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Hiracer · 26-05-2010, 15:26

I ran aground.

In mud.

Was tacking out of the way of an oil tanker and tug in constricted waters, and then setting up for a tack to shoot a clean line between two islands. Completely forgot about the shoal water I had just previously warned my crew about.

Did the tack to thread the islands and we got stuck in irons: 'Cause the keel was in mud.

Was a rising tide, about three hours before high tide

Lowered sails, ate lunch. Just before the end of lunch saw the wheel moving, meaning the rudder was free. Shortly thereafter motored the hell off the mud.

Never again will I be that stupid--I hope.

tager · 26-05-2010, 15:28

It will happen. Just thank your stars you were in mud and not rock.

Hiracer · 26-05-2010, 15:34

I think when we were heeled over we were clearing the mud. When we tacked the keel dropped into the mud.

Perfect set up.

DeepFrz · 26-05-2010, 15:37

But very good timing...

swagman · 26-05-2010, 15:37

I'm like Tager,
If anyone says it has never happened to them then they'll never learn. Glad also it was mud - I'm sure you'll take greater care next time.
Cheers
JOHN

Hiracer · 26-05-2010, 15:51

I must compliment myself though. It was time for lunch afterall. . . so . . . if you're going to run aground I seem to have found a classy way of doing it.

This, BTY, was the first time out for this crew (female). Not sure what kind of impression I made. Captain Oops here.

I tried to blame the 'incident' on her engaging personality distracting me, but she wasn't buying it.

She's been sailing most of her life and has never run aground. I think I'm gonna be hearing about this again and again.

Tonight in fact.

**sarafina** · 26-05-2010, 16:02

Well if she is giving you an opportunity to suck it up again tonight that must mean she likes you ; -)

Stillraining · 26-05-2010, 16:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by tager

It will happen. Just thank your stars you were in mud and not rock.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeepFrz

But very good timing...

We weren't so lucky...it was a falling tide and we spent the night.....at a very uncomfortable 40 degree list.

I wont be so presumptuous to say I wont be that stupid again.

pressuredrop · 26-05-2010, 17:01

i ran aground on my maiden voyage motoring down the intracoastal at night

stupid i know, thought we were in the channel till we started bumping bottom, sat the for about 30 minutes before we spotted and channel marker in the dark and by some miracle got back in the channel, get farther down the icw and my buddy realizes he was looking at the wrong red light, doh, glad i got that experience out of the way

beau · 26-05-2010, 17:16

My first introduction to cruising was when a friend of mind invited me to go sailing with him.
During our voyage we ran aground.
He yelled for me to get below which I did, thinking I had to "man the pumps" or something.
When I got there I asked him what was I to do.
He yelled back "get two beers we are going to be here for a while"
That was my first introduction to cruising and I thought, I can handle this sort of life.

**Ex-Calif** · 26-05-2010, 17:50

Those that have and those that will. My first and subsequent touches have thankfully been soft and no-sticking.

There was a renter here who took a J24 and his new girlfriend for a day sail and speared it on a mud bank. It was a falling tide. He called the club, she got lifted off and went home. He sat on the boat for about 12 hours before it lifted off. At low tide the boat looked like a tree supported only by the keel.

I have no idea how the relationship worked out but the fact she left him on the boat may have indicated she didn't have the "right stuff" for a long term nautical partner - LOL...

Stillraining · 26-05-2010, 18:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by beau

My first introduction to cruising was when a friend of mind invited me to go sailing with him.
During our voyage we ran aground.
He yelled for me to get below which I did, thinking I had to "man the pumps" or something.
When I got there I asked him what was I to do.
He yelled back "get two beers we are going to be here for a while"
That was my first introduction to cruising and I thought, I can handle this sort of life.

Funny

I might use that some day.

Therapy · 26-05-2010, 18:31

I was lucky this year.

I was idling into what I thought was 7 feet of water from 4 feet of water in order to anchor. I had neglected to notice one of those little lines on the chart where the number is far away from where I was. It said 2 feet. Hah!

So the boat stopped. And what did I do? I raised the centerboard, rudders and drive leg and proceeded to let the wind take the boat into less than 2 feet where it stopped again. Duh!

Well, not so bad as I walked the anchor out to 5 feet! Then the wife hauled on that (with the windlass) while I pushed the stuck part (stern - starboard) away, and off we were.

Now if I had any sense at all I would have just backed up to start with but I missed that little line on the chart thinking "It is just a little shallower here for a bit I guess." Well duh!

Any way, gotta love retractable stuff and a boat light enough to man handle.