The Qualified Captain: Tips for avoiding hidden hazards on the water
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A peaceful trip across a Connecticut bay came to an abrupt stop when a roughly 40-foot sailboat struck a submerged rock, throwing the person at the helm toward the front of the vessel.
The Qualified Captain’s boating safety specialist Chris Juall reviewed video of the collision in Stonington, Connecticut, and explained how the boat’s keel, shallow water and an overlooked navigation marker contributed to the crash.
The video shows the sailboat moving across calm water before suddenly stopping on impact.
“When this boat hits the rock, the person driving the boat flies through to the front of the boat,” Juall said.
What caused the collision
Although the water appeared safe from the surface, Juall said sailboats require more depth than some boaters may realize.
A keel extends below the hull to help stabilize a sailboat as it leans under the force of the wind. Juall estimated the keel on the vessel in the video extended four to five feet beneath the water.
That underwater clearance became critical as the boat entered the shallow area.
“What seems to be calm on the surface, it wasn’t that deep before you had a submerged rock,” Juall said. “That’s why it hit, and that’s why it hit so hard.”
Juall said the force of the collision likely damaged the sailboat.
A warning was visible nearby
A small white buoy can be seen near the boat shortly before the crash. Juall said the marker warned of rocks and a shoal, or an area of shallow water.
“You’ve got to know how to read the buoys,” he said. “That was the warning right there.”
Navigation markers can alert boaters to hazards that may not be visible from the surface. Understanding those markers is especially important for sailboats and other vessels with deeper drafts.
Plan before leaving the dock
Juall said boaters should review a nautical chart and map out their route before getting underway. Charts identify water depths, shallow areas, rocks and other potential hazards.
“Plan your route,” Juall said. “Make sure that it’s not going through any super-shallow areas.”
Boaters can review nautical charts on a computer, tablet or cellphone before leaving home or the marina.
Keep checking while underway
Planning should continue after the boat leaves the dock. Juall recommends using a chart plotter to track the vessel’s position and make sure it remains in safe water.
“Make sure you are where you think you are and where you’re supposed to be,” he said.
Juall also encouraged boaters to check the local Notice to Mariners before each trip. The updates alert boaters to changing conditions, shoaling, displaced buoys and other navigation hazards.
The collision serves as a reminder that a calm surface does not always mean the water below is clear—and that paying attention to charts, electronics and navigation markers can prevent a day on the water from coming to a sudden stop.
The boating safety segment is part of WWAY’s ongoing partnership with The Qualified Captain, using real-world incidents to educate boaters and promote safer practices on the water. The Qualified Captain’s boating safety courses include NASBLA Approved State Online Boating Course and Non-NASBLA Approved Courses.
