It started out so well .....Jim's maiden..

[Jimbodiddly]

So yesterday the sun was shining and no wind my Y6 was prepared, all pre flight checks done, Me and my buddy took our multi';s for a test flight down to Middleton sands '; I"ve been down there before as a spotter.'; Its a great area when the tides out you have about 1 mile of shore in every direction and grassy islands to take off from etc that are massive which are separated by small salt creeks.

By the the time we got down there the tide was on its way in and by our rough guess we had about an hour of flying time before we needed to evacuate back the 100 yards from the grassy islands to the car park. So we walked ouver a couple of salt creeks to our usual spot, unpacked my mate setp his flv gear and i got my Y6 ready. So whilst I was tinkering with the Y6 and my buddy was flying his tbs I looked around and noticed the creeks around the grass islands slowly backfilling with water, i mentioned this to my mate  ';he';s lived in t e area for 10 years.'; to which he stated we';ll be fine '; it never gets high enough to flood the grassy bits unless there';s a storm, trusting his words i continued sorting out my Y6 to get it ready for flight and spotting for him.

I then glanced behind me.....

The sea was starting to breach the grassy islands nearby, I quickly yelled out '; we gotta pack up.'; quick as we could we both packed up our gear. by the time we where totally cut off from land, the salt creeks had filled up to the point where they where like a large stream and with the water being murky you could not tell how deep it it was. what ensued next was to be frank for a non swimmer with cerebal palsy quite scarey to say the least. My friend waded halfway knee deep across one creek and I passed him all the Multi rotor gear he put it on the other side and helped me cross the first creek as we edged closer to the carpark, we did this 2 or 3 more times until we got to a big expanse of water about 20ft across that would have consisted of 2 or 3 creeks before the tide was out at this point we where both beginning to panic I told my buddy to take all the gear to the far side get it on high ground and come back so slowly he waded out, by now waist deep and carefully made 2 trips to put the gear high up away from the water, by the time he got back the water was a further 6 inches up, So with his help we both stumbled/ jumped almost swam across to where the gear was. Only to find the tide had beat us to it .....

Moving our dripping Multi rotor gear to the edge of the carp park my friend ran to get his car, I looked at my gear, Y6 dry apart from 2/3 inches of wet legs no water damage on the frame, transmitter case wet, mobile phone wet, I was lucky unlike my friend who';s tbs got soaked, fpv monitor  soaked, iphone soaked, transmitter case/ toolbox soaked...

I can laugh about it now but it could have been much worse.... when I got back home I heard on the radio it was a higher than normal tide... Lesson learned.


Jim

[flybywire]

That';s a scary story Jim.  I thought it was going to be about a crash or something!  I must admit, ever since an incident as a young child, i have always viewed the sea with equal amounts of awe and foreboding, as it is one of the most powerful forces we have on the earth.

Glad you';re both ok, it';s only kit after all, and can be replaced, unlike lives.

[Biffa]

I am always uneasy around tidal or strong flowing water. You wouldn';t catch me going anywhere near and I can bloody swim.

[flybywire]

Weren';t there some cockle pickers drowned around that area a few years ago, i seem to recall?
Caught by a merciless tide.

[Jimbodiddly]

Yes  just had the 10 year anniversary of the tragedy, it happened about 5 miles up the bay from where we were ... The speed it comes in at the bit the catches you off guard as its such a large generally flat area.

Jim 

[Biffa]

I didn';t realise it was almost the same place - bugger that

[Jimbodiddly]

I will fly there again, Its an amazing place. However of course with more planning and respect for the sea. I posted this to highlight how easy you can get into trouble more than anything. Plan your flight';s/ research the area.



Jim

[teslahed]

Glad to hear you were all ok and that there was no serious water damage to the multirotor. Shame about your mates, and the phones.

But i have to ask - were you not tempted to fly the multirotor across the creeks and land it on the other side before making your way across? I guess that kind of flying is not what you want to try with an untested aircraft.

[Jimbodiddly]

To be honest its not something we thought about really we just wanted to avoid a possibly disaster, Panic kicked in I guess.


Jim

[Hands0n]

Gosh Jim    That was some scary story.  The sea is not something to take for granted, it seems to be so very unpredictable.  I';m glad you both got to safety and no harm sustained.   A great description mate, you had me there with you as I was reading it!!

[nub]

gawd sounds like a bit of a close call, glad ya';s are alright.

[XH558]

http://www.tidetimes.org.uk/heysham-tide-times#axzz2v5Wx1Nlt

I live in St Ives and I have that set as a favourite for my area and can view not only times but - more importantly - heights (Neaps & Springs)

I am a great respecter of tides and currents and have seen no end of tourists and holiday makers cut off by the speed the tide can advance - but when you are in it it must be no joke ... glad you are ok