Bar crossing
Crossing a bar is one of the riskiest things you’ll ever do, no matter how experienced you are.
There are three types of bar crossings – dangerous, very dangerous and extremely dangerous.
- Check the weather within 12 hours of heading out.
- Check the tide – always avoid low tide.
- Talk to a local about the bar conditions.
- Check the bar camera live feed.
- Tie down any loose objects such as anchor and ropes.
- Everyone must wear a lifejacket.
- Contact Coastguard on VHF immediately before you cross and after you’ve successfully crossed.
- Avoid ebb or falling tides (between high tide and low tide, when water flows away from the shore).
- Check out distress signals.
- Read "Crossing a Bar" in Boating the Bay Handbook.
We paired up with Waikato Regional Council, with funding from ACC and Maritime NZ, to produce five bar crossing films in association with Coastguard and NZ Police. These films will walk you through the key safety steps to undertake to ensure you make a safer bar crossing.
Remember, if in doubt don’t go out!
