Overwhelmed by water
13 July 2009 Bristol Overwhelmed by water Here’s a quote from today’s Indie: “Ten divers and two crewmen had a lucky escape when they were rescued from their sinking boat. The divers were set to dive in waters off Bolt Head, South Hams, near Plymouth, when their boat became overwhelmed by water yesterday.” It’s an odd use of the word 'overwhelmed', but I think I know what they mean. I felt overwhelmed by water during our last day out with Snork Maiden on 27 June. We left Ile d’Oleron with a plan to sail back to the Sevre Niortaise (the river leading up to our port of Marans) and spend the night on a waiting buoy, ready to pass into the lock at 1030 the next morning. The river and its estuary are hugely tidal, and it’s necessary to reach the buoy marking the estuary channel approach on time - two hours before high water. Calculations made, we left Boyardville around 10 am catching the open tidal gate about an hour and a half after HW. We had plenty of time to spare, so wen...