Hazards

Hoylake's sailing site is fairly clear of man-made obstacles and debris. A number of metal posts have been removed, but there may be more of these exposed as the sand shifts with the tides. We can use the club's vehicles to remove any new ones that we find. The vehicles can also be used to remove driftwood and other obstacles if they present a danger in an otherwise good sailing area e.g. a marked out course.

A few streams and pools of water remain on the site, even after it's had a few days to dry out. Please note that some of them contain deep water and should be approached with caution, at least the first time you encounter them. Some of the streams can have fairly steep sides too. Usually not very high, but sometimes tall enough to give you a hefty bump when you hit them!

There are several areas that have soft sand - the top of the sandbank usually has a few areas that can be difficult to traverse in a parakart fitted with 'barrow' or 'disc' wheels. At best the soft sand will slow you down dramatically. At worst, the craft comes to a sudden dead stop ejecting the pilot forwards! There are still plenty of huge areas where this is not a problem, but if you want unrestricted use of the site, extra wide tyres or 'big foots' are recommended. The soft sand does not seem to affect the larger sand yachts as much, probably due to the higher speed at which they travel. There are areas of soft mud that will trap a sandyacht though, especially near to the sea wall. Fairly unpleasant to sail on, this area is usually only crossed to get further out onto the site, where much better sailing ground can be found. It's unfortunate that to return to the club you must cross this mud, but the water hose in the toilet/shower block ensures that you won't have to pack a dirty craft away!

Pilots should make an effort to clean the lose mud from their craft before entering the courtyard, as it is fairly unpleasant, and other users of the courtyard will appreciate us leaving as much mud as possible on the sand bank!

On the face of it, the sailing site appears very flat, but the outgoing tide often forms potholes in the sand. These are usually grouped together forming large areas of very rough terrain which we call Moon country. If you have ever seen this you'll know exactly what we mean! The holes can be half a metre deep, up to a metre wide and will almost certainly result in an accident if hit at high speed (the Webmaster can confirm this!). They do not have a precise location, shifting with every tide that comes over the sandbar. Indeed, they may not be formed at all. It appears to depend on the outgoing tide's behaviour, probably coupled with weather factors - wind speed and direction for example.

Another hazard to watch out for is steep dune faces, especially on or near the sand bar, and more common at the north-east end of the sailing site. Difficult to spot at high speed, especially if the sun is high and no shadows are cast, these inclines may only be half a metre high but they will seriously unbalance your craft if hit at speed. They have been known to cause accidents, but mainly with parakarts probably due to their smaller wheelbase and track.

The seaward side of the sandbank, nicknamed The Dragstrip offers probably the best sailing area on the site. It is a very firm surface, often glassy-smooth and with an onshore wind it is frighteningly fast! A little care is required though (eg. one or two low speed runs), as the sea can wash up debris on to the 'strip. Most of this is seaweed plus a few jellyfish and shells (parakarters watch out for razor shells!), but some larger objects like bottles, cans and pieces of wood can be washed up there too.

We recommend that all pilots perform a slow speed run, covering as much of the site as possible when they first arrive so as to reduce the number of surprises (and therefore accidents!) when your speed increases.

We often set out a marked course for the parakarts, and this will be placed in such a way as to avoid any obstacles.

The tide

The Pan (the area between the sandbank and the sea wall) is lower than the sandbank. If the rising tide exceeds 8.3m, the tide comes in very quickly. A gully near to the sea wall at the north-east boundary (Dove Point) allows the water level to rise behind anybody out on the bank. For sub-8.3m tides this is not a problem as the whole site will stay dry. For tides over 8.3m, people should be aware of this, and ensure that they leave the site well before the tide's peak.

If you do get caught out, the slipway near to the club house should be avoided. Head instead to the slipways further south-west towards Hilbre Point (see the map).

Other site users

These should all be regarded as hazards, and given a wide berth by making a change of course as soon as possible. Many people do not understand the dangers of high speed yachts and buggies (or do not understand their braking and turning abilities), are often inquisitive and want to get a better look. It is worth noting that stopping for a couple of minutes for a group of people allows the mask and helmet to come off, and provides the opportunity to introduce others to our sport!

Groups of horse riders can occasionally be seen on the site. Horses are easily spooked, by kites in particular whether flying or grounded. Please take extra care to alter your course, or be prepared to stop until the horse(s) pass.

Dogs often run after our craft, possibly to 'see off' a potential threat to their owners, but maybe they just like a good chase - who knows! Slightly comical, but they can be fairly persistant (and a major distraction) and tend to run for a fair distance before finally giving up. They can be a nuisance if a sudden change of course is required (or forced), and calls from their owners usually have little effect.

Be prepared!

It sounds obvious, but exposure to the elements is an important consideration for anybody out on the site. Apart from the clothing you wear, please ensure that you are prepared for the time of the year - basic stuff like sun cream in the summer, thermals in the winter. Whatever the season, the weather will 'attack' you in what can be a fairly harsh environment!

A change of clothes back at the clubhouse, or in the car, is worth having. There is nothing worse than having to travel home in wet or sandy clothing!

Hidden dangers

Finally, the surface itself - sand and water - can be loaded with all sorts of infectious bugs and viruses. Cuts and grazes, no matter how minor, sustained whilst out on the site should be attended to as soon as possible. Feet and legs are highly susceptible to infections as they seem to take the brunt of injuries sustained (or just get covered in sand and water more), even if the pilots doesn't get ejected from their craft. A simple antiseptic cream should be part of every pilot's kit bag!

We'll post details of any other hazards as soon as we are made aware of them.