overhead power lines at Beaumont Quay

[dylanwinter]

I am currently sailing around the UK and wanted to take my boat up to Beaumont Quay at the top of the Walton Backwaters

Which is what I did over the weekend.

I confess, at the time, I was more concerned about depth than height

There is a three phase power line crossing the dike to the quay - chart says 8 m of clearance

I thought that is plenty of room for my tubs 17 foot mast

but as we approached it was a very high tide, and the mast - although short is on top of the cabin - giving it another four or five feet

then there is the penant on top of that - suddenly the calculations get a bit critical

As it turned out, I passed under with no trouble - although from cockpit level it looked too close for comfort

Just out of interest - does anyone know what would have happened to me in the cockpit - well clear of the mast and shrounds


Dylan

http://www.youtube.com/user/dylanwinter1

 

[WinstonWaller]

I went up to Beaumont Quay two years ago, and did the last section through the Cut in my tender because of those power lines. They looked like 5KV lines to me. If your mast had touched, or the lines had arced across I don't think you would have survived. It only takes about 50mA to kill you, and 5KV would cause massive currents to run through the mast, the boat and you. I think you were very lucky.

 

[MrCramp]

As an East Coast sailor I am following your trip with interest. You will get more responce on matters concerning our part of the coast if you post on the " East Coast Meeting Forum".

Did you dry out on Beaumont Quay and if so did you walk and find a shop etc?

 

[dylanwinter]

quay

I whizzed up there. turned around and came back down

then went back by car to furtle around while one the way home

I will go up there and spend a tide now that I know how much water there is to play with

It is an astonishing place

D

 

[AngusMcDoon]

Power lines

Just out of interest - does anyone know what would have happened to me in the cockpit - well clear of the mast and shrounds

There's a report from the MAIB here...

http://www.maib.gov.uk/publications/safety_digests/2005/safety_digest_1_2005.cfm

A small boat hit a 11kV power line. One of the crew in intensive care with severe burns requiring skin grafts. Boat completely destroyed. There are some grim pictures in the report.

 

[dylanwinter]

blimey - thanks for that

I looked at the report and now feel a bit of a fool to not have sat down and done some proper calculations before going up the cut

I saw that it was charted at 8m (26 foot) - thought about dropping the mast - decided that it should give me at least 6 foot of clearance as the Mirror has a stubby little mast


17 foot mast - plus 4 foot to the cabin top from the water - plus 12 inches of penant = 22 foot

too close for comfort I reckon

must remember to be more careful about powerlines - as I will undountedly come across them as I travel around the UK


My rule from here on in is - if in doubt - drop the mast

Lesson taken

Dylan

 

[colvic987]

Thanks for the memories

Hi dylan, Its always great to catchup with your site after a couple of months away or during the winter, to watch the new vids you've posted, i especially love the colne, blackwater, mersea island ones, brings back memories of when i was posted there in the mid 80's at colchester garrison.

The little villages (and pubs) dotted around the waterways, down that way..makes me want to pack my bags and travel down for a week or two..

Your doing a great job keeping us armchair navigators happy...

Keep it coming, i'm sure the circumnavigation should take you longer then the 4 years you have mentioned, more like 10...

 

[Ubergeekian]

My rule from here on in is - if in doubt - drop the mast

Or dangle a bit of chain from one of the shrouds into the water.