MAYDAY!! BOAT AGROUND!! – What to Do When Grounded & How to Kedge Off

Grounding can happen to anyone—even experienced sailors. In this video, I walk through how to kedge a boat off a reef or shallow, step by step. Kedging is a critical self-rescue skill that can mean the difference between getting free under your own power and turning a bad situation into a full-blown emergency. This isn’t theory or dockside instruction. It’s a practical breakdown of when kedging works, how to rig it correctly, and what mistakes to avoid when stress and time are working against you. If you sail in shallow water, coral, poorly charted areas, or unfamiliar anchorages, this is a technique worth understanding before you ever need it. What I cover in this video • When kedging is the right move (and when it’s not) • How to deploy and position the kedge anchor • Line handling and load management • Using tide, wind, and leverage to your advantage • Common mistakes that make things worse 📘 Be The Captain — Offshore Captain’s Field Manual Kedging is just one of many self-rescue and damage-control skills covered in Be The Captain. The book focuses on judgment, preparation, and what to do when things don’t go to plan offshore. First Edition hardcover + audiobook available here: 👉 https://bethecaptain.com 👇 Questions? Drop them in the comments. If you’ve ever grounded—or come close—there’s a lot others can learn from your experience. Hashtags #Kedging #BoatGrounding #Seamanship #BluewaterSailing #Anchoring #CruisingLife #SailingSkills #OffshoreSailing