They are common around the country in areas such as harbours and rivers. If you go boating and want to get out into open seas you usually have to navigate them and they can also be extremely dangerous. They are called Bars, such as can be found at Manukau, Kaipara, Raglan and many other areas in New Zealand and around the world.

Many experienced boaties have got into difficulty crossing a bar and each year, boats are damaged and people are killed or injured when attempts to navigate bar crossings go wrong.

West Coast Bar Day - 18 April

Boaties who go boating on either the Raglan, or Manukau Harbours and are interested in learning how to cross their harbour bar safely will get the opportunity to learn from Coastguard when four Coastguard units run a Bar Awareness Day on Sunday April 18.

Each Coastguard unit will provide participants with a full briefing at their local base and if weather conditions permit, will then accompany boaties out to cross the bar. Boaties on the Manukau Harbour are asked to bring their own boats and to ensure that they carry enough suitable lifejackets for the people on their boats. Due to space restrictions at the venues, all participants are asked to pre-register.

For the Raglan event, registrations start at 8.30am at the Raglan Fire Station,with the course running from 9.00am to 1.00pm. A course fee of $20 is payable by cash or cheque. Participants are asked to bring a lifejacket as a boat trip out on the bar is included as part of the day.

These are the local details for each unit.

Raglan Coastguard

Venue:    Raglan Fire Station, 11 Wainui Road, Raglan

Time:      0830hrs for Registration with a start at 0900

Cost:       $20 per person

To register click here or phone Brigid Green on 07 825 8089

Waiuku Coastguard

Venue:    Clarks Beach

Time:      0830hrs for Registration with a start at 0900

To register click here or phone Richard Udy on 09 235 92050275 433 295

Papakura Coastguard

Venue:    Papakura Coastguard Base, Bottle Top Bay, Papakura

Time:      0800hrs for Registration with a start at 0900

To register click here or phone Donald Hovelle on 0275 433 295

Manukau Coastguard

Venue:    French Bay Boat Ramp, French Bay, Titirangi

Time:      0830hrs for a briefing. 1000hrs planned departure to meet up with Waiuku and Papakura Coastguard Units at Blow Hole Bay at 1100hrs

To register click here or phone Peter Van Rooyen on 021 062 2923

Here are some simple tips that all boaties should follow when crossing a bar.

ü	Seek local advice on the bar and channels
ü	Check the weather, tide and bar conditions
ü	Ensure your boat has adequate stability
ü	Check your boat and make sure hatches and equipment are adequately secured
ü	Make sure that everybody is wearing a lifejacket and are awake
ü	Ensure that you are carrying two forms of communication that work even when wet
ü	Make a trip report to Coastguard of your plans before crossing
ü	Post a lookout to monitor conditions astern
ü	Approach the bar at moderate speed
ü	Communicate to Coastguard that you have successfully crossed the bar

 The final piece of advice from Coastguard is:

If in doubt, don't go out!