[Rhodes22-list] Grounded My Boat on a Sandbar - End of the Story

[David Culp]

Hit the send by mistake...

Anyway, with 1/2 a main and no jib the knot meter was indicating 5.8 kts on
the reach and 6 + on a run.  It was a pretty wild ride and when the
following waves would hit me, the boat sort of came up and was almost
surfing a little bit it seemed.

I attribute the shape of the hull to allowing me to have just enough
flotation to get off the sand in that little bit of water.  Also, the wind
and water pushing against it didn't hurt either.  Amazingly, I did not ship
one drop of water during the whole business.

I don't think you can plan on what to do when you run aground in a boat
since every situation is going to be different.  Much better to stay out of
situations where it might happen but it's enticing to go there because the
Rhodes will allow you in some very skinny water.  I have been out when the
big winds come and it usually isn't that big of a deal, you just find out
there are certain directions you aren't going to be able to go.  In this
case, I had no where to go but the wrong way.  Getting the sails down was
the main thing.  Securing the rudder and anything else that can move around
is next.  One thing that I had considered briefly was leaving the boat and
wading/swimming to shore if the boat had stayed grounded.  I'm glad I didn't
do it.  Not to mention the safety aspects in those kind of conditions, just
think if the boat had come off the sandbar with no one in it.  In those
winds, when it hits the lee shore there is going to be a lot of damage.
Luckily this time, no damage at all and lessons learned.

David