How to put boat on beach ?

[Gordonmc]

Pre-planning is key.
Do a recce in the dinghy first to get an idea of the lay and make a mental note of where exactly you want to put the boat taking references from shore features.
Take a good look at the tidal charts for the day you intend beaching... pm highs can be significantly lower than morning highs, as I found out. I had to spend a night on the beach waiting for the next morning high.
I did not lay a kedge until low water, then walked out and dug a hole for the anchor.

The kedge is essential and I would advise using it alone to get the boat back to deep water. It is very disconcerting to see black mud coming out the the exhaust!

 

[Refueler]

Pre-planning is key.
Do a recce in the dinghy first to get an idea of the lay and make a mental note of where exactly you want to put the boat taking references from shore features.
Take a good look at the tidal charts for the day you intend beaching... pm highs can be significantly lower than morning highs, as I found out. I had to spend a night on the beach waiting for the next morning high.
I did not lay a kedge until low water, then walked out and dug a hole for the anchor.

The kedge is essential and I would advise using it alone to get the boat back to deep water. It is very disconcerting to see black mud coming out the the exhaust!

Great and commendable .... BUT OP mentioned East Head and Bembridge .... both popular beaching spots for many local boats. By time OP has recc'd locale .... a hoarde of others have beached and he's back to finding a spot again !!