BAR CROSSINGS
After last week’s article highlighting the hazards associated with commercial fishing, recreational boaties were again brought into the national spotlight with the death of a 13 year old girl after a 6.3m vessel capsized while crossing the Moruya Bar on the NSW south coast last weekend. One has to be careful making comment on incidents such as these without all the facts, but it is well worth addressing some issues that have come to light, if you believe the media reports, in the hope that others can learn from the tragic outcome.
I have been to Moruya many years ago and just like all bar crossings, it can look picture perfect on the right day, with an incoming tide and low swell, but with a larger swell rolling in and meeting an outgoing tide, waves will stand up and so vessels need to be extremely careful and plan their trip accordingly. On the day in question, the swell was up, with the tide running out. To quote one of the Surf Lifesaving jet ski rescuers on the day, “The conditions today were really dangerous. We had a strong outgoing tide that combined with a large swell makes things very dangerous. Even for us as rescuers it was messy.” This bar crossing even has its own web camera site with great views of the crossing, allowing a quick real time check beforehand. I know we may have all ventured out at some stage or other when the conditions were not ideal, but on such days, the skipper has an even greater responsibility to ensure the safety of the crew, perhaps more so when children are involved. Under NSW Maritime Regulations, there are various situations when it is compulsory to wear lifejackets, depending on the vessel size, age and the activity being undertaken, but the one time it is compulsory for any vessel, is when crossing a coastal bar. Reports indicate that no-one was wearing a lifejacket in this incident. The young girl in question was located under the vessel, so a lifejacket may not have saved her, but the other five occupants were lucky that a nearby vessel came to their assistance very soon after the capsize or the death toll could have been far greater.
To bring the message back home, there are various WA coastal locations that can cause a similar set of circumstances. Any narrow passage that has fast water moving can pose problems, especially when coupled with swell. Augusta obviously has it’s own set of issues where the Blackwood River and Southern Ocean meet, as does the notorious Kalbarri river mouth. Boating channels can cause similar problems, with South Passage near Coral Bay being responsible for many a capsize over the years. Further north, huge tides can result in treacherous whirlpools, especially near Derby and Wyndham, making small boat manoeuvring extremely difficult and these should be avoided wherever possible, The general rule, when heading into the seas or wave area, is to trim the motor down to keep the bow down, reducing the chance of broaching and capsizing. When traveling in the same direction as the waves i.e following sea, trim the motor up a little to raise the bow, reducing the chance of broaching. If you ever get caught in a serious whirlpool, attempt to power out immediately in the direction of the wash, but be prepared with all the required safety gear. And also be prepared to stay home and watch the footy if necessary!