Oops! The Perils of Brown Water Sailing

[Stemar]

This just popped up on my YT feed.

I'm not going to criticise him, I suspect plenty of ditch crawlers (not a pejorative term, I enjoy it myself) have had a few narrow escapes

 

[zoidberg]

Have you tried bog-snorkeling?

 

[PhillM]

Nice video. Thanks for bringing that to our attention.

 

[James_Calvert]

Thanks for sharing.

We had a similar moment in the Medway years ago, but a passing police boat towed us off before the tide dropped too much.

Same false confidence from the echosounder...

 

[Paulfireblade]

Very well put together video and thankfully a happy ending.

 

[clyst]

............ the sailor who has never made a mistake etc etc .?

 

[38mess]

Thanks for the link.
I Just watched all of Toby's videos, he has a great way of presenting.

 

[DJE]

Poole Harbour is my favourite spot for running out of water.

 

[Giblets]

Poole Harbour is my favourite spot for running out of water.

Been there, done that, same place! All caused by our skipper's determination to get to the pub before last orders was called. Admittedly his second comment after hitting the putty was "Best get the kettle on before we heel too much."

We were however, in good company as one of the inshore lifeboats also went aground about 30m from us. We would have asked them to join us for a cuppa but unfortunately they were on the other side of the deep channel that we should have been in!

 

[Stemar]

Have you tried bog-snorkeling?

Far too energetic for one of my tender sensibilities

 

[Adios]

I think ditch crawling in a small boat is about the most pleasurable type of boating. The sea passages are mostly less interesting interludes while travelling between ditches

 

[NormanS]

I would have laid out a anchor (any type ?), to pull her off, when the tide returned, rather than pushing, and then having to clamber back aboard.

 

[Thistle]

I would have laid out a anchor (any type ?), to pull her off, when the tide returned, rather than pushing, and then having to clamber back aboard.

But we're told that when he put one foot on the mud, he immediately sank to the top of his sailing boots. Crossing the mud to put an anchor out might have kept him there even after the boat had floated free.

 

[NormanS]

But we're told that when he put one foot on the mud, he immediately sank to the top of his sailing boots. Crossing the mud to put an anchor out might have kept him there even after the boat had floated free.

OK, I didn't get that bit. I always remember JDS, of blessed memory, advocating that the way to progress on mud, was to lie down and roll. Must admit, I've never tried. ?

 

[AndrewB]

I would have laid out a anchor (any type ?), to pull her off, when the tide returned, rather than pushing, and then having to clamber back aboard.

Yes, my first thought too. Stern anchor out as far as possible, and winch like crazy. I've got off more than once that way, it is surprising just how much load an anchor dug into mud will take. In the ICW (Florida) I dragged my 10-ton boat off even though it was leaning over at quite an angle. But as Thistle says, with deep mud and no dinghy he had no way of laying the anchor out.

Great video though!

 

[RupertW]

Yes, my first thought too. Stern anchor out as far as possible, and winch like crazy. I've got off more than once that way, it is surprising just how much load an anchor dug into mud will take. In the ICW (Florida) I dragged my 10-ton boat off even though it was leaning over at quite an angle. But as Thistle says, with deep mud and no dinghy he had no way of laying the anchor out.

Great video though!

And that’s the point - no dinghy. When I sailed a ditch crawler years ago we found the traditional wooden dinghy vital as a way to cross deep mud to lay an anchor or get to the pub.

 

[NormanS]

I suppose it depends on your type of sailing. I have never sailed without a dinghy, either towed or ready to be thrown over the side, so if (when) in a similar situation, the anchor would have been laid out tout suite. Unless I had gone aground at a great rate of knots, she would have been off right away. If your normal sailing is from anchor to anchor, you need a dinghy.

 

[Adios]

I dried out overnight too far up on the shore up the under the little cliff at Black Heath on the north bank of the Alde. Basically had to be right up to get out of the boat. I'd broken the shear pin getting in the night before so was a little concerned I would do it again trying to get out, then I'd be blown back onto land by the pretty strong onshore wind that had picked up. 18ft lift keeler with no oars and the emergency paddle wouldn't have done much against the wind so I had to push it out as much as possible into the waves, jump in and motor out in barely any water. Same inability to put an anchor out further than I could throw it due to the mud. I should have thought about it on the way in, there was no wind when I arrived but it would have been prudent...

Toby in the video hit the ground so gently he didn't even feel it until he tried to change course so he wasn't stuck. He had an extra foot of water so should have been no worries at all but I can certainly understand the angst anyway!

 

[mjcoon]

OK, I didn't get that bit. I always remember JDS, of blessed memory, advocating that the way to progress on mud, was to lie down and roll. Must admit, I've never tried. ?

Maybe those inflatable spheres offer a cleaner alternative (to rolling or a dinghy). Not sure if they can be used by two persons at once so any number can go ashore that way. Zero wind is an absolute requirement...

 

[zoidberg]

Maybe those inflatable spheres offer a cleaner alternative (to rolling or a dinghy). Not sure if they can be used by two persons at once so any number can go ashore that way. Zero wind is an absolute requirement...

I gather they don't go to windward very well.

There's a bit of a problem, or so I understand, with securing the anchor rode to the samson post.....