Crossing the Bar

CROSSING THE BAR

Sunset and evening star,
And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar,
When I put out to sea,

But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
Too full for sound and foam,
When that which drew from out the boundless deep
Turns again home.

Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell,
When I embark;

For though from out our bourne of Time and Place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have crost the bar.

written 1889 by Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809-1892)

(the illustration above was published in Punch magazine on 15 October 1892, nine days after Tennyson\’s death)

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Advice from Marine Safety Victoria:

What is a bar?

A bar is an accumulation of sand or silt at the entrance of a river, creek, lake or harbour.
Examples of bars located in Victorian waters are: Port Phillip Heads, Lakes Entrance, Patterson River, Anderson’s Inlet, Barwon Heads, McLaughlins Beach, Port Albert.

WHY ARE BARS DANGEROUS?

Conditions prevailing on a bar can cause steep and often breaking seas. For this reason it is important to take a number of precautions and manoeuvre the vessel with extreme caution.
Crossing a bar is a job for an experienced vessel handler.

EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION

Conditions on a bar change quickly and without warning. The skipper’s experience and vessel type should be taken into account when a bar crossing is considered. No amount of experience or boat type makes crossing a bar safe when the conditions are marginal or adverse. No situation warrants taking the risk.

If In Doubt – Don’t Go Out. Once started, you are committed to crossing the bar.