Launching and retreiving

Launching and retrieving your boat

Launching at low water with the tractors is one of the main assets of joining the club.
New members will get a one on one tutorial day on the safe and efficient use of the club tractors.
However, all members need to be aware of the vagaries of the area where we usually launch i.e. the Heysham side of Grosvenor skear.

On biggish tides, at low water, just as you get past the skear and where the tideline meets the sand, you see this type of formation....

We call them 'flue holes'.......basically they are areas of soft sand that are just waiting to catch out the unwary tractor driver.

Even the most experienced members have been caught out from time to time.........

If you launch as the tide is dropping, you often won't be able to see them as they'll be under the receding water. They are usually situated where the channel meets the skear. So to be on the safe side, drive a bit further along the beach towards the harbour

Much better to have a bit of a longer walk, and rather be safe than sorry...........and avoid the Wally award!!

Ross doing a textbook retrieve....

Don't go charging headlong into the water with the tractor, take it nice and steady like Ross has done. Turn whilst on the sand.........

A nice steady reverse up to your boat.......

There's no need to go too deep and try and float your boat onto your trailer, Ross has got it just right here........this keeps the tractor's important bits out of the salt water!