Birthday's Can Be A Drag - Literally

Blue boat with blue sail cover, furthest back in the pic- original anchor position

Febuary 22, 2015
Fort de France Martinique
Warning -  The below is told in real time.....ie.....it's long but exciting....at least we thought so and therefore real time is the only way I know how to tell it.  Deal with it!

We were headed ashore at 14:00 yesterday to have a few birthday beers for Tom's birthday at our favorite place, Hotel L'Impeatrice.  There were some really strong gusts blowing through the anchorage.  I commented to Tom how close these two boats (s/v Gin Rummy and s/v Cluck) looked as we dinghied past.  But then I always think boats are too close and that everyone is dragging anchor when it's super wind.  Worry wort type stuff.  I know it, Tom knows it.  That is just how I am.  As we were tying up the dinghy to the worlds best dinghy dock (stainless steel face plate with big SS rings to chain your dinghy to) Tom commented "Man, it's gusty today."  I turned once more to look at s/v Honey Ryder in the anchoring field before we headed down the street to the hotel.  "Tom, that blue boat that was really close to s/v Cluck is now behind it!"  Tom looked.  Omg!  The boat was dragging and the next target was s/v Honey Ryder.  Of course we unchained the dinghy and zoomed out to the blue boat - s/v Gin Rummy, a camper Nicholson 35.  There was no one aboard so Tom climbed aboard.  Luckily their windlass was still switched on so he let out all the chain he could which really wasn't that much maybe 20 or 30 ft.  We hoped that would catch and hold.  Tom did take note that the key was in the ignition if needed but the boat was locked up otherwise.  

We headed to s/v Honey Ryder to just watch and wait.  Slowly s/v Gin Rummy continued to drag towards us.  I suggested powering up and motoring off to starboard slightly - hopefully enough to get out of the way but keep our anchor in place.  Not really a great idea but something.  But Cap10 Tom was patient and wanted to wait and see.  We got all our fenders out and tied them on the port side and Tom moved our dinghy over there to act as a fender as well.  I put out a general announcement on the VHF for the anchorage.  A few people popped their heads up but most were ashore or didn't have their VHF radios on.  *In fairness....there were a couple of big tankers using the frequency as a working channel and the crews were speaking Russian throughout the day on and off.  Additionally there are about 5 cruising boats here in Martinique that seem to hail each other a minimum of 6 times a day  and that gets really old really fast and therefore some people turn down their VHF radios or off completely.  

Way too close

Anyway.....s/v Gin Rummy slowly inched closer and closer to s/v Honey Ryder.  Bruce off s/v Wild Matilda zoomed over with two big fenders from his boat so we added them to our port rail.  Then I had him go over to the Norwegian boat astern to port of us and warn that captain.  He was on deck but facing aft reading and I knew he had not heard my radio announcement about the dragging boat.  After Bruce told him, he took a great interest of course and sat watching.  He was next should this boat miss us.

After fending off

So close

What to do?  Raft her up next to us?  We worried that might cause our anchor to drag and then we would be two boats rafted up dragging.  The same was true for tying a line to her off our stern.  I thought it still might cause both boats to drag down on the next boat.  Or climb aboard and try to re-anchor a boat that is not yours?  Or fend her off and let her go?  No way we were going to let her go on to hit someone else - there was another boat astern to starboard and that crew was ashore.  Additionally, we were not going to just let her drag out into the bay to hit one of the four tankers anchored out there.  

