Taking the ground

[andrewbartlett]

I'm interested to know what the correct procedures are for taking the ground , intentionly that is . For example I hope to visit Bembridge harbour this summer ( I hav'nt visited before and I understand you are allowed to 'take the ground' just inside the harbour on the eastern beach.) this would indicate a fairly formal taking of the ground (but anchoring in the harbour is not permitted) would one therefore take the ground and not secure in anyway therefore it seems to me to preclude stopping in this way overnight. Could anyone clarify the various ways one can 'take the ground ' from the accidental obviously informal upwards!

 

[Tranona]

No quick simple answer. Depends on your boat and the location. Long article in this months PBO on the subject has most angles covered.

 

[Seajet]

I'm interested to know what the correct procedures are for taking the ground , intentionly that is . For example I hope to visit Bembridge harbour this summer ( I hav'nt visited before and I understand you are allowed to 'take the ground' just inside the harbour on the eastern beach.) this would indicate a fairly formal taking of the ground (but anchoring in the harbour is not permitted) would one therefore take the ground and not secure in anyway therefore it seems to me to preclude stopping in this way overnight. Could anyone clarify the various ways one can 'take the ground ' from the accidental obviously informal upwards!

Andrew,

many questions before answers to this !

What sort of keel configuration is your boat ?

I presume ( dangerous word ) she's a twin keeler, in which case as long as it's calm weather - don't attempt it otherwise - you should put the boat ashore very gently, then keep on a bit of engine power to keep her up the beach and dried out relatively quickly, without pounding on the sand as the tide goes out.

Do look at your almanac carefully to make sure the next tide isn't lower, meaning you might be 'neaped' and left there for a disastrous fortnight or more !

You will need to set an anchor from the bow, assuming you go in bows first, ( surely this sort of anchoring is allowed, very different from anchoring mid - harbour ) to ensure you stay in place overnight and give straighter steering as a 'drogue' tow effect when reversing off.

When getting off the beach it's an idea to have the trusty crew on the foredeck, to prevent the aft heel-tips of the keels digging in.

 

[VicS]

Kingfisher 20 ?

Go in and anchor off the beach. When the tide has fallen to the level you judge to be right, so that you will get off again when you want to, run straight onto the beach. Or if you have anchored in suitable spot just wait for the tide to go down

Lay out an anchor to swing to when the tide rises.

Dont do it if its windy and beware because I believe there can be a strong tidal flow there at times.

Ive beached at East Head several times but never done it in Bembridge. I prefer to go onto the pontoon.


See http://www.troppo.co.uk/tightwad/bembridge.htm

 

[VicMallows]

If staying dried out overnight at somewhere like East Head/Bembridge/PrioryBay I would nudge into the beach about 2hrs after HW as already described. (Bilge Keeler). I would then lay out bower anchor forward and a stern anchor towards deeper water directly astern to keep me more or less in the same position on the beach.

Yes it's perfectly OK to anchor like this on the beach just inside Bembridge. Just be aware that you will be charged (I think £8) for the privilege

 

[Nina Lucia]

This was in Langstone Harbour, just wanted to see what does look like!

If staying dried out overnight at somewhere like East Head/Bembridge/PrioryBay I would nudge into the beach about 2hrs after HW as already described. (Bilge Keeler). I would then lay out bower anchor forward and a stern anchor towards deeper water directly astern to keep me more or less in the same position on the beach.

Yes it's perfectly OK to anchor like this on the beach just inside Bembridge. Just be aware that you will be charged (I think £8) for the privilege

 

[VicMallows]

This was in Langstone Harbour, just wanted to see what does look like!

Nice pic, but were you quoting me for some reason?

 

[GrahamM376]

If staying dried out overnight at somewhere like East Head/Bembridge/PrioryBay I would nudge into the beach about 2hrs after HW as already described. (Bilge Keeler). I would then lay out bower anchor forward and a stern anchor towards deeper water directly astern to keep me more or less in the same position on the beach.

+1

Only thing I would add is that I always left the engine running ahead to keep us firmly on to avoid being bounced by wash/waves, until we settled properly.

 

[Seajet]

One potential snag with laying out a kedge anchor astern is that to get any decent workable horizontal-ish angle of pull, the anchor has to be a long way out so the line is vulnerable to p**t's in speedboats, or may even collect a harbour master's craft !

If possible delay deploying it as reasonably late as possible as the tide comes in.

That's in calm conditions; if it should blow strongly while aground, get the main bower anchor out from the stern - if bows onto the beach - as far as possible, using a tender or requesting the harbour launch to do it if necessary.

That's just looking on the doom & gloom precautionary side, in reality it should be nothing but fun !

 

[alant]

I'm interested to know what the correct procedures are for taking the ground , intentionly that is . For example I hope to visit Bembridge harbour this summer ( I hav'nt visited before and I understand you are allowed to 'take the ground' just inside the harbour on the eastern beach.) this would indicate a fairly formal taking of the ground (but anchoring in the harbour is not permitted) would one therefore take the ground and not secure in anyway therefore it seems to me to preclude stopping in this way overnight. Could anyone clarify the various ways one can 'take the ground ' from the accidental obviously informal upwards!

Good idea, is to check if possible, what your going to be sitting on.

Is it natural stuff like mud/sand/shingle, or man-made stuff like an old wreck/anchor/shopping trolley/cables. Do you have an oar or something (long bamboo cane ) you can poke around with, when at the end of your anchor line/chain, to try to feel whats beneath?

 

[andrewbartlett]

Thankyou all for most helpful and interesting answers

 

[oldharry]

used to do Bembridge beach regularly: Its very soft so the boat will sink in, and its fairly steep, so the boat will sit backwards. Advice re laying of anchors, posted above, is spot on.

You do need a stern anchor when you lift off, or mayhem will result! There is a current that flows along the beach, and you will be carried in to your neighbour as the boat lifts. Not popular if the tide returns at 2.00am! Also, when the HSS ferries come out of Portsmouth, they cause a major movement of water, and whatever tidal flow may be present, there will be a sudden and noticeable surge lasting for several minutes as water flows in, then it reverses and flows out again. The same may happen when VLCCs come down from Southampton. If the boat is not securely anchored then again - mayhem!

In general, beaching is a matter of ensuring that the chosen seabed is a) reasonably level, b) has no obstructions - rocks, supermarket trolleys etc, c) is reasonably firm throughout. (landing one keel in a soft spot and the other on firm ground spills the G&T), and d) will not be subject to waves when the tide returns. I once beached off Hilbre Island in the Dee Estuary in a flat calm. When the tide returned so did a solid F4 onshore and we had a bad 15 minutes while the surf bounced us up and down until we finally could pull her free!

One of the most useful tools I know for the bilge keeler who wants to take the ground regularly is a Fishfinder. 5 minutes surveying the seabed with it has often saved me a lot of hassle later on. It gives me a clear indication of the state of the bottom, location of potentially damaging obstructions, and with a little practice I can even tell what sort of seabed I am landing on - mud, sand, soft, hard etc.