Stranded: How to Avoid the Worst on Board

This article is adapted from the article "What happens when you run aground on a yacht? And what should you do" by Joshua Shankle and Rachel Moore for YachtingWorld.com. 

Joshua's Backstory 

A wonderful start to the yachting season…

The first sailing of the season seemed perfect: fresh winds, steady waves. The old yacht seemed to come alive, gliding along the waves along the coast of Panama. We had just left Marina Vista Mar, and Rachel and I couldn’t be happier – back on the road, back south, back under sail aboard Agápe.

Source: Yachting World / Joshua Shankle

The wind was getting weaker with each mile, and we were making the most of it as we moved between the first islands of the Las Perlas archipelago. Soon the wind gave in completely, and we furled the sails, started our diesel engine - old but reliable - and headed around the island of Viveros.

The passage from the west leads through a narrow and shallow strait between the northern end of Viveros and the southern part of the neighboring island of Mina. The sun was setting, the tide was approaching - we even briefly considered dropping anchor in the nearest bay. But on the other side, friends were waiting for us, and the thought of an evening aperitif in good company prevailed.

I double-checked the maps - about 3 meters deep at minimum depth. The low tide was yet to start, and the high tide in these parts can exceed 5 meters, so I was sure: we will pass.

I should have read the sailing directions more carefully and listened to the advice I heard shortly before the trip: "The existing maps of the Perlas Archipelago are inaccurate. There are not soft corals here, but sharp rocky ridges, and more than one yacht has already left a piece of its hull on them."

Errors in navigation data have serious consequences

Source: Yachting World / Joshua Shankle

As we entered the channel, I concentrated on the hazards marked on the chart, while Rachel stood on the forecastle, peering into the greenish water for unmarked underwater rocks - not easy in the twilight. 

I stared at the chart and the echo sounder until I realized that we were being pulled by the current right into a narrow passage. Agápe was going at over 6 knots, although I wanted to keep a safe 3 in such a shallow area.

Before I could fully comprehend what was happening, the depth beneath us suddenly changed—the echo sounder blinked: 10, 9, 8… then 3, 2… And then Rachel shouted from the bow:

— STONES!

I instantly threw the reverser into gear and cranked up the throttle—all that our old diesel unit could produce. It wasn't enough.

Agápe's 15+ tons came to a sudden, violent stop. Rachel was thrown from the halyards and into the forward pulpit, narrowly missing the side of the boat, ramming a stainless steel pipe. The rigging shook, the furled jib thrashed, the engine roared, and Rachel, hanging on for dear life, was halfway overboard.

Against the current and over the rocks

Our engine couldn't keep up with the current, and Agápe was pulled further, straight into two jutting rocks that towered above the channel. The yacht fell sideways, and the keel scraped over one ridge of rocks after another with a dull grinding sound. I was still squeezing the engine to the max, keeping the wheel fully turned to port, desperately trying to keep the rudder away from the rocks, even a little deeper.

After the second blow under the keel, Agápe leveled out. I yelled at Rachel to get back to the cockpit immediately. There was no time for watch anymore - only one thing was important to me: that she stay on the yacht and not fly overboard while we were climbing out to the depths.

Source: Yachting World / Joshua Shankle

As soon as it became a little calmer, we climbed into the hold: we lifted the floorboards to make sure that no water was coming in. Everything was dry, the tiller obeyed, the yacht responded adequately. Then we decided to drop the anchor and dive ourselves - to assess the condition of the bottom.

Rachel was shaking, unable to hold back her tears as fear, shock and adrenaline washed over her. I was on edge myself, but I hid it behind an endless stream of obscenities. Once we had caught our breath, I grabbed my mask and snorkel, and knowing the current was still strong, I took the long end, secured it to the bow, and used it as a handrail to steady myself while I dove down and inspected the hull from below.

Summary and conclusions

Surprisingly, the damage was not that severe. As far as I could tell, it was limited to the keel: a decent chunk was cut off from the front and back edges, there were deep scratches on the sides, and a couple of dents on the bottom. But the hull and rudder were intact, not damaged at all.

We decided to go the last mile to the anchorage. But it was not to be: as soon as I raised the anchor, the engine suddenly died. Adrenaline was still pounding in my temples, and my brain worked intermittently - I completely forgot about the end attached to the bow: it was wound around the propeller.

I cursed and remembered reaching into the locker and grabbing the first rope I could find – and sure enough, it was our new spinnaker line, the most expensive rope on board. I had to drop the anchor again, dive and cut the winding off the propeller. Only then did we limp back to the anchorage and finally come to terms with the disaster we had caused ourselves.

But we learned a few things. First, rocks are just rocks. Second, even if you check the tide, it's not necessarily enough. We were rushing to our friends when we could have easily waited and sailed the fairway at full tide. That was our mistake.

