Safer Boating Week might have started but a Hawke's Bay harbourmaster warns safety messages should be all year round.
This year's message for Safer Boating Week, which started last Friday and ends on Hawke's Bay Anniversary Day, is "Prep, check and know - Prepare your craft, check your gear and know the rules".
However, Hawke's Bay Regional Council harbourmaster Martin Moore said he wants people to remember boat safety messages all year round. These include wearing a lifejacket and carrying two forms of communication when people are out on the water, especially a fully charged cellphone.
"If you can't float or call for help, we can't rescue you. Plan ahead for what might go wrong - not just for a great time on the water.
"Whether you are on a boat with a radio, a jetski, or kayak, just zip your cellphone into a plastic bag and put it in your lifejacket pocket."