Bramble grounding

Saw a boat hard on the Bramble on Saturday. Anyone know if they got off OK?

Don't know but not to be recommended - I've hit it at about 4.5 kts under sail in my previous boat and it felt like it was very hard and furrowed. We sailed off OK but banged over the furrows a bit hard which was a bit disconcerting. In a seaway it would not be funny atall.

In my case it was just taking the direct route to Cowes from Calshot Spit - your's truly not appreciating the course the helm was taking. So now it's stay to the west of West Knoll and no inattention!!
 
Saw her there, but she would have had absolutely no problems getting off.

Put the kettle on and wait, flooding tide & very light westerly wind and she would have lifted and drifted gently to the east and off the bank.

What was she doing so close to the western side of the beacon in the first place?
 
In my case it was just taking the direct route to Cowes from Calshot Spit - your's truly not appreciating the course the helm was taking. So now it's stay to the west of West Knoll and no inattention!!

If you look at the power station chimneys in Cowes and keep a gap between them it keeps you clear of the Bramble and is fairly easy to follow.
 
Years ago I took the Coastal Skipper practical in the Solent.
At one stage I was tasked with taking the boat from Cowes to Hamble. The examiner wanted me to go as close as possible to the Brambles beacon.
The boom end just missed it. The tide was in, mind you. :)
"Well, I did say close, I suppose", he said, with a pale face.
It ws blowing SW F8 at the time though. :eek:
I passed, by the way. :cool:
 
Fair point, but given enough time and the wrong tide, most of us have been caught out somewhere, sometime. What matters is how you deal with it and there are worse things than having a brew on a sandbank......
 
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