spectators praised for taking on safety message

Louis Vuitton spectator fleets praised for taking safety message on board

15 February 2009

The majority of recreational boats kept their distance and respected the extended 12-knot speed limit and no wake rules during the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series says Auckland Regional Council’s Harbourmaster John Lee-Richards.

"I would like to thank the spectator skippers for generally keeping out of the competitors’ way and keeping their speed down.

“During the series we stopped a couple of hundred boaties for speeding or straying onto courses. Compared to what we were expecting, that's relatively low."

Most boaties were more than happy to comply with regulations as the exclusion zones were not too restrictive. They were often content to stay in one place as they could anchor safely around the course fringes, says Mr John Lee-Richards.

The temporary 12-knot speed restriction out to Rangitoto Beacon was lifted at 7pm last night. The 12-knot speed restriction from North Head to the Auckland Harbour Bridge remains in place.

During the series the course was jointly policed by the Harbourmaster’s team, the Maritime Police Unit and marshall boats provided by the regatta organiser.

The harbourmaster and Maritime police were granted special powers by the Ministry of Transport which allowed them to evict any spectator boat or spectator from the course if they were not complying with the special rules.

Ensuring business as usual on the harbour

For the duration of the Louis Vuitton series, the Harbourmaster team carried out its regular duties to ensure the harbour operated as normally, including educating the public about boating safety.

ENDS

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