Lost My Baltic Virginity

[Dockhead]

Oh, the horror, the horror . . .

On the way to Hanko from Helsinki, I stopped for the night at a little bay in a little island. And hit an uncharted rock. Rode up so high on the rock that my bow thruster was out of the water . Reverse thrust made me spin around hard, and I was afraid that I would spin my rudder into the rocks and be really stuffed. But somehow I managed to work my way free, and now I'm tied up, bows-to, at the little island. Afloat.

In five years and more than 10,000 miles, this is only the third time I've ever touched the ground in this boat. The first time on an uncharted sand bar in Dartmouth Harbour. The second time last May just an arms-length from the dock in Dunkerque, which has silted up. And now this damned rock.

I presume that there is no damage -- my boat is immensely strongly built. But we shall see when I lift out at Cowes when I get back to Blighty, still 1500 miles or so away.

The rock was uncharted, but alas -- not unmarked. There was an East cardinal marker, just a little stick, painted black, with a white band. I am not used to reading this system of cardinal markers and took it for a West one. So I can't say it wasn't my fault

There was a very old Finnish man on a beautiful, old Swan, tied up at the same place, who took my bow line around a tree when I got to the Island. I was red-faced, and told him that I had never hit a rock before in my life. He looked at me with bemusement and said, you've been very lucky. In Finland, I realize, that would be normal.

[ontherocks83]

Ah you lost your cherry. Welcome to the club. I've been sailing since I was a small child and hit my first rock 2 years ago. Needless to say my friends and family haven't let me forget about it at all.

As you can see they ever so kindly signed my name to the keel when I wasn't around so that there was no question who did it. They even included the name I gave the bay at the time of the incident.

Lovely friends and family I have, really freakin lovely

[JPA Cate]

Yes, where the black on cardinal marks is represents where the tips would be if it were triangle-appearing cones. Thus saving the cost of cone/triangles and confusing us all!

Sorry you bumped your boat, Dockhead. I've but our boat aground a couple of times, and detest having done so most vigorously!

Ann

[socaldmax]

Congrats on losing your Baltic cherry! Sorry to hear you found a new rock! Hopefully it's just a little scratch in the paint!

[Cormorant]

Very disappointed. From the thread title I thought this had something to do with Swedish women. . . .

[savoir]

Does anyone know of a website that explains this type of marker ?

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

I was red-faced, and told him that I had never hit a rock before in my life. He looked at me with bemusement and said, you've been very lucky. .

I would be more inclined to believe that he thought you were lying. I mean how could you have gone so long and never hit a rock? Hell I hit a rock my every first day sailing!

[Coops]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

I would be more inclined to believe that he thought you were lying. I mean how could you have gone so long and never hit a rock? Hell I hit a rock my every first day sailing!

How many first day sailings can you have then? I only ever had one, now I feel cheated.

Coops.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by Coops

How many first day sailings can you have then? I only ever had one, now I feel cheated.

Coops.

Because you didn't hit a rock? I haven't hit one since then, but I have bounced off a sand bar and been aground (those were on year 2 but I'm trainable so been good that past 6 years).

[skipmac]

My friend from Denmark told me you have to be careful in that part of the world but wow. I've bumped hard bottom before, sometimes pretty good bumps, trying to go places that were just a bit to shallow but have not had the misfortune to whack a shallow rock head on.

Glad you came away floating. Will be interesting to hear what the hull looks like when you haul. Pictures are required.

[skipmac]

By the way, what were you using for charts?

[su2014]

lots of un-charted coraolheads in the carribean so i suppose rocks in the baltic is normal. how is the sailing in finland? are there costco type stores to provision with? how miuch is the cruising permit in finland? just curious is all.fairwinds and godspeed.

[poiu]

Rotten luck.

If you hit the bow then hopefully it will have slid up and not done anything worse than scratch.

I thought your boat had the Echopilot forward looking sonar?

[Matt sachs]

I going to show how much I dont know. Is there a way to mark your rock on digital charts? Im assuming charts get updated from time to time.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by Matt sachs

I going to show how much I dont know. Is there a way to mark your rock on digital charts? Im assuming charts get updated from time to time.

Yes. On my I can add a mark and change the symbol to something like a crossbone. I have added 1 to my local area for a gas buoy that isn't on the chart