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Marine Safety heads to South East Field Days
Monday 16 March 2026
Visitors to this weekend’s South East Field Days in Lucindale can sharpen their boating safety skills, check their lifejackets, and pick up practical tips with Marine Safety SA’s Stay Afloat clinic.
Marine Safety SA will run free lifejacket maintenance clinics on Friday 20 and Saturday 21 March at 11am and 1pm, giving boaters the opportunity to learn how to maintain them and get advice on essential safety gear – knowledge that can make a critical difference on the water.
Lifejackets remain one of the most important pieces of equipment for any boater, yet South Australia’s recent drowning data shows how often they are not worn when it matters most.
Over the past 20 years, 65 people have drowned in boating‑related incidents across South Australia and only one was confirmed to be wearing a lifejacket at the time. Between July 2020 and June 2025, tragically, 18 people drowned while boating in powered and unpowered vessels on South Australian waters.
Visitors can also get involved in a range of activities at the Stay Afloat booth, including a competition to win an inflatable lifejacket in either adult or child sizes by subscribing to the program’s newsletter at the event.
Families taking part in the Blue Yakka Trail 2026 can collect a stamp at the booth, along with a giveaway drink bottle and Marine Safety activity book.
The Stay Afloat clinics are one of the first initiatives rolling out under South Australia’s Recreational Boating Safety Strategy, which aims to strengthen safety awareness among recreational boaters and reduce deaths and harm on the state’s waters.
For more information: Stay Afloat with us
Quotes attributable to Manager, Marine Safety and Compliance Gordon Panton
Our mission is to make sure everyone who goes out on the water boating returns home safely.
By taking boating safety information directly to communities at boat ramps and major events, like the South East Field Days, we are ensuing more South Australians can enjoy their time on the water safely and confidently.
Bring your lifejacket down to learn how to maintain it yourself, and we’ll have free replacement parts if it needs it. Ask our Marine Safety Officers any questions you have about staying safe out on the water.