Henty, Never thought we would say goodbye

Henty river trip

Left Thursday morning for a windsurfing trip on the Henty River, West Coast Tas. Locked hubs in off the bitumen about 10am to be greeted by a relatively dry track all the way in. A few mud holes with sand but with tyres deflated the mighty pajero powered on. We scouted the area and found a camp site around 400m from the river Henty. Not great wind direction for windsurfing so we set ourselves up to settle in for the night. Fire started, hot soup to keep us warm,Canadian club cans on the go, all set for what was supposed to be a great windsurfing session Friday morning. Close eyes, alseep at 9pm Wind coming in strong gusting to 40 knots.. perfect... blissfully unaware of the nightmare about to unfold.









Happy days on Thu morning after arriving

I will never forget next words to be spoken to me, I awoke to Paul "Ben We have a problem"
It's2am

Firstly I thought the wind had caught our sails and taken them off into the bush,But my bed was super comfy... Kind of like the waterbed at home...my bed was floating... and my tent. Confused I emerged from the tent to find no dry land in site.Unknown to us the dam up river was spilling, The Henty had broke its banks and rose by well over a metre turning the camping area into an eery looking lake. The fun was only getting started, the water still rising.
With bear feet in freezing water we gathered what we could before holding up in the pajero, heaters flat out and feet on the dash. With no chance of getting out in the dark we tried to sleep. the water rising around us and no idea how high it would get.

Once the water was over the doors we moved the car to the highest part of the camp site.. that gave us an extre 2 inches and we now had no where to go, and no idea how we were going to get out. Deciding to wait for low tide to empty the river we waited.... 4am Listening to the water lapping the side of the car higher and higher was not a great feeling.

Once daylight broke the water was showing no signs of going back.. With Low tide been and gone without effect on the water we decided we had to get out. Packing up the gear, tents halfway to the roof with freezing cold water, bare legs and feet. Jacket blew off the bonnet into the drink, thankfully the phone was in a waterproof cover...Bags and eski's floating around. Paul then went looking for the best way out.
The best way out was unfortunately well above the headlights and coming over the bonnet for around 250m, we had no snorkel and no choice so went for it. If the car had of stalled it would have taken the situation from bad to critical. Walking in the water was too cold to be an option.

Thankfully the $900 diesel pajero never missed a beat, Never been so glad to see a bitumen road. Snow and sleet falling most of the way home we have been very lucky this weekend.
Never turn your back on the West Coast.












The ONLY way out



Before and afters:

Yeah am so, thanks for your good judgement. You perform well under pressure

Run has a good S in the middle now, which is pretty shallow. But top of run has already had a good flush by the look of it. Had a walk along there yesterday and there is a good edge. Sand looks higher than last time too so on the right day the Henty would still produce for sure.

The run is still there. On Thurs we went out for a short sail in the wrong wind direction (NW) mainly to find the shallow parts of the run...that was before it flooded). The seaward edge of the run drops off quite sharply making a nice speed edge but there are a few sand fingers coming out and also a few shallow banks in the middle of the river further down to watch out for. We only went about halfway down the run and where it widened it also became more shallow (about thigh deep). The run is not as straight as it used to be and snakes its way down towards the mouth. The flood waters will only make it better flushing the sand out and creating a better edge...we hope. Not my favorite place right this moment but that may change.

Yep, and its about 800m wide sorry.

The only thing I can think to say is "bloody hell". Glad your all safe and the Pajero is still living.

I could tell where that story was heading ...

Lucky you made it out guys. That must have been a hell-night and worrying as to how it would all end up.

Perhaps not as bad as you had it, but Steve and I got stuck in at the rigging area with track flooded and the river visibly rising as we watched. We gunned it across the 'lake' and went down into the track, which was even deeper than the surrouding land and the water came up over the bonnet and the car started drifting sideways - I thought F#$K!! Then the wheels gripped a little and we slowly straigtened up and got some traction and made it out.

Copied below is a photo from another trip where we didn't even get to the 'lake' and I got stuck.

One thing we've found is you can sail the Henty on the first day the wind blows, but after that the swells pick up and washes over the beach into the river and floods the tracks.

That might have been useful information - sorry!! We should add it to Johhny's Spot Guide!!

Glad you made it out OK!!

Good to hear you got out ok Men




Perks checking the depth on another trip

Select to expand quote

AUS02 said...

I could tell where that story was heading ...

Lucky you made it out guys. That must have been a hell-night and worrying as to how it would all end up.

Perhaps not as bad as you had it, but Steve and I got stuck in at the rigging area with track flooded and the river visibly rising as we watched. We gunned it across the 'lake' and went down into the track, which was even deeper than the surrouding land and the water came up over the bonnet and the car started drifting sideways - I thought F#$K!! Then the wheels gripped a little and we slowly straigtened up and got some traction and made it out.

Copied below is a photo from another trip where we didn't even get to the 'lake' and I got stuck.

One thing we've found is you can sail the Henty on the first day the wind blows, but after that the swells pick up and washes over the beach into the river and floods the tracks.

That might have been useful information - sorry!! We should add it to Johhny's Spot Guide!!

Glad you made it out OK!!




That was really scary Dave. I thought for sure we were going to be bogged and your car written off. Last ones to leave that day and no phone reception. Also the weather conditions were very similar, rain, snow and the water surging over the bank. Don't forget the 15 hour return drive for 2 hours of sailing.

Its a good thing it was "pants off Friday" or they would have got soaked!