And finally, if you have a person on the bow looking into the water, prepare for the worst. Put on lifelines, life jackets. I don't even want to think what would have happened if Rachel had gone overboard and the current had carried her away from the boat.

Agápe is not the fastest - we have a heavy hull, a built-in keel, laminated fiberglass. But that is what saved us: the boat withstood the blow like a heavyweight pro. Many yachts could have lost their keel, but Agápe withstood it. And saved us.

What to do if your yacht runs aground?

Getting stranded is something that every yachtsman tries to avoid. But, alas, it happens. The reasons may be different: a navigation error, a shifting sandbar, an unexpected sandbank or an obstacle not marked on the map. The main thing is not to panic. The first minutes are critical: the outcome may depend on how you react.

Safety first

As soon as the yacht runs aground, the safety of the crew is the priority. Even if it is to the detriment of the boat, remember: no yacht is worth human life. Make sure no one is hurt. If water enters the hull or there is a risk of damage, put on life jackets, give a distress signal and call for help.

Assessing the situation

If you hit a sandbank, it can be as simple as backing up sharply under engine power, shifting the crew's weight to one side. Captain CJ Coetzee, who runs a marine charity in the South Pacific and has experience navigating large sailboats in poorly-chartered waters, says, "If you can't get off the sandbank straight away, there are two factors: timing and cold-blooded judgment."

Call for help

If you haven't done so before, call for backup. A couple of extra hands, a spare anchor, a powerful tender or tug can make all the difference.

Attempt to remove the vessel independently

If the boat is not damaged and the situation is safe, you can try to move it yourself. The method depends on the conditions and the type of shallows you ran aground on. More on this in the next section.

Sandbank

If you have run aground in sand or mud and have not crashed into it, all is not lost: it may be possible to reverse. To begin with, shift your weight to one side of the boat. If the yacht is already tilted, shift your weight to the same, more tilted side. Try to engage reverse and carefully exit, keeping the steering wheel on course. If there is a crew on board, let them rock the boat from side to side: this may help to “break away”.

Artificial roll

To reduce the draft, you can try to heel the boat artificially: hang something heavy (canisters, dinghies) on the boom and move it beyond the side. The greater the heel, the less the draft. Sometimes this is enough for the boat to slide off the shallows and return to the depths.

Maintain reverse gear

Keep the engine in reverse to prevent the boat from going deeper into the shallows. But remember: if the boat rolls too much, the engine may be damaged.

Wait for the tide (or help)

If you can't move in the first few minutes, you'll have to wait. Either until the water rises or until someone comes to help. To prevent the boat from being pulled further, throw a log anchor toward the depths. Better yet, several.

Using the tender, helpers, or even on foot (if the water is shallow), carry the anchors as far away from the hull as possible and pull them in – you can use the winches in the cockpit. As the boat rocks and the water rises, pull them in again. This will create a constant tension, “pulling” the hull towards freedom.

If it's serious

If the case is severe, the chances of independent rescue are minimal. Follow the plan: call for help, stabilize the yacht, assess the situation.

Sometimes yachts are carried right onto the reefs. In this case, it is necessary to fix the hull and not let it crawl further. Before the tide comes, it is necessary to lighten the boat as much as possible - remove all the heaviest things from it. One example in my practice is the catamaran ProfAsea, which was torn from its mooring place and thrown onto a dangerous reef. 

With the help of local yachtsmen, it was necessary to unload the catamaran almost to "0", install floating anchors and wait for the tide. Fortunately, in the end, ProfAsea was "washed" by the tidal current onto a sandbank, where it was possible to calmly assess the scale of the tragedy.

Back in action!

If you have managed to free the yacht from the shackles of the shallows, then you should perform several important manipulations.

Hurry to the depths

If you do manage to pull the boat out and return to deep water, immediately check the bilge, tiller/rudder and engine. Make sure the boat is able to continue on its own.

As soon as it becomes clear that you can move, go straight to the nearest marina or slipway to carry out a full inspection and, if necessary, repairs.

If there is a leak?

If water does enter the hull after running aground, priorities change. Trying to go deeper means risking sinking the boat. If it is impossible to stop the influx of water, the best (and perhaps the only) option is to call professional rescuers. They have everything they need: lifting bags, pumps, equipment to at least temporarily keep the boat afloat and drag it to the shore or a slip.

Instead of results

Running aground is certainly unpleasant. Sometimes it’s humiliating. But the most important thing in such moments is not to panic. A cool head and a clear plan of action are what distinguish an accident from a disaster.

If you often sail in poorly explored areas or in places with unstable terrain, then be sure to have on board everything that can be useful for self-rescue. And most importantly, a plan. Because such situations can happen to absolutely any yachtsman.

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31.05.2025