Hand signals provide communication between the skier/wakeboarder and the boat
driver
Equipment
Boat equipment required by law:
．Life jackets for each passenger
．Life buoy(s) & 18 meter buoyant rope
．Bucket & fire extinguishers
．Boat must be licensed & insured
Skiers' equipment:
．Skier/wakeboarders must wear ski vests (flotation jackets)
．Ski-gloves are advisable to improve grip and avoid blisters
．Wet suits are recommended in winter
．Helmets should be worn when ski jumping or racing
Drivers/Observers/Passengers
Boat Drivers
．The driver must hold or be under the supervision of a person or persons
on the boat in possession of a Operator's certificate
for pleasure vessels and suitable for the vessel in which he/she is command
i.e.
Operator Grade 2: Vessels of 15m (49.2 ft) or less
Operator Grade 1: Vessels of unlimited length
．At no time should the driver overload the vessel with passengers
．The engine should be switched off when a skier/wakeboarder is entering or exiting
the boat
．The driver should look ahead at all times and give a wide berth to other boats
and obstacles
．Use a rear-view mirror
．The driver above all must use his common sense
．Be alert to the observer's instructions
The Observer
It is comopulsory in HK for an observer to be onboard the boat when someone
is skiing/wakeboarding
．Watch the skier/wakeboarder, keeping the driver informed in the event that
the skier/wakeboarder falls
．Notify the driver of the sker/wakeboarder's hand signals
．Assist the driver in staying clear of other boats, obstacles and skiers/wakeboarders
．Retrieve the ski rope from the water as soon as the skier/warkeboarder finishes
so as not to cause a hazard to other vessels
Passengers
．Boat seats are made to sit in
．Never sit on hte bow, gunwale, mid-deck or transom whilst the boat is in motion
．Never stand up in the boat when the motor is in gear
．No more than the licensed number of passengers should be onboard
Falling/Driving Tips
Falling In Water
Falls in waterskiing are generally not dangerous. Tucking in the limbs and body
for a smooth fall will reduce the chances of bodily strains or sprains. Remember
the faster the boat is travelling the harder the potential fall.
On every fall skier/wakeboarder must use the approved signal to show he/she
is all right. If this signal is not seen, the boat driver and others should
come to the rescue or assistance immediately.
Driving Tips
When a skier/wakeboarder falls, the boat must return to him/her as quickly as
possible. The allows those onboard to assist the skier if he/she is injured
or in distress, to protect him/her from any nearby boat traffic, and to return
the ski rope to him/her as soon as possible so that he/she may resume skiing/wakeboarding
instead of wasting his/her energy treading water. If the skier is not continuing,
retrieve the rope.
Generally, the fewer passengers the better, especially if the boat is low powered. Each additional passenger's weight makes the starts harder, diminishes the skiing speeds and can detract from hte attention between driver and skier.
While an observer in the boat is an important safeguard it is also advised to attach a wide-angle rear-view mirror.
Even with an observer and a mirror there are many occasions when the driver should glance around at his/her skier. In fact, hte driver's head and eyes should be moving constantly, checking the skier/wakeboarder and the immediate surrounding water, especially when there is heavy boat and skiing/wakeboarding traffice in the same area.
Skier/wakeboarders, drivers and observers are recommended to save alcholic drink until completing skiing/wakeboarding.
Please also refer to updated Marine Department Notice