Tom manually setting the fortress anchor

French captain lending a hand by securing the fortress anchor line to the dragging boat

Tom got the idea of getting out our folding Fortress aluminum anchor.  He put it together while I grabbed a long line we had handy - old halyard.  We keep it ready to go for anchoring stern to shore or emergencies.   He had to stop once to fend off the bow of s/v Gin Rummy from hitting our port stern.  I was on the swim ladder with the boat hook doing the same.  She was slowly passing us but still causing issues as both boats swung this way and that with winds gusts.  The Captain of a French boat on the other side rowed over.  I told him we were going to try to deploy our Fortress to stop her dragging.  "You don't have chain on it?  Only rope?" he asked.  "Ah, yeah....it's our third anchor and a backup so at this point we don't have chain on it  but it will just have to do won't it!"  He shrugged.  I asked him to help.  Tom took the anchor out in our dinghy and tossed it out, testing that it was hooked on the bottom.   The French captain tied the line to the bow of the dragging boat and then rowed back to his boat.  Tom then climbed aboard the dragging boat and tightened up the line, tugging to test that it was set.  It was.  Bruce came over again during this to help and agree that it was set as best Tom could given the situation.  Tom came back to our boat and we just waited.  S/v Gin Rummy was still very close and in the wind gusts it was nerve racking.  

Fortress anchor line attached

Tom securing the fortress and testing the holding

Bruce and Tom - "Best we can do for now"

In the anchorage more and more crews were returned to their boats from shore but not this crew.  Where were they?  It was 15:30 on Saturday afternoon and everything ashore is closed for the most part.  "Where are they?"  We could see the dinghy dock.  I watched through the binocs for the crew to arrive.  Finally, I spotted someone running along the shore.  It turned out to be the captain of the dragging boat.  He and his wife dinghied up and asked what happened and if their boat had hit ours.  Tom calmly told them what happened.  "That is our Fortress anchor and line on her.  Take your time getting re-anchored and settled in.  No rush to get those back to us."  They had been anchored for 3 days with no issues.  They had gone ashore to shops and such but the one day they were gone all day, the winds pipped up and the boat drug.  One of a captain's nightmare come true.  Seems they were across the bay hiking and only spotted their dragging boat as the ferry was passing the anchorage to return them to this side of the bay.  

Crew back aboard

They got re-anchored in the corner and then Philip (Captain of s/v Gin Rummy) came over to return our anchor and line as well as say thank you again and give us a bottle of wine in gratitude.  We chatted a bit and then he left.  Nice guy.  Soon Bruce and Carol off s/v Wild Matilda showed up for Tom's planned happy hour  birthday celebration and things were back to normal. 

I am very proud of the way Tom handled the situation.  He was cool and calm, thinking things through.  It reconfirmed some things for us.  1.)  Leaving the windlass power on when anchored is a very good thing.  2.)  We either leave our key in the ignition or we have it in the cockpit pocket right next to the ignition.  This is good as well.  The chances are much, much, much greater that there will be an emergency and someone other than us may need to move our boat in a hurry than the chances of someone stealing her.  3.)  Daily checks of the anchor and snubber are wise.  4.)  Stuff happens.  Even the best captain will drag anchor at some point.  5.)  Cruisers take care of cruisers.  6.)  The Fortress performed well in a pinch.  When s/v Gin Rummy pulled it up, the entire anchor was caked in mud - it went deep and was holding.

The Anchor Stare

Tyrrell Bay after the normal morning departure

Dec 29th, 2014

Or alternative title......"While You Are Anchoring, Not All Speedo Wearing, Foreign Solo Sailors Have Malice In Their Hearts."

Allow me to explain.  When someone new comes into an anchorage, everyone that is already anchored there watches what the new arrivals are doing and specifically where they plan to anchor.  If it is somewhat close to them, then they watch with even more interest.  Sometimes from the cockpit and sometimes from the deck of their boat - staring intently......usually in a small speedo.  Actually this is a common anchoring deterrent.  A crazy looking, tiny speedo wearing (or naked) sailor moving around on the deck of his sailboat can frighten some would-be anchoring boats off.  Luckily, we do not scare easy.  Truth be told, on rare occasion, I have even been one of the up on deck, intently staring sailors myself.  Yes, I have!  When I think someone is anchoring too close to us or possibly on top of our anchor, I get out on deck and take an interest.   Of course this is all taken up a notch or two if the anchorage is crowded and/or if it's getting close to sunset and/or if the wind it blowing strongly.  

