Grounding Etiquite...

[photodog]

Would those who are more informed of tradition care to comment of what is the appropriate etiquite to be observed by the Groundee?

reason I ask is I observed a rented Bav 36 run onto the Turnaware Bar on the Fal yesterday about 1130, and felt that the crews response failed to show the requisite humility that grounding at that particular spot requires......

After parking said boat at high speed directly onto the middle of the bar, the family proceeded to wave their arms about and encourage others to leave the green can to Starboard and join them, and then jumped up and down together in the cockpit with the engine going full astern (I assume) failing to get others to join them, they packed a picnic and dingyed ashore....

Were they proceeded to cook sausages and have a nice jolly until they floated off....

I felt that one particular comment by dad was a bit bizarre....

"The cruising guide says that lots of people run aground here"

Should he have made note of that particular bon mot?

Anyways, I just want to ensure that when I do something simular, I am exhibiting the correct behaviour....

Was this jolly adventure type of reaction correct,,, or should they have locked themselves in the cabin and skulked off after floating off?

Guidance please.

 

[alec]

Probably the most important thing is to try and make out that you actually wanted to ground there.

I would put this above personal safety.


Even before taking the sails down hoist the black ball. Very important that you act casual during the whole episode. Might be worth getting extra help on acting from RADA manuals.

Do not try and get off. This will only attract more attention. Start cleaning the bottom as soon as possible. If the bottom is clean try and add dirt/mud when no one is looking.

Sure others can come up with more ideas.

 

[Poignard]

Just act like royalty:

Smile and wave

 

[FullCircle]

Are you insinuating that they didnt mean to do it? Surely not. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[machurley22]

Speaking with all the wisdom of a single experience to back me up and considering that I got it pretty much perfect for a first timer I think you might well learn something from the following.

Start with a completely incorrect assessment of the situation such as "Don't worry the tide is rising" when it's just after high water.

Try to reverse off without dropping the main. As soon as you float free the bows will fall off, the main will fill and blow you back on.

Consider various highly dangerous and completely impractical solutions while allowing your crew to strip off preparatory to jumping in to try to push her off.

Hopefully a rush of common sense will kick in at about this point. If not, God help you.

HTH

 

[photodog]

Well it did for a moment occur to me that their method was in fact superior to my own checking the depth, dropping the hook, hoicking our anchor ball up, and then going ashore.
Much faster, and no chance of dragging. plus they were much closer to the beach.

 

[BenchHead]

Lob anchor, put kettle on, act casual. If weather good for added effect invite SWMBO into cockpit with sunglasses to read a mag. For super duper added effect as no-one can actually see you check the depth, lob lead line over the side and stare intently at wrist watch while saying in a loud and confident voice as possible "Exactly as predictated - we have 30 minutes for tea and scones" - I actually used this ploy when I ran aground about 20 feet off the end of the hammer head at West Mersea on a week-end in front of hoards of on-lookers - worked a treat and after said tea and scones we motored happily onto our mooring.

 

[Woodlouse]

Upon running aground the first thing one must do is take down the ensign. This is especially important if it is defaced by a prestigious club. The second thing to do is take down the mainsail, so that you don't get recognised by your sail number.

After that follow the advice already given above.

 

[Lakesailor]

I suppose it depends on your boat.
If bilge keeled just settle down to wait for the tide and look happy.
If fin or long keeled drop into the water and make like you're inspecting skin fittings or the rudder.
If lift keeled, lift it and carry on (or better still come back the way you came).

 

[FullCircle]

And undoubtedly they didnt have far to step off one side. Quite close to the beach I would have thought.

 

[BruceDanforth]

The immediate priority should be to run up a French ensign.

 

[cagey]

Curious how you now it was a rented boat, But that boat belongs to a very good friend of mine and because some idiot who obviously doesnt know left from right, arse from elbow, his boat after hauling out and inspection by surveyor will not be seaworthy this year.
The etiquette seems simple if you cant navigate something as bloody simple as Turnaware you shouldn't be sailing on your own in some one elses boat, incidentally had this not been reported to my friend by a third party it would possibly have gone unreported.
"Etiquette" how do you say sorry to all the other charters whose holiday have been ruined by this idiot
Keith

 

[Sixpence]

Nope , following frequent briefings on the subject I have set aside a pot of paint in the full knowledge that I am almost definately going to run aground at one time or another , so the idea is to make it look deliberate , jump down and start painting at the first opportunity /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[hlb]

On the other hand. On a twin screwed motor boat. Going aground is not an option. You just make sure you never do it.

 

[Evadne]

Ah yes, that was the advice given by the Captain of HMS Nottingham, wasn't it?

 

[Twister_Ken]

Re: Grounding Etiquette...

Most impressive if you can haul out onto the sandbar a picnic table, chairs, hamper, beach umbrella, barbeque, chilled Chablis, and a butler.

Failing that, two sets of stumps, bat and ball.

 

[CPD]

Re: Grounding Etiquette...

Wave, whilst smiling, and at the same time practising being a ventriloquist, saying to yourself "I feel like a complete pillock". /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[photodog]

Well the reason I know it was a rental was because
A) The guy seemed entirely unfussed about it, considering he went on at about 7knots.
B) It had big words on the side xxxxxx.com.

My thoughts echo yours exactly, Because of his stupidity how many other peoples holidays will be ruined?

Incidently I have within the last 20 minutes looked at the boat, which is on the hoist, and while he has bashed up the bottom of the keel, there does not appear to be on the surface any damage around the base of the keel.

So fingers crossed it will be back in the water end of play....

same guys who are working on her dropped the keel off a Hanse 342 yesterday, and she is back in the water now.

 

[photodog]

actually rereading your post, we may not be talking about the same boat.....

 

[Goldie]

I was very impressed last weekend to see 3 black balls raised on a yacht aground. Closer inspection revealed a black ball and 2 black baseball hats, but the effect was there and the meaning clear. Now if we could only get more people to use anchor balls and motor sailing cones as well.....