Warren Steptoe wrote an informative technical article on crossing a barred entrance to the open sea from an inlet or river mouth in Club Marine publication [Steptoe, W. (2002) “How to Cross a Bar Safely”, Club Marine, Vol. 17, Issue 6.]

When crossing a bar you are dealing with the possibility of injuries and even death, so if there is any doubt about getting across a bar safely please do not do it.

There is a certain amount of knowledge and experience necessary to gain confidence. Experience only comes from, well, experience and in a situation with inherent dangers the only way to gain it is sensibly.

Growing up swimming in the surf, which so many Australians do, ingrains a considerable amount of fundamental understanding about bar crossings.

To minimise the high cost of litigation and increase your confidence in crossing bars, we recommend that you take courses or do a familiarisation day on any bar you intend to cross.

We also recommend the Australian Boating College Sunshine Coast 60-minute video “How to Cross a Bar Safely”. Warren Steptoe states; “It’s simply the best bar crossing instructional video I have ever come across.”

Sacrificial Anode - Metal parts fitted to the hull of a vessel to provide a transfer of ions to t he cathodic part of an electrolytic coupling and so protect other parts of the vessel that would otherwise waste away through electrolysis
Schooner - A sailing vessel fitted with two or more masts carrying fore and aft sails. When it is fitted with two masts, the forward may be shorter than the other
Scuppers - Drains from decks to carry off rain or sea water
Shank - In an anchor, the straight section between the chain attachment and the flukes
Shoal Water - Shallow water
Sloop - A sailboat with a single mast and fore and aft rig, usually with a single jib and mainsail
Spring Line - A mooring rope oriented at a small angle to the vessels centre line
Starboard Side - The right hand side of a vessel when looking forward
Stays - Fixed wire ropes leading forward from aloft on a mast to the deck to prevent the mast from bending aft. Backstays lead from aloft to aft
Stern - After end of a vessel
Stow - To put away. To stow cargo in a hold
Tiller - An arm, attached to rudder stock, which turn the rudder
Transom - The stern cross section of a square sterned boat
Windlass - The machine used to hoist and lower anchors
Yawing - Weaving motion of a vessel to port and starboard off course

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