Roadstead

A roadstead is a body of water sheltered from rip currents, spring tides or ocean swell outside a harbor where ships can lie reasonably safely at anchor without dragging or snatching while waiting for their turn to enter a port of call. It can be open or natural, usually - estuary-based, or may be created artificially. In maritime law, a "known general station for ships, notoriously used as such, and distinguished by the name". Charts and nautical publications often use roads rather than roadsteads; "Roads" is the earlier term. In the days of sailing ships, some voyages could only easily be made with a change in wind direction, and ships would wait for a change of wind in a safe anchorage, such as the Downs or Yarmouth Roads. Daniel Defoe has Robinson Crusoe recall an early journey in the coastal trade: "The sixth day of our being at sea we came into Yarmouth Roads; the wind having been contrary, and the weather calm, we had made but little way since the storm. Here we were obliged to come to an anchor, and here we lay, the wind continuing contrary, viz., at southwest, for seven or eight days, during which time a great many ships from Newcastle came into the same Roads..."

Singapore roadstead

Marseille Rade

Dutch ships in the roadstead of Texel, 1671

Roadstead of Villefranche-sur-mer

Greek bunker vessel AGIA ZONI III at Piraeus roadstead

Volvo Ocean Race 2012 in the roadstead of Lorient

HNoMS Harald Hårfagre or Tordenskiold at the roadstead of Trondheim, 1906

Golden Fleece lying at anchor in the roadstead (painting by Jack Spurling, 1929)

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