Beaching a Dinghy Certainly Isn’t a Joy

Sailors who have dunked a dinghy as they row ashore through breaking waves would understand.

In other words, most sailors would understand.

They would not call it “The Joy of Beaching a Dinghy” as Peter Howarth did in a recent issue of Waterfront magazine.

The first thing to remember is, leave the inflatable dinghy at home. It is the most susceptible to broaching, which is a swing in the dinghy so that the beam faces the waves and there is danger of capsizing. It’s a problem even in the manageable little breakers that roll in during a fairly heavy surge at White’s Landing on Catalina Island.

The inflatables’ blunt ends and their lack of a keel cause them to be poor pulling boats, little better than trying to row a washtub.

I’ve had much better luck getting on and off shore in hard dinghies with well-defined bows and sterns. The best handling boat I’ve ever beached is my 16-foot Swampscott dory.

Whether hard or inflatable dinghy, I vastly prefer going in stern first because I can better aim and maintain control over the dinghy with my oars.

When launching off the beach during the calmer periods, I reverse the procedure, rowing through the surf bow first.

I do exactly as Verne L. Breachner, who recommends in his letter: “Upon entering the breaker line, the dinghy should be turned about so the bow faces the waves. When a wave approaches, a timely pull on the oars will keep the bow to until the waves passes on. Strong backing on the oars toward the beach then will carry the boat towards the beach until the next wave is at the bow when the process is repeated.”

Not a bad way to stay dry.

Sailing Notes

--Doug Wall, port captain of Balboa Yacht Club, warns sailors to stay away from the marina past the headwalk under the north-yard crane because demolition there has created hazardous conditions.

--After a lengthy study, State Fish and Game has issued an order to help protect the southern sea otter. The use of certain gill nets and trammel nets will not be allowed on a 130-mile stretch of water between Yankee Point in Monterey County and the Santa Maria River in San Luis Obispo County. DFG marine biologists estimate that 80 sea otters per year were accidentally entangled and drowned in nets in the last two years.

--In a Jan. 25 ruling, the Federal Communications Commission has prohibited boaters from calling the Coast Guard for non-emergency radio checks on Channel 16, the VHF-fm distress frequency. Boaters still may check their equipment on any non-restricted VHF channel. They also may check their radio equipment with the marine operator.

--California’s commercial abalone divers may take abalone in less than 20 feet of water within one mile of the shoreline of the seven channel islands. Exceptions are established ecological reserves or commercial closures such as those near Catalina Island.

--The Transpacific Yacht Club’s 2,255-mile race from Los Angeles to Honolulu will be July 4. Send requests for invitation and conditions to James Eddy, race chairman, 158 S. Brand Blvd., Glendale 91204.