Know the Gulf Better with Coastguard’s Education Cruises

Know the Gulf Better with Coastguard’s Education Cruises

This summer boaties have the opportunity to learn more about popular anchorage spots in the Hauraki Gulf with Coastguard Northern Region’s well-received education cruises.

The evening cruises highlight Waiheke Island, the Coromandel, Mahurangi and Kawau, providing boating enthusiasts with valuable information for the coming season. The cruises also outline the interesting local history and some of the fun recreational opportunities on offer such as walking tracks and prime fishing and diving locations. Joining the experienced Coastguard commentary team this year is well known fishing author and columnist Bruce Duncan, who will be assisting with the fishing and diving aspects.

Coastguard Northern Region’s Maritime School Education Manager, Darren Arthur, says the cruises have run for over 20 years and are just one way that Coastguard educates boaties about the importance of water safety.

“The cruises provide us with a great opportunity to showcase some of the best spots in the Hauraki Gulf as well as give some tips on how they can make the most of these holiday hot spots.

“Although we like to make these cruises interesting and fun, safety is always top of the agenda so taking boating enthusiasts through practical safety tips and alerting them to the hazards in these areas is key.”

The first cruise heads out to Waiheke and the Coromandel on November 27 followed by the cruise to Mahurangi and Kawau which takes place on December 4.

All cruises, which are held aboard a Fullers Ferry, will board at the Fullers Ferry Downtown Terminal at 5:00pm with a departure time of 5.30pm and an approximate return time of 10:00pm.

Fees for the courses start at $60.00, however, Coastguard members can participate for a discounted price.

To ensure that boaties are armed with as much knowledge as possible this summer, charts and reference books of the areas we visit will be available for purchase on the day.

An onboard BBQ will also be available with money raised going to Coastguard’s fundraising efforts.

For more information on the cruises and bookings, visit www.coastguard.org.nz.

About Coastguard Northern Region

Coastguard is the charity that provides New Zealand’s primary maritime search and rescue service. The organisation operates from a network of four regions and 71 affiliated units, located around the coastline and major lakes of New Zealand. Coastguard Northern Region operates the area from Thames across to the Mokau River and everything north and is based at the Auckland Marine Rescue Centre (AMRC) in Mechanics Bay. Each year the operations room at the AMRC receives over 100,000 VHF marine radio calls.

Coastguard Northern Region however, does more than daring rescues at sea. Generations of dedicated people have established an organisation that provides a wealth of services to every person using our harbours and beaches.

• We provide a 24 hour a day, 365 days a year service.
• Install and maintain VHF radio repeaters throughout the Northern Region to enable mariners to communicate with each other over long distances.
• Install and maintain buoys and beacons to make recreational boating safer.
• Provide a 24 hour continuous weather forecast on marine radio VHF channels 20, 21, 22 and 23.
• Accept trip reports from any vessel able to make radio contact.
• Provide a range of boating education courses to ensure that boaties have a sound knowledge of their boats and the rules of the road at sea.

About Bruce Duncan

Bruce Duncan was born with a passion and love for the sea. His entire working life has revolved around the sea – from crewing on tugs and barges, marine salvage to working for marine safety wholesalers and manufacturers. Fishing has always played a large role in his life from game fishing to snapper. In his hugely successful book ‘Fishing the Hauraki Gulf’ he details over 200 favourite spots and in-depth knowledge of how to catch the big ones.

Bruce has been writing for numerous boating and fishing magazines for the last 25 years, has been involved with a number of fishing videos and is also in constant demand with radio stations for weekly fishing reports.

Bruce has contributed to Geoff Thomas's fishing program on TV and all 3 of his Snapper Secrets fishing video's and has written for Marine Scene, NZ Fishing News, Coast to Coast, Dive New Zealand, NZ Herald and Boating New Zealand magazines.

He is also a regular host for the Live Sport fishing show on Saturday morning and exclusively compiles the weekly Radio Hauraki national fishing report, which goes to air every Saturday morning.

ENDS

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