CREEK NAVIGATION
Anchoring
It’s not uncommon for me to anchor five or six times during a day’s cruising. Before I set off I shorten the anchor rode before returning to the cockpit to hoist the sail. It means I have to walk forward again but have the benefit of the anchor taking minimal time to heave up and stow.
Depth sounder
When tacking up or down a creek I either use Shoal Waters’ steel centreplate as an audible depth sounder or I use garden canes marked up in foot increments to sound the depth, prodding the sea bed as we move along. Anything over 8ft, I swing the lead which has five fathoms (9.1m) of rope attached.
Chartwork
Chartwork is done on my knees in the cockpit when under way, but most of what I do is pilotage and for this a good pair of binoculars is vital.
Centreplate
I prefer a centreplate yacht for my type of creek cruising as the lifting plate offers instant draught reduction with the option to run the boat up a beach in ankle-deep water, but shoal draught bilge-keelers are a popular choice on the East Coast, with the added benefit of cheaper half-tide mud moorings. Deep-keelers can, and do, find a mud berth to sink the keel in and can also find water to stay afloat in Pyefleet and Brightlingsea creeks, as well as in the main river.