Safe bar crossings
Bar crossing advice
Raglan Bar
Click here to view real-time images of the Raglan Bar, on NIWA's website.
Important safety guidelines to follow
- Contact Coastguard (on VHF) immediately prior to crossing and confirm successful crossing after.
- Check the weather - do this within 12 hours of your boating trip.
- Check the tide - avoid low tide.
- Talk to a local about the bar conditions.
- Tie down any loose objects such as anchor, and ropes.
- Everyone must wear a lifejacket.
- Avoid ebb tide (The period between high tide and low tide during which water flows away from the shore, also called falling tide).
If in doubt - don't go out!
Bar crossing advisory on Coastguard radio
Bar crossings are one of the highest risk activities boaties in the Waikato will come across. To keep boaties more informed of bar conditions Waikato Regional Council harbourmasters in conjunction with Coastguard have an advisory service.
The advisory is broadcast over the Coastguard radio in their station notices. The advisory indicates whether the bar is:
Level 1: normal – free navigation
Level 2: marginal – navigate with caution
Level 3: not recommended – navigation is likely to be hazardous.
Harbourmasters will also advise users of bar status by placing public signs at the harbourmaster’s office, appropriate boat ramps and/or wharves.