At some point in your sea-going adventures, you may run aground. Fear not… many skippers have done it before, and many skippers will do it in the future. The most famous recent incident being the Team Vestas Wind’s dramatic grounding in the 2014-15 Volvo Ocean Race.
Running aground is one of the hazards of going to sea, whether you are sailing or power boating. Good seamanship is demonstrated in how you respond to the incident, and how you minimise the danger.
Due to the amount of variables to consider (e.g. keel configuration, bottom composition, state of tide, wind direction, engine power, and crew ability) it’s impossible to have a fixed emergency response plan. However, by having knowledge of a range of techniques, you can quickly and confidently react if this type of incident occurs.
How To Avoid Running Aground
Passage planning and vigilant navigation is the key to avoiding running aground. Remaining alert and in control of the situation is important in all aspects of sailing, especially in unfamiliar waters. In your passage plan, you should note the times of low and high water, and examine the route closely for shallow areas or obstructions. Working out the tidal height in these areas, and erring on the side of caution, will give you a margin of safety.
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If you do run aground, having this information to hand will give you a good knowledge base to work from when figuring out the safest and fastest way to get off the bottom. Make sure your crew and vessel are not in immediate danger and are unharmed.
The next step, is to survey the seabed. A simple way to do this is to either walk around the boat with your boathook, or jump into the dinghy to gauge the depth and nature of the seabed. This will tell you if you need to exit in the same direction you arrived from, or if you can twist off.
First Steps If You’ve Run Aground
Sailing Off
The most common type of grounding is when you are sailing in a channel and tack too close to the edge. If you spot the boat slowing, you need to have a fast reaction to use the remaining momentum to tack away, and get the bow through the wind. Sheet the sails in to increase heel and reduce draught, thereby escaping to deeper water.
Moving Weight
Move any weight immediately to the bow (especially crew!). This will help to lift the stern and float you off. It may also lift the rudder clear of the bottom, allowing you to regain control of steerage.
Lighten The Load
Try and get any excess weight off the boat and into the dinghy. Those few inches may make all the difference between success or failure when combined with the other techniques described here.
Increasing Heel
When combined with a strategy to move the boat away from the shallow water, reducing your draught by increasing the heel is the key to getting off the bottom. Laying a kedge, motoring astern, backing the main, being towed, and manually pushing are all options which we look at in detail below.
Backing The Main
This is a good technique if you have gone aground whilst sailing upwind in a small boat. Simply drop the jib and ask your crew to haul the boom to windward. This should push the boat astern with the bow going through the wind, enabling you to twist off the mud. Make sure your crew weighs down the bow as the keel may go deeper in the mud to start with.
Motoring Off
In Astern
Dropping the sails and going astern with the engine is the fastest way to get off the bottom if you haven’t been able to sail off. Combine it with putting weight on the bow or heeling the boat over for extra “oomph”.
In Ahead
After surveying the seabed, you may find that you are on a narrow stretch of sand and it is easier to motor ahead to push the keel across and into deeper water. You need to be confident that you are going towards deeper water and not getting into further danger.
Pushing The Boat Off
If the sails aren’t helping and your engine is not working, pushing a small boat off is the next technique to try. You can use a boathook or spinnaker pole for leverage.
Being Towed Off
A very effective way to get off the bottom is to accept a tow from a vessel in deeper water. Plan the rescue carefully, and communicate clearly before and during the tow. You may be towed stern first or take a line from the bow to twist the boat off.
Kedging
Kedging is one of the best techniques to use when aground. It takes time to set up the required equipment, and so is usually a last resort, even though the method is simple.
Generally, kedge anchors are rigged with a short length of chain which is attached to a long warp. Tie the end of the warp to a cleat and then lower the kedge into the dinghy. Row out to the furthest extent of the rode, and drop the kedge into the water. This needs to be in the direction that you would like to move the boat. Use the anchor windlass or cockpit winch to try to pull the boat off.
Kedging to Heel the Boat
The second reason to use a kedge anchor is to help heel the boat over. Drop the kedge as described above, but abeam of the yacht. Tie the warp to a halyard and use the mast to cautiously lever the boat.
Wait For High Tide
If you’re totally stuck and none of the above techniques or tips have worked, you should alert the coastguard and wait for the tide to lift you off. If you are not in danger, the coastguard will monitor your situation until you re-float.
Be Prepared If You Run Aground
Being prepared may help you to avoid running aground, but it will also equip you with the necessary knowledge of what to do if it does happen. Planning minimises the risk to your crew and yourself in a potentially dangerous situation. Don’t be too embarrassed to call the coastguard or ask nearby vessels for help – a lot of skippers have run aground themselves and will understand.