Big ferry swinging this way and that

Late this afternoon we motored into Tyrrell Bay Carriacou from Grenada.  On approach there were 3 boats (including us) arriving at the same time.  The anchoring field is FULL.  The few remaining good spots seemed to have homemade moorings floating there meaning a local boat could arrive back after dark and want their spot.  Or our prop or rudder could get wrapped up in one of these if we swung over it.  Darn it!  It was 17:30 so everyone was in their cockpit or messing about with their dinghy to go ashore.  All eyes were on us as we searched for a spot to anchor.  Forget the perfect spot, we were just looking for anything before dark and before the other two boats got there first.  We circled, discussed and circled some more.  Finally we settled on a spot where we thought we could stuff in.  It was in between a foreign flagged aluminum boat and big ferry.  As we drifted back, letting out chain, I spotted the speedo wearing, foreign solo sailor of the aluminum boat take up position on his deck.  Oh boy.  Here we go.  I didn't look at him.  Neither did Tom....at first.  Then he did a courtesy look......you know the one.....as if to say "Hi guy.  I know you are concerned we are dropped anchor here but don't be.  There is room and besides, you have been in our spot trying to find a place to anchor, so be cool."  However, I noticed Tom was going beyond just a courtesy look and was engaging in conversation with this guy.  Oh great.  I assumed the speedo wearing, foreign solo sailor was letting us know he didn't want us there.  In reality he was warning Tom that the big ferry swings all sorts of weird ways.  "Sure it does pal" was my thought (I know, my bad).  Tom thanked him and we moved on.  Finally, we ended up anchoring behind the big ferry in a so-so spot but a spot none the less.  Tom is currently on anchor watch as we have an unoccupied motor yacht very close by.  *Did you catch that?  Tom is on anchor watch and not worry wort me!  Anyway, being anchored where we are behind the big ferry has given us a chance to see that speedo wearing, foreign solo sailor was totally right.  The big ferry has been swing this way and that and nothing at all like the rest of the field.  We would have totally been in trouble had we anchored there.  We plan to thank him tomorrow when we go by to re-anchor in a better spot after the charter boats bug out in the morning anchorage departure.
And yes, technically we are actually the ones too close to someone this go around - the motor yacht just off our port stern.  We generally wouldn't anchor this close but it was getting late and we needed to set.  We watched for quite some time to be sure we were set and that we wouldn't hit it in the various wind angle swings.  Also, this boat is unoccupied so we didn't have to content with a speedo wearing, motor yacht guy up on the deck of this boat.  

For the record.....I do not have anything against speedo wearing, foreign solo sailors.  I just wanted you to have the full picture of the above situation.  Tom is one actually but not solo.  

** On the flip side of the above story -  Jonas of sy Lady Annilla told us that once while cruising in the Med, a boat anchored too close to them.  Before he could launch the dinghy and go say something, the captain of the anchored-too-close boat disappeared below and sent his crew up on deck.  She appeared to be his.....er....niece (wink wink) given the age different.  She had on a scant bikini and proceeded to do some sort of stretching/pole dancing/siren song aka.....let us anchor here dance.  Smart captain that he is, Jonas quickly went below on his boat and sent his wife up to sort out the anchoring too close details.

Update- Overnight we stayed put despite strong winds and big gusts.  Tom did anchor duty all night in the cockpit, waking up when the big gusts hit and checking our position.  This morning we dinghied by the speedo wearing, foreign solo sailor to say "thanks"  He and his partner waved (not solo - my bad) and we waved back.  He pointed to our boat and gave a thumbs up.  We gave a thumbs up back.  Message conveyed.  Thank you so much Captain speedo.

More Anchoring Fun

All chain helps but is not guarantee

April 29th
We were in Prince Rupert Bay Dominica.  After relocating, Tom dove on the anchor to be sure we were set.  That night I was really tired and went to bed early.  I slept like the dead.  Suddenly for some unknown reason I woke up aburtly.  I have no idea what