The learning curve

[oldessox]

I had a run out for a few hours this afternoon, neap tides meant I didn't really have to worry about what time to go out or come back in, I drove up to the marina about 2pm , a bloke I speak to occasionally had just come back in and I asked what the sea was like, "quite a big swell , but once you get past the island it's not bad" he said .
I set off down the river and looking at the. River mouth I thought , Jesus , those swells look huge , then they seemed to not look so big and there was nothing much breaking anywhere so I carried on towards the piers. As I approached the piers I kept well to port to avoid the fishing lines from the pier, as I got closer to the bar I noticed the swells were quite big but washing past the piers from the north east , the plan was to get level with the end of the north pier and turn to port into the swell , fine for the first swell which went under the boat at about 45 degrees but pushed the boat back to starboard, I looked out the port side , which thankfully was all closed up to see a wall of white water about 5 ft high coming straight at me, I tried to turn hard to port to head into this but didn't have time to get the boat fully head on into it and took the full force nearly broadside which had the boat nearly on its side with the wave crashing over the roof of the cabin .
The boat sprung back upright and I finally got her head on into the sea which was back to plain old rolling swell again, such fun
Coming back in was nearly as much fun , but I was prepared this time and ignored the fishing lines and the speed limits and came in without any drama.
The three hours or so in between were spent moving from wreck to wreck looking for fish , I caught a pollock on one , a bright orange worm infested cod on another, what looked like a tiny wolf fish on another and finally a decent cod on the last one I fished , not the best of days I've had

 

[Norman]

great read Ray, all in a days boating ......

did you get it on film

norm

 

[Graham B]

It seems to be hard going all over at the minute Ray, that harbour entrance is good fun with a bit of swell running! It certainly gets the ringpiece twitching!!!

Graham.

 

[oldessox]

great read Ray, all in a days boating ......

did you get it on film

norm[/


I wish I could have Norman , I'd like to see it from a different viewpoint, I'm just glad I was on my own , if Barney had been sat next to me I might have been crushed to death , he's a big lad

 

[easyfish1]

sometimes it just catches you out.....pleasures of boating i suppose,

we've hit some swells and choppy seas just past the heugh...

it don't half get the blood pumping..

 

[oldessox]

It seems to be hard going all over at the minute Ray, that harbour entrance is good fun with a bit of swell running! It certainly gets the ringpiece twitching!!!

Graham.

I'm sure I've heard you say a northerly swell is bad at the harbour entrance Graham, today I found out why :red:, the swells were quite big but while they were unbroken there was no problem, every few minutes though a big breaker was crossing between the piers, it was one of these that hit me, it was a wall of white ( chocolate brown actually) water , that went over the boat instead of under it , scary ,but interesting at the same time
Coming back in the tide was flooding and so is the river so with the swells on top of that there was quite a confusion going on at the harbour entrance
I'm going to have another go probably Saturday , earlier start and a full session, I think the fish will be there , just need to find exactly where and what they want.

 

[Kev1n]

That doesn’t sound like fun Ray; I’d have come straight back in for a clean pair of trousers. I’m pleased to see you and the boat were OK.

 

[oldessox]

That doesn’t sound like fun Ray; I’d have come straight back in for a clean pair of trousers. I’m pleased to see you and the boat were OK.

Once I got clear of the island I rang the wife and told her what happened, "are you not coming back in then? She asked, I said no way, I need an hour or two to think about it before I go through there again , I've watched tv programmes and videos of boats coming in over notorious bars and thought they were mad for even attempting them, after my little episode this afternoon with a comparatively small swell I don't think they are mad anymore ......, I know they are

 

[canman]

People pay good money for the water rides at funfairs, but that one sounds a lot more exciting Ray.Only done it once myself at cullercoats on a northerly swell, got a great surfing ride up the centre of the harbour, thankfully in my then pilot 520 cathedral hull which i'm sure helped keep everything in control as they are superb in a following sea

 

[lingking]

alls well that ends well,ray,there are not many people who sail out of amble who have not had a bad experience on that bar and surrounding areas:exclam:

 

[The Jester]

Sounds a bit hairy Ray, but well done for carrying on , this boating lark is one big learning curve....

 

[luckylady]

my last boat was a 45' naval pinnace and i've had that on its side on the harbour bar, amble doesnt take any prisoners like!!