TimfromMersea
Well-Known Member
This is being sent via the normal MailChimp to members of the Dabchicks Sailing Club and West Mersea Yacht Club, but I thought that it would help visitors to the area if I shared it here as well:-
"WARNING OF HAZARD TO NAVIGATION.
Members should be aware that on the spit just South of the main channel into Mersea, there appears to be a heavy line floating just below the water's surface, which line is unmarked and attached to something large on the seabed.
On Saturday last, whilst manoeuvring before the start of the YC race, my prop picked up this line, which stalled the engine immediately and left us moored by the stern. We managed to extricate ourselves by re-starting the engine and running it astern, which unwound the line, and as we have a shaft log and not a P bracket thankfully there appears to be no damage.
Another member has also had a prop foul from this line and tells me "the remnants on my shaft consisted of a strange braided rope with a plastic bead core, and loads of weed".
I estimated the position to be on the spit to the South of the main channel, between nos 2 and 4 red navigation buoys, and about fifty yards North West of the Committee Boat moorings. The other member who has suffered a prop foul from this line gives a position of approx 51deg45.837N 000deg54.582E.
Any information on what this is and who laid it would be welcome. In the meantime members are advised to give the area a wide berth and stick to the main channel until E of the Committee Boat moorings. "
Tillergirl, your finger is usually well on the pulse of what is happening locally. Have you any more information that you can share with us please?
"WARNING OF HAZARD TO NAVIGATION.
Members should be aware that on the spit just South of the main channel into Mersea, there appears to be a heavy line floating just below the water's surface, which line is unmarked and attached to something large on the seabed.
On Saturday last, whilst manoeuvring before the start of the YC race, my prop picked up this line, which stalled the engine immediately and left us moored by the stern. We managed to extricate ourselves by re-starting the engine and running it astern, which unwound the line, and as we have a shaft log and not a P bracket thankfully there appears to be no damage.
Another member has also had a prop foul from this line and tells me "the remnants on my shaft consisted of a strange braided rope with a plastic bead core, and loads of weed".
I estimated the position to be on the spit to the South of the main channel, between nos 2 and 4 red navigation buoys, and about fifty yards North West of the Committee Boat moorings. The other member who has suffered a prop foul from this line gives a position of approx 51deg45.837N 000deg54.582E.
Any information on what this is and who laid it would be welcome. In the meantime members are advised to give the area a wide berth and stick to the main channel until E of the Committee Boat moorings. "
Tillergirl, your finger is usually well on the pulse of what is happening locally. Have you any more information that you can share with us please?
