Inland boat course

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 428, 17 March 1992, Page 12

Inland boat course

A pilot 'home study' course on safe boating is to be set up this year with a group of students from the Central Plateau area. Retired Auckland Nautical School Director, Captain Mike Norman, is currently developing the course, aimed at all owners of power and sail boats. Captain Norman, now a Taupo resident, produced a similar course for the more comprehensive Boatmaster Certificate last year. That course is being appraised for national use for the Wellington based Open Polytechnic. "In some areas there hasn't been an opportunity for boaties to become more competent", says Captain Norman. "Boatmaster and safe boating examinations can be quite daunting if the student cannot attend a training course to prepare for them." The Safe Boating Certificate course is recommended for owners of runabouts and trailer sailers involved in wa-ter-skiing, fishing and day tripping. "It will also be useful for regular crew members of larger boats," says Captain Norman. The course includes topics such as rules of the road (at sea), the water recreation regulations, distress signals, buoys and beacons, simple navigation, safety equipment, boat

handling, emergencies, tides, weather and knots. The Royal New Zealand Coastguard Federation offers an examination at the end of the course and successful students are awarded the Safe Boating Certificate. Captain Norman says the Central Plateau area

is an ideal testing ground for his new course. "There are many keen boaties in the area who may not have the time or opportunity to get to night classes." Anyone interested in the course can write to him at 23 Heeni Street, Taupo or phone 07-378-6602.