Low tide, high risk?

Why low tide, high risk? Well, for jobs that can be accomplished over the period of a single low tide – antifouling comes to mind – scrubbing grids are a great idea. There was a time when they were free. But, since the pinching of pennies has become a widespread custom, harbour authorities have seized the opportunity to charge handsomely. Not quite as handsomely as boatyards and marinas, of course. Their charges for a lift-out would have bought a waterfront mansion in Nelson’s time. Scrubbing grids would have to be cheaper than that otherwise no-one would use them.

But it has to be acknowledged that grids are not for every boat. Yes, the long-keeled of the species can descend on the ebb to settle with an almost audible sigh of satisfaction on the blocks arranged to receive them. Not so fin keelers, for whom a safe landing is very much a stab in the dark. Some would say a high risk at low tide, in fact.

So, was the boat shown here lucky or unlucky? At least the keel got a heel-hold on the blocks and the rudder found a nice gap to nestle in. All the same, as the skipper admitted, it was not exactly the perfect outcome.

But it could have been a lot worse. Other low tide, high risk jobs can be scarier. A sailor I knew had removed a corroded skin fitting when he realised the replacement was the wrong size. Rumours have it that he was chest deep in the rapidly returning tide before he managed to get his boat watertight again.

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For your amusement go to How not to board a sailboat