How to Cross Bars and Run Inlets
Bars and inlets demand respect. The fear of crossing these notorious gateways to the ocean dissuades many small boat captains. Yet bars can be crossed safely if you learn how.
On the US west coast, and in Australia and New Zealand, locals tend to use the term Bar instead of Inlet. Examples include the infamous Columbia River Bar (Oregon & Washington), the Tillamook Bay Bar (Oregon), the Noosa and Ballina Bars in Australia, and the Graymouth and Whakatane Bars in New Zealand.
On the US east coast and parts of Europe, locals speak of Running the Inlet instead of Crossing the Bar. Notable examples include Jupiter and Haulover Inlets in Florida, Hatteras and Oregon Inlets in North Carolina, and the Capbreton Inlet in France.
In South Africa, a famous bar is called Knysna Heads, due to the spectacular rock cliffs that bracket the bar.
Regardless of the terminology, the methods for planning safe crossings are similar worldwide, and easily learned with proper instruction. It’s a matter of learning the nuances of swell, tide and the structure of the bar itself.
Ocean Coach got it’s start teaching captains how to cross the bar. My teaching progam has been proven and refined with over 300 students.
This step-by-step program, is now available in an online E-class, called the Coastal Mariner’s Masterclass.
Enroll now, get instant access, work through the class at your own pace, and make this the year you master the bar. Click the button for all the details.
“Thank you for helping me gain the knowledge to cross the bar successfully. Your classes are very informative, easy to understand and logically presented. You keep a fast pace, but with the individual interaction, you answered any questions I had immediately. Very well done!”
— Paul Jensen
“Thanks, Charles, for the exceptional coaching. Knowing what I know now, I would have made some better decisions over the years”
— Adam Cox