Bar Crossings Australia & NZ

Collection of Bar Crossings that didn't go as planned for the skippers involved. This is not an instructional video on crossing coastal bars. If you are unsure of the correct technique, for your boat/hull type then contact your local marine licensing authority, Coast Guard or Marine Rescue and enquire about a bar crossing course. I can say however that every technique you see in this video is wrong!

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the footage in this video, it remains the property of the original videographers.

[sturdivanthouse]

This should be required watching for any boater because it's amazing how fast things change when one little thing goes wrong

[robertfitzsimmons]

I’ve crossed the Columbia River bar with my Dad countless times. I’m so glad Dad was a smart character, he taught me well. And some people that can afford a boat, just don’t have the brains to safely operate one... just a fact.

[salessiteboost]

People don't realise how challenging Bar Crossings can be. You need lots of experience and great boat handling skills. The current, swell, wind and waves combine together to make a fast and dynamic environment that punish you in a second! :O

[DaylightDawning]

That rescue boat skipper made it look effortless riding the crest of that wave coming in!

[mykeydrive]

Love the guy in the last vid gathering up the bow line to make himself feel like he's doing something to help the situation

[simondenneen]

Good video. The Brunswick Bar shown in the video is Brunswick Heads in Northern NSW.

[dss]

Excellent training video!
I am taking the Florida boatUS Safety Course now and will be taking the Bar Crossing course next that you suggested.

[patrickswayze]

great touch with the 'Buddy Christ' pic at 6.20 hahaha
Number one rule, not just when crossing bars, but in heavy surf, power through it, never wait to ride the waves, you ain't surfin, you're driving a bloody powered water craft!
Great vid thanks +fishnjpegs

[jonnewell]

The second one is Brunswick Heads in Northern NSW, not Victoria, It can be a real PITA to cross. Don't cross in the run-out tide, make sure you have the ponies on the back to push you through on the way out, only go as fast as you need to so it just pushes over the incoming wave, do the same for the next wave till you are out. At least on this bar you have space to stop and wait for the right opportunity to cross before committing. Once committed stay committed. On the way back in, wait for a decent swell then sit on the back of it by controlling your throttle speed, DON'T overshoot the wave or you well get broached. DO watch out for waves catching up behind as can happen. This bar is narrow, and at low tide is very shallow, on the left on the way out it's TOO shallow to cross in low tide without grounding and getting smashed by waves. Because it's narrow in large swell it is prone to pressure waves bouncing back off the walls, same for the boat wake, which can turn the whole lot into slop. Check the webcam on this bar before going, wear a life jacket and IF it's too bad, DON'T go.

[jimmycline]

You can here the turbos on that red rescue boat that boat was a beast, man handling the boat it’s pulling through those big waves!

[pdevonport]

The biggest problem on some bars when you get in front of the wave is the lack of water.The best way as pointed out is to sit on the back of the wave(Regulating throttle at all times) and speed up just as it breaks to avoid cavitation by the propeller(Caused by air pockets in the water from the breaking wave) which causes the boat to stall momentarily as what looks like happened to the second boat coming through the bar.The first boat coming through the bar look like it was out of petrol, second boat didn't know what they were doing and the third & fourth were complete idiots and I don't know what the police were doing?

[gavinabrahams]

Thanks for the valuable info. They say hind site is 20 20 .Most of this is avoidable through common sense and training. We mainly use catamaran hulls in heavy surf in Durban South Africa . They a very stable even on the approach to the beach . Nothing beats a cat .

[kenzeier]

This video could be called, “People who have more boat than skill.”

[showtime]

I get sea-sick easily and the idea of being on any boat through this "adventure" is an absolute nightmare to me. Scares me to death. Could not be less apt to be aboard or more afraid. So why am I addicted to every video like this I can get my hands on?

[AVportau]

boat in NZ 5:20 has thrown anchor in attempt to prevent drift onto rocks. thats what flipped it when it came to the length of its tether.
bigger the boat not necessarily the better. small IRB handles this by outrunning breaks, same as a jetski, but an underpowered boat is a great risk. the boats at 4:05 to 5:00 are a classic example of good technique & plenty of power. cavitation isn't always the problem. the current & draw from waves building can seem to suck a medium powered boat backwards into waves. usually one side gives some shelter with only a short danger run. Port Macquarie NSW bar this technique is used often, but always consult locals & sea rescue for local knowledge coz all bars differ. also keep in mind to know your time of return and tide at that time. No.1 ALWAYS wear your lifejackets during bar crossings.

[Aorangi]

You need to show people how to get in. You sit on the back side of a breaking wave, in the calm water behind it and follow it in. Use all the power you have to maintain the position right in behind the wave, and stay out of the bubbly white water, as you'll lose all your power. A prop can't push your boat forward across the bar when it's spinning in and pushing bubbles. Find the glassy water in behind the wave and gun it if you have to, to remain in that position. Do not overtake the wave either or you'll end up in the same situation as these guys, unless the wave you're on dies out, and there is clear calm water you can power through to get to the back of the next breaking wave in front of you. Follow the waves in is the trick.

[newstart]

 I learned the hard way many years ago (30) as a kid. Wind kicked up while we were in the gulf and the waves quickly went 8-9 feet in the bar. Sharp waves, some breaking. Had a 21 foot mako. I let a wave catch up to my stern and almost pitched it.  I didn't let that happen again. Next, I caught up to a wave and almost went over it- learned not to do that. I learned to be patient, ride just before the top and get away from the wave building up behind me. You have to keep looking foreword and astern.
 It took just that one time and I had it down. But to this day, my pulse still goes way up and feel my blood pressure rise- it is exhilarating!
 Also, you can wait just before the bar and enter during a calm set and try and race through. It may take a while, but it's worth it.

[rosscantsidis]

The Benny Hill music suits them perfect 😂😂

[mitchelllloyd]

That orange rescue boat sounds pretty cool. Pretty scary to go out and rescue people in some of those conditions I imagine! I think I will stick to lakes in my 11 foot

[greatbriton]

Learn to surf and you'll soon have an instinctive understanding of waves. My eyes popped out of my head watching these. Beam on to a wave!! Conditions to be careful in but manageable.