swatchway

In the end we traversed the Steil Sand again, but by a different swatchway, and anchored, after an arduous day, in a notch on its eastern limit, just clear of the swell that rolled in from the turbulent estuary of the Elbe.

The Riddle of the Sands Childers, Erskine, 1870-1922 1955

Fortunately another tug-boat, the Cambria, had anchored about 7 p.m. in deep water outside the Goodwins, as close as was prudent to the swatchway before described; but the inevitable struggle was regarded with the greatest anxiety by all hands, notwithstanding the proffered help of the tug-boat and the lightening of the ship.

Heroes of the Goodwin Sands Thomas Stanley Treanor

At last we found our way out of the heart of the Goodwins, and got into the deep, wide swatchway called the Ramsgate Man's Bight.

Heroes of the Goodwin Sands Thomas Stanley Treanor

Towards 7 p.m. the Champion lugger at anchor hoisted her light, to indicate the channel or swatchway by which the Mandalay would have to come out if ever she moved at all.

Heroes of the Goodwin Sands Thomas Stanley Treanor

The Mandalay was then towed out of the swatchway by the Cambria into deep water, and round the Goodwin Sands, with the lifeboat alongside her, into the anchorage of the Downs by the half-divided hawser.

Heroes of the Goodwin Sands Thomas Stanley Treanor

This bight is a swatchway of deep water, and the Mandalay then struck the Sands on the eastern jaw of another channel into the Goodwins.

Heroes of the Goodwin Sands Thomas Stanley Treanor

The strain of the second tug-boat was now felt by the moving vessel, and then came the scrapes and the crunches and the thumps as she was pulled over the sand towards the deep swatchway.

Heroes of the Goodwin Sands Thomas Stanley Treanor

Her head sails were set, to pay her head off still more, and at last the victorious tug-boats pulled her safe into the swatchway, accompanied by the lifeboat.

Heroes of the Goodwin Sands Thomas Stanley Treanor

But the most furious sea raged on the western jaw of the deep swatchway; there currents and cross seas met, and the breakers rose up and clashed and struck together in weightier masses and with especial fury.

Heroes of the Goodwin Sands Thomas Stanley Treanor

Champion, of Ramsgate, appeared and anchored in the swatchway spoken of above.

Heroes of the Goodwin Sands Thomas Stanley Treanor