Weird Experience - Boat just stopped

dolabriform

dolabriform

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freewheeling.world
Hi all

I was sailing with an in-experienced friend, James, on board last Sunday and something happened that I really can't find an answer for.

We were travelling at about 6 knots close hauled, I went below to put the kettle on and whilst waiting for it to boil James, on the Helm, shouted for me to come on deck with a panic in his voice.

We had stopped dead, wind still driving the sails. It was so subtle I didn't even notice it happen whilst below. I believed we had enough depth, couldn't see any pot markers or lines in the water, and the boat was upright and riding the waves.

He described it as happening really slowly, and said the boat wouldn't answer the helm. At first I thought he was mistaken, but I tried the wheel and it made no difference. I let the sails out and told him to bear away and slowly we turned and headed off in a different direction without any fuss.

I was recording our track on Navionics at the time, and it shows depth of 6.6m

Position approx 51º 54.90 N 001º 20.18 E according to Navionics on my iPad.

Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks

David
 
dolabriform said:
Hi all

I was sailing with an in-experienced friend, James, on board last Sunday and something happened that I really can't find an answer for.

We were travelling at about 6 knots close hauled, I went below to put the kettle on and whilst waiting for it to boil James, on the Helm, shouted for me to come on deck with a panic in his voice.

We had stopped dead, wind still driving the sails. It was so subtle I didn't even notice it happen whilst below. I believed we had enough depth, couldn't see any pot markers or lines in the water, and the boat was upright and riding the waves.

He described it as happening really slowly, and said the boat wouldn't answer the helm. At first I thought he was mistaken, but I tried the wheel and it made no difference. I let the sails out and told him to bear away and slowly we turned and headed off in a different direction without any fuss.

I was recording our track on Navionics at the time, and it shows depth of 6.6m

Position approx 51º 54.90 N 001º 20.18 E according to Navionics on my iPad.

Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks

David
Click to expand...
It sounds like you picked up line of some sort
 
Ah yes. Found that memory back in 2013. Surely you all remembered that:

HHA7 by Roger Gaspar, on Flickr

That was on 6th February, 2013. Then on the 7th February it was reported as 2.6m, then on 18th February as 3.2m and then finally on 20th May as 3.9m - which is where that 3.9 on Ridge now is. But for a couple of months......

Seems simples to me.
 
Once upon a time, we were sailing back up to the top of the Blackwater. I had my Mum with me and it was a day outing on her birthday - 80 summa. We were talking away and suddenly we realised that the dinghy past us! Looked over the side and could see we had just sailed onto Thirslet or Thurslet or Thirstlet Spit.
 
tillergirl said:
Ah yes. Found that memory back in 2013. Surely you all remembered that:

HHA7 by Roger Gaspar, on Flickr

That was on 6th February, 2013. Then on the 7th February it was reported as 2.6m, then on 18th February as 3.2m and then finally on 20th May as 3.9m - which is where that 3.9 on Ridge now is. But for a couple of months......

Seems simples to me.
Click to expand...

Makes sense, however it would be a lot shallower than that. I reckon we had about a 1m of tide, and we draw 1.9m so that would make it very shallow!

I only joined the forum in 2016 so I missed that 2013 post otherwise I'm sure I would have remembered it .. sorry :ROFLMAO:
 
dolabriform said:
Makes sense, however it would be a lot shallower than that. I reckon we had about a 1m of tide, and we draw 1.9m so that would make it very shallow!

I only joined the forum in 2016 so I missed that 2013 post otherwise I'm sure I would have remembered it .. sorry :ROFLMAO:
Click to expand...
Justification for retaining half a ton of files! I had neatly archived them as well!

On a serious moment, there has been some harbour dredging at the moment. They wouldn't dump near there but there might be of lot of silt on the ebbs. Worth telling HHA quoting "We suspect there might be unexpected shallowing on the Ridge at the moment. As you will recall in February, 2013 in your local NtM of 7 of 2013 there was an unexpected shallowing on the Ridge and this seems similar close by ........."
 
LittleSister said:
Your inexperienced crew was perhaps steering too far to windward while you were below, loosing speed, and was back on the correct heading but with no significant way on at the moment you came on deck again?
Click to expand...

I thought that, but the sails were fully powered up, and turning the helm made no difference. It was tried lock to lock.
 
Further hunting shows that I haven't retained the text of the original Notice, only the cancellation:

HARWICH HARBOUR AND APPROACHES
SHOAL DEPTH – INNER RIDGE

Mariners are advised that following further ploughing operations the reduction of water depth identified on the Yacht Track between the Inner Ridge and Deane buoys in
position 51°55.23’N 001°19.58’E has been confirmed at CD-3.9m.

No further change to this surveyed depth is anticipated.

Notice to Mariners number 8 of 2013 is cancelled

Seriously it is probably worth telling. If you didn't have a jerk to stop and didn't hear of the sound while you were below, if it was shallowing it would have to be soft silt.
 
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