18 January 2012
The advisory period for new NSW legislation regarding lifejacket requirements for recreational boats ended in December and that the requirements are now being enforced.

The following new requirements are relevant to many members:

 In vessels less than 4.8m all persons must wear a lifejacket:
•    at night
•    on open (ocean) waters
•    on alpine waters
•    when boating alone
•    when the boat is used as a tender more than 400 metres from shore

Persons in canoes/kayaks must wear a lifejacket when greater than 100 metres from an accessible shore in sheltered waters, and at all times in ocean waters.

NSW Maritime defines safety equipment requirements in terms of Enclosed and Open waters, with additional requirements if you are more than two miles offshore. 
 
For Pittwater, the Enclosed Waters limit is a bit of a moving target.  It is always south of a line between Barrenjoey and West Head but may extend to Middle Head when waves are less than half a meter trough to crest. 
 
The implication of these limits is that on a typical summer’s day when the nor’easter kicks in during the afternoon a trip back from Halletts Beach to the Club will include passage through Open Waters and your vessel will need to carry the appropriate equipment for this classification - this is a NSW Maritime requirement.

Details of the requirements and an explanation of the changes may be found in this report. Click to download