Recreational boating booming in Czechia
More and more Czechs are discovering the joys of life on the water. The number of recreational boats registered in the country has doubled over the past decade, reflecting the growing popularity of boating as a summer pastime.
One of the country's most popular boating destinations is the Slapy Reservoir, south of Prague. During the summer months, it attracts sailors, anglers, watersports enthusiasts and families looking to spend time on the water. It is also one of the locations where the State Navigation Administration carries out regular patrols.
Klára Kroupa Němcová is head of the Administration which is responsible for regulating navigation and maintaining safety on all Czech rivers, lakes and reservoirs.
"There are currently more than 22,000 vessels in the national register, and each year another 700 to 800 new vessels are added. This is accompanied by a growing number of people obtaining licences to operate small and recreational vessels. The number of licence holders increases by around 3,400 to 3,500 every year, and there are now more than 71,000 licensed operators in the Czech Republic," she says.
Hynek Beneš, who patrols the Slapy Reservoir, says his job involves much more than inspections. He often assists boaters in trouble, towing vessels that have broken down.
"We see ourselves as guardians of the waterway, so besides inspections, like checking valid licenses, we also try to provide assistance on the water to anyone who needs it," he says.
The water patrols inspect the technical condition of vessels and make sure that they comply with navigation rules. They verify that boats carry the required safety equipment, including life jackets and fire extinguishers, and that skippers have valid licences and registration documents. They also deal with swimmers who cross busy navigation routes, often putting themselves at risk.
As temperatures rise, so does the number of people on the water, and not everyone follows the rules. The increase in summer traffic has also kept the Czech Red Cross Water Rescue Service increasingly busy.
Its president, David Smejkal, says rescuers have already responded to more than 420 incidents this season across the country's 16 monitored locations.
"We're already approaching 50 percent of last year's total, when we had 1,093 call-outs. The hot weather brought large numbers of people to the water, and during the hottest weekend alone we responded to more than 120 incidents," he says.
Most rescues involve medical emergencies, near-drownings and injuries, many of them linked to extreme summer temperatures. Twenty-seven people have drowned in Czechia since the start of the year. Rescuers urge people not to overestimate their abilities, to wear life jackets where appropriate and to avoid jumping into cold water when overheated.
Alongside its law-enforcement work, the State Navigation Administration plans to expand educational campaigns and training programs to promote responsible behaviour on the country's increasingly busy waterways.
The growing popularity of recreational boating is also benefiting the local economy with businesses catering to boaters such as boat rental companies, marinas and waterfront restaurants, expanding along the country’s waterways.
