Sail boat crashes and starts sinking after hitting a bridge!
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wow that's some strong current.. where was this? anyone know?
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gotta love people who make videos and not know what they are talking about.
Yes, it hit the bridge, was swept under by the current, and was all but demasted as she was pulled under the bridge. She came out swamped, but I doubt that boat is going to sink. Something that small should have built in floatation.
Yes, it hit the bridge, was swept under by the current, and was all but demasted as she was pulled under the bridge. She came out swamped, but I doubt that boat is going to sink. Something that small should have built in floatation.
Well don't leave us hanging! tell us the whole story!
Under OB power & current was ~7 knots out through the bridges to Raritan Bay. Circled too close to pilings around the RR bridge and got hung up on them briefly, acquiring some creosote on port side, but got free and retreated back into the creek. Finally the 35 highway bridge was open enough for my 40' mast & I got through, as RR bridgetender was hollering at me on 13 to hurry up cos train was coming. A stressful few minutes there. (RR bridge is inside highway 35 bridge at that location.) As I passed under highway bridge the bridgetender asked me to say again the name of my vessel. I suppose he put me down in his book of bad examples of seamanship?Well don't leave us hanging! tell us the whole story!
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Totally agree but, but, "It is not pure".Sometimes, a motor is a good thing. Just sayin
Sailing motorless is fine until you involve someone else who is trying to save your skin.Paul T
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5,686 Posts
I was impressed by the number of boats that quickly came to help, including at least one when the sailboat got sideways to the current well before the bridge.
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Several years ago my wife and I and another couple happened to be having a sunset dinner on the waterside deck at a Houston's restaurant on the west side of the ICW in Pompano Beach, Fla, adjacent to the north side of the East Atlantic Boulevard Bridge, which only opens on a fixed time schedule. While sitting there a small sail boat came by, a Catalina 27 as I recall, powered by an outboard. They blew an air horn, mightily, for an opening but, predictably, got no response from the bridge tender. Realizing the bridge wasn't going to open, the helmsman swung the tiller over, facing the boat back up-stream but was able to make little progress against the down flowing current, even with his motor racing. Slowly but surely, the boat was dragged backward, between the bridge dolphins and the shore-line, toward the fixed span. With this, I and the other husband, jumped up and ran along the dock toward the bridge calling out to the endangered sailors to drop their anchor, which was hanging off the bow pulpit. There was no response from the panicky helmsman who simply kept twisting on the throttle--already at the stops--ever harder. Realizing that this fellow hadn't a clue, we raced up the embankment to the bridge and out onto the span where the masthead was only slightly above our heads as it made its inimitable approach. Once it got within arms reach, we reached out and grabbed the back-stay and leaned into it, holding the mast, and the boat, away from the bridge. The excitement became more pronounced when the erstwhile helmsman evidently managed to damage the throttle and kill the motor entirely and went on for some while until a sympathetic power boater that happened by backed down on the boat, passed them a line, and snatched them away from the bridge and, thankfully, out of our aching arms/hands. As we walked down the bridge and embankment, shaking our heads, the duo disappeared into the darkness. Arriving back at our table, my wife announced "Well done Captains Courageous, but now you've had your excitement for the weekend, your dinners are cold and wine warm!" N'ary a thank you in sight!
Bridges, currents and outboards are not a good mix!
Bridges, currents and outboards are not a good mix!
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289 Posts
Looks like a nice wooden boat, too. Sad loss.
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A couple of years back my wife and I crossed a drawbridge over the ICW onto Manasota Key, FL just north of Charlotte Harbor. Right after we crossed, the bridge started opening for a boat so we decided to park for a minute and watch. We saw a 30-something foot Hunter coming down the waterway at 8 or 10 knots (!) so I had to go get a closer look. Turned out the water was moving under the bridge at a good 5 knots, carrying the boat with it. I have always wondered what the skipper would have done if the bridge hadn't opened for him, because I didn't see any way he was going to slow down and reverse in time under engine power, and the channel looked too narrow to turn around without backing. I know I'd be plenty nervous even approaching a bridge with that kind of current (although the Rigolets comes close to that sometimes).
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740 Posts
I've been pulled off sandbars by two friendly power boaters in the last three years!
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Perhaps this clip should be dedicated to those who think it's a really good idea to sail into their slip just for the fun of it.
And I am more convinced than ever, that sculling is a practical way to maneuver a small sailboat when the wind fails. Engine, what engine? We don't need no stinking engine.
And I am more convinced than ever, that sculling is a practical way to maneuver a small sailboat when the wind fails. Engine, what engine? We don't need no stinking engine.
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Why do you say that? I sail into my slip as often as I can. Usually better than motoring in when the ob dies at the worst time....
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