My first run aground!

[ChattingLil]

the advice I was given when I started sailing on the East Coast was: find room for a couple of deck chairs on board, then WHEN you run aground, you can whip 'em out and make it look like you meant to.

 

[davidfox]

Most alarming one, when i was new to this game, i decided to go to Southwold from the Orwell when it was clear we were not going to make it before dark, thought, 'better go in somewhere, 'whats that?' are yes i will go up to Orford, i didnt have a chart of the entrance so i used the chartlet in the Almanac - about 10 yrs old!! we went in using the old leading marks, OMG nearly lost the boat, managed by a miracle to get off, we were driven towards the beach, which of course had deeper water and got out somehow.

 

[Burnham Bob]

Going aground on mud on a rising tide is an indication of being too eager. Done it in the Deben and the Roach at the mouth of Yokesfleet Creek.

On mud it's just a matter of waiting. However, not paying attention once went aground going through the Raysand (before the incredibly useful East Coast Sailing chartlet showed me the channel had moved to the East!) and being on hard sand is a different matter.

Didn't stop with a bang but when the tide came in we bounced unpleasantly on the keel. Not recommended!

 

[Marmalade]

Ran aground in Pyefleet once and looked up to see three other boats from our sailing club at anchor and watching in amusement - blush. Only time it wasn't soft mud was when we tried to sneak over Colne bar on the way back from Holland - hit it at 6 kts :-(

 

[philiphurst]

Plenty of wind on Sunday - Hurtled up the Deben a bit too fast. I should have realised there was trouble ahead when the depth sounder said 0.4m under the keel at troublesome reach. (well named!)
Still, I only had to wait 30 mins for the tide to lift me off the mud.

I now know what it feels like.

"There are only three kinds of skippers, those who have run aground, those who will run aground, and those that have but won't admit it."

Good effort, I reckon, if this is the first time you've done this.

Like others have said, it's a frequent occurrence for many of us. I've often wondered how much more care we/I would take if we sailed in an area with a left forgiving sea-bed. Quite a bit more, I imagine

 

[nigelm]

The Walton channel was my down fall , twice , coming out , Once having to wait a whole tide but was a nice moonlight sail to Bradwell after and the other time I was paying to much attention to breakfast and not enough to channel markers , brother in law out to end of boom quick smart lifted keel by enough to get off .

 

[macnorton]

Pah!! amateurs

At least you waited till the sandy bit's, I had to dig the legs out by hand and I can tell you the mud stinks!

 

[stevebrassett]

I usually only know I have run aground when I noticed I have stopped!

 

[pelmetman]

When I used to sail out of Brightlingsea my depth sounder didn't work so I used to sail by touch.................fortunately I had a swing keel

 

[CliveG]

When I used to sail out of Brightlingsea my depth sounder didn't work so I used to sail by touch.................fortunately I had a swing keel

Now that's a proper East Coast Boat

We use the same technique but have to pump the keel up a bit to escape.

Some times one can do it on purpose