Skippers are being reminded ahead of the summer busy season to check the wind forecast and consider the risks before departing as part of this year’s Weather or not safety campaign.
Coinciding with the Perth Boat Show, the Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure has launched the second year of its Weather or notsafety campaign ‘Check weather or not you should be on the water’ with a new focus on wind conditions.
Wind was a factor in more than a third of serious boating incidents in Western Australia during the past year (2025-2026) contributing to 27 of the 88 total number reported to marine authorities.
The campaign reinforces the importance of checking and understanding the weather forecast. Similar to the first year of the campaign, which focused on waves, seas, and swell, it promotes a simple guide showing the size of craft needed to be safe in different wind conditions.
It shows that a gentle breeze up to eight knots in generally safe for boating, a gentle to fresh breeze up to 18 knots is usually safe if you have a vessel larger than five metres long while above 20 knots wind conditions are too uncomfortable and unsafe to be on the water unless your vessel is more than 10 metres in length.
Common boating incidents caused by wind include capsize, collision, sinking, flooding, swamping, or grounding.
Weather or not campaign is a five-year safety campaign focused on weather-related messaging.
Minister Assisting the Transport and Major Infrastructure Minister John Carey said:
“As we head into summer, we want to remind the skippers of the more than 100,000 registered recreational vessels to check the wind forecast before pulling up anchor.
“Knowing what conditions are safe for your vessel, and what the wind forecast is, will help keep you out of harm’s way while you’re out on the water.
“Our Weather or notcampaign gives skippers practical advice on what to consider before launching their vessel and serves as a timely reminder of the potential life-threatening risks of boating in dangerous conditions.”
To find out more about the campaign, visit www.transport.wa.gov.au/weatherornot
