve.
Constantly changing bar conditions
Shallow conditions in the Bowentown entrance of Tauranga Harbour are
creating potentially hazardous conditions for boaties.
All boaties who use the Bowentown bar need to proceed with extreme caution as the bar is constantly
changing.
The Bowentown bar entrance has changed recently due to the movement of sand banks on the bar. The bar
entrance has shallowed considerably which means that waves across the entrance are presently more dangerous
than usual. For example, a half metre swell in the open sea will produce waves on the bar of well over one
metre in height.
Boaties with GPS marks showing their usual channel over the bar should be aware that these marks may now
lead them into danger.
The suggested passage across the bar at present is using the northern entrance around Mussel Rock, however
this entrance is also shallowing and extreme caution is required.
The special marker that marked the bend or hook in the main entrance channel has been removed; navigating
through this area can be extremely hazardous when there is a swell running.
The Safe Water mark outside the bar will remain in place for now but will be monitored closely and may be
moved if necessary in the future.
The best time to cross the bar, especially with any swell running, is on the top end of the flood tide, as bar
conditions are generally better than on the ebb tide.
Bar crossing tips:
- Always wear a life jacket
- Call Coastguard to log a bar crossing report on VHF channel 85
- Check the tides - flood is better than ebb
- Check the swell height and direction – it may not be safe to cross the bar at all
- Talk to a local boatie before attempting to cross the bar
Safe boating from the Harbour Wardens
Noel 07 5492131
Mike 07 8637822
