Several of the 50 or so boats at the Titirangi Community Center raised their hands when asked who had passed the notoriously dangerous west coast bar.
Photograph: RNZ/Jessica Hopkins

He shared harrowing experiences as boats passed Manukau Bar following a death in the harbor in October.

Six people have died in bar crossing accidents across the country this winter, the Coast Guard said.

At the Coastguard’s Manukau Harbor bar crossing safety seminar in Titirangi, Connor Shawtoomey and Norm Shadbolt told RNZ they wanted some tips after returning from a “tough time” fishing in the greater Manukau.

“We’re facing a wave that’s crashing next to us and almost tipping us over,” Shadbolt said.

Shawtoomey said he learned to “listen to the experts” after that close call.

Manukau Sport Fishing Club member Joshua Davis severely injured his spine while crossing Hokianga Bar in Northland.

“I thought it would be nice to film it as I passed the bar. I had no contact points on the boat and as a result we came out from behind a wave. I hit the deck pretty hard.”

Having all contact points means your feet and hands have a firm grip on the boat.

Davis said listening to local experts helped him successfully cross the Manukau Bar and return home safely to his wife and newborn baby.

“You get pretty anxious and nervous, you want to make sure you know what you’re getting into.

“That (bar) takes many lives every year.

“No fish is worth dying for.”

Baby Lily Manawa took to the water three times with parents Joshua Davis and Rochelle Hilton.
Photograph: RNZ/Jessica Hopkins

Experienced boater Andrew Messent, who has sailed the Manukau Bar hundreds of times, said he had rescued many unprepared people, including kayakers.

The Titirangi seminar was the first he attended after completing the Day Captain course 20 years ago.

He was motivated to brush up on his knowledge after the sudden increase in incidents at the port.

“A lot of people have made bad decisions lately and gotten into trouble.

“Sometimes we learn lessons the hard way.

“You feel experienced because you’ve done so many boat tours, but a lot is changing out there; our boats, our technology, are no longer exploring the depth and markings of Manukau Harbour.”

Markers like mountains help boats cross the bar at the best spot.

More than 1,200 people have attended seminars across the country since the Coast Guard took office. Bar Awareness Roadshow in August.

Simon Marshall, Coastguard bar safety project leader at Tautiaki Moana, said attending a seminar saved someone’s life during a recent rescue at the Manukau Bar.

“We had a gentleman the boat capsized earlier this year. He crossed the bar hundreds of times.

“He attended one of our courses and was very happy to have this information in case of an emergency.”

Marshall, a volunteer with the Titirangi Coastguard unit, which operates Manukau Port, said Manukau Bar was a notoriously difficult place, with hundreds of people injured every year.

“All pubs have their own risks but Manukau in particular is more accessible to people as it is right on the doorstep of Auckland.

“Our west coast regularly has more waves than our east coast. There’s always a swell to contend with and a huge amount of current.”

The Coast Guard has been holding safety seminars for more than a decade, but Marshall said the new roadshow format has reached record numbers.

“It’s really community driven – it’s all about our volunteers sharing everything they know to avoid tragedies in pubs.

“I’m quite surprised that it’s not just new boaters who want to experience this for the first time. There are quite a few salty old sea dogs showing up.”

He said fishermen will always go over fences to catch their catch, but they need to regularly contact local experts to do so safely.

“Crossing a bar is the most dangerous thing you can do on your recreational boat.

“Local knowledge is very important and needs to be refreshed regularly.

“There’s not one course you can just do and you’ll be good for the next 10 years. It’s something you have to be really quick about.”