Deciding
where to anchor in a creek can be a hazardous business but an
essential skill non-the-less for this type of cruising and all part of the
Creeksailing adventure.
I am asked questions like this one by readers on a regular basis: Quote: One thought upon which I'd welcome your
advice is about drying out between tides: when anchoring in a creek how can I
know whether the bottom I'm about to settle on is steep to or nicely
flat? I've seen so many creeks with quiet steep sides. Or if
there's anything nasty that might damage the boat?
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Found a flat lay - but, err...? |
There are many tricks I use when up them “owd cricks” which up until now have helped me avoid what has happened to this poor fella in the picture,
so I’ll just mention a few here.
The most helpful and what I would recommend
whenever possible is a pre-scout on foot to study the creek at low tide, take
notes and photograph suitable areas to dry – or as the picture shows to avoid! If pre-scouting was
not possible and you are entering a new creek, or when drying in the margins of a
river, or you have forgotten your notes; while on a cruise I always sound with
the cane fore and aft for levels and also sweep under the boat from both sides
with the cane as the water level drops - feeling for any stumps etc. Move and
position your boat accordingly. Against old farm docks and walls I find is generally flat
"ish" but more of a stump hazard. Urban creeks may have shopping trolleys or
metal car wheels and bicycles to dodge. It also depends when you want to get away to
and whether you are in a deep creek (generally has steep sloping sides falling
into a deep gut that could be around eight to ten feet wide - dry out on this
angle if you want to experience what
it is like to be an astronaut leaving the planet) or a shallow creek (generally
flatter, could be six feet to hundreds of feet wide, the latter with a smaller gut-way/rill or
two - two or three feet in width, either in the middle or to one side or both -
very comfortable night’s sleep would be possible here) easy and clean shore
access if in marshes, a potential mud-bath if a low tide creek. Check the chart
for drying heights above Chart Datum which will give initial indication of a deep or
shallow creek, anything above three metres and it’s likely you may not be able
to get in to anchor until - and will have to be away around a couple of hours
either side of high water. So in fact it may be level ground further up but finding a spot in
the gut further down might be best for your time schedule.
Some of us will do whatever it takes to come ashore |
When
Google Earth became available in 2005 we all wondered at it and yes it sure has
its uses for planning at home to and you can find the gut in wider shallower
creeks on the more creek crawler friendly Bing Maps which shows the low water
picture though do be aware it may not show the sharp hazards that will hole the
boat, or distinguish between dangerous deeper mud or firm mud that you can walk
across to shore, or any existing two foot ledges for instance that would leave
the boat dry at an extreme angle, hence I will always recce whenever possible. Sometimes you get it right, others not so.
Sometimes you may just have to take a gamble? The sooner you get out there
doing it will all fall into place so whatever you do enjoy it.
5 comments:
So sad to see that photo of what was once someone's pride and joy!
That little boat looks somewhat like a "Shipmate", please tell me that it is not, Tony?
Not quite sure what it is but at a guess looks rather like an Alacrity 19.
Another good point which the image shows is where there is Bladderwrack there is hard ground/ rocks. In this case GRP!
I don't think it's an alacrity 19. Mine has no chine and the stern is tilted forward.
Sad thing though.
Cheers, I've just had mine in the water since September and just learning about beaching it. And since I don't usually want to stay for 12 hours, I beach it during the rising tide.
Nice blog!
Jeff
An interesting observation Tony and a rather reassuring one in my mind regarding the Bladderwrack. It seems to me that Mother Nature is a lot more resilient than many people believe and her adaptability knows no bounds.
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