It almost went badly wrong

[Sailorsam101]

So yesterday i was in Bembridge...hello to anybody who saw me.

I was on the inside of the main pontoon about half way down. Other big boat were leaving so i checked the water depth over the bar and all was fine.

I was pointing the wrong way so needed to do a 180...no problem..enough space and nobody on the pontoon around me. Wind was blowing straight into my stern.

Slipped lines..got some space and then port engine in forward..stb in astern and around she came....or didn't.

She got to beam onto the wind and no more...the wind was pushing me sideways towards the small boats near the pontoons. So loads of astern..back into position and try again...

Loads of power...thruster screaming away and still the same..she would not turn the bow through the wind. Now the wind was about a F4 so nothing much really....i was worried.

So i let the wind take her down the pontoon a bit where there was more space and tried again...and around she came no worries at all.

It took me a while to figure out what had happened...can you?

 

[Whitelighter]

Did you leave the yellow rope attached

 

[prv]

I don't know Bembridge well, but was there steep-to mud that you jammed your bow into?

Pete

 

[Sailorsam101]

Did you leave the yellow rope attached

Nope..i was not tied to anything at all.

The danger was that i was being blown onto the boat on mooring buoys. Any more ideas?

 

[Sailorsam101]

I don't know Bembridge well, but was there steep-to mud that you jammed your bow into?

Pete

Yep thats it...there was a hidden step in the bank that my bow swung into.

It really confused my..400hp could not turn a boat..why not...well mud was the answer...live and learn..wait for more water.

 

[[2068]]

Aha, "inside" the pontoon can get very shallow.
It used to be that "outside" the pontoon got very shallow too, but it's been better the last couple of seasons after some dredging.

 

[Sailorsam101]

It was my first time there so i was thrashing about without a clue...as usual..!!!

Nice place in the sun..we will be back.

 

[prv]

Yep thats it...there was a hidden step in the bank that my bow swung into.

Fairly standard for inside pontoon berths anywhere, though - if there was plenty of deep water inshore of the pontoon, why build it out so far?

Pete

 

[[2068]]

It's not obvious if you are a first time visitor.
The chart rather optimistically says "Dredged to 2m" to which I say "ha ha".
Having a scout around in a tender and doing your own survey is about the only way of seeing what the latest state of play is.

 

[Sailorsam101]

I knew it was shallow which is why i pushed the bow that way around..but i'll know for next time. Live and learn.

I'm still getting used to what feels right and wrong with two throttles....very steep learning curve indeed.