Soft/Hard Grounding

sketchfab

Two kinds of sailors exist, those who have run aground and those who won't admit to it. Fortunately, running aground is more often a minor setback than a true disaster. Here's what to do if you get stuck in the mud. Don't Lose Your Cool, Assess the Situation - Panicking won't help any grounding situation, no matter how small. And, hasty reactions can end up causing further harm to your boat and crew Backing Off Carefully - If you've run aground lightly and hull damage appears to be minimal, you can try to free yourself When to Stay Put - If you've sustained serious hull damage, you're better staying put than reentering deep water What To Do In An Emergency Situation - If you or your vessel are in immediate danger, call the Coast Guard over VHF Channel 16 using the standard Pan-Pan or Mayday call depending on the urgency of your situation. This may also bring nearby sailors to your aid More information can be found at https://www.boatus.org/study-guide/prep/run-aground/