This might help you..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooktown,_Queensland
Running aground, resulting in being "grounded", or aground. Run Aground. Should a vessel run aground and there be a tide that has receded enough to show the sea bottom, the vessel is said to be "high and dry." Also known as "Beached"
Remain tied to the dock until you are competent to handle the vessel.
Looking at a nautical chart
Always know your surroundings and heed any warnings of the buoys in the area. Best to obtain a chart of the water that you are boating upon so that you will know where the shoals are and avoid running aground.
Use a chart which shows the depth of water to plot where you want to go and where you are.
Abraham Lincoln. He received a patent in 1849 related to an idea he had about preventing ships from running aground.
After running aground on a sandbank, it was several hours before the crew could haul the ship free and sail away.
Consult up-to-date charts, and keep a weather eye out.
Although the Australian indigenous people knew of the Great Barrier Reef for thousands of years, the first European discovery of the reef was made in 1770.In June 1770, Lieutenant James Cook became the first known European to sail up the eastern coast of Australia. His ship Endeavour ran aground on the reef just outside where the town of Cooktown now lies, and nearly sank. The Endeavour managed to stay afloat for another week whilst the crew sought desperately for land, eventually sighting the harbour formed by the Endeavour River. The ship was landed on 10 June 1770, and Cook spent almost two months repairing it, thus giving rise to the fledgling township of Cooktown.Cook did not name the Great Barrier Reef, however. That was done by Matthew Flinders in 1801.
Stephen Decatur was the commander of the raid that BURNED the Frigate Philadelphia- which had been captured by Tripoli after running aground.
Remain tied to the dock until you are competent to handle the vessel.
Running back and forth