Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.
Well Saturday was probably our last day sailing for the season. As you may know California has been under a severe drought. The lake we are docked at had been holding pretty steady over the summer, but in the last several weeks the water level dropped at least another 10 feet. Here is our story.
Saturday we left the dock under motor headed out of the cove to the main part of the lake. Once we got under sail, we quickly noticed several piles of large rocks uncovered. Some in areas we frequent. We had 3 hrs of good sailing then decided to head in for the night.
We had just crossed into the 5 mph zone leading into the cove, when we came to a slow stop. It wasn't like we ran around, but more like sailed into mud.
We dropped the sails, and I attempted to motor back out the way we had come. I could turn the boat easy enough, but couldn't back out. We turned off the motor and I decided to get out and and see what we were hung up on. Before I could get into the water, a Catalina 22, sailed up and got hung up as well.
I hoped over the side and found my self in chest deep water. (our lake is muddy brown so there was no seeing the bottom). We were hung up on a soft sand bar. With the help of a young sailor on the Cat 22, we were able to pull out a line, and pull them back out to the open water. They sailed off.
About the same time, another couple who had sailed in before us, saw our predicament and brought out their pontoon boat. Once tied on he was able to pull us back out to open water. He waited until we got the motor re fired, and underway, and then we headed back in. Appreciate the help.
I can see where having a detailed chart of the water or a depth finder. Even a hand held gps, if you know the elevation of the bottom of the lake would have helped. For now we will pray for some rain, and watch the water level. Until it goes up, we will stay docked, maybe get some projects on the boat done.
The depth finder is a big part of the game.. you get to map out the bottom in your mind. Easy to get one up and running, a shoot through the hull with wax mount. Especially helpful on night sailing.
Two kinds of Sailors...
Ray in Atlanta, Ga. "Lee Key" '84 Catalina 25 Standard Rig / Fin Keel
I purchased the Navonics HD App (android) and the additional features.
So I have a chart option that displays Sonar soundings reported by other sailors.
Your situation would seem to make a mess of them although showing the underwater elevations(?) would be some help, even if they were only to point out the high points.
Of course, it also depends upon frequent submisssions of sonar soundings from many other sailors.
...or you could trade for a swinger from some Pacific sailor.
Dave Bristle Association "Port Captain" for Mystic/Stonington CT PO of 1985 C-25 SR/FK #5032 Passage, USCG "sixpack" (expired), Now on Eastern 27 $+!nkp*+ Sarge
We sail on Lake Yosemite, near to Fresno, this past Summer the only boats on our lake were kayaks and the el toros, lasers, and lido 14s used for our junior sailing program. That got cut short too. Hoping for rain.
Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ. The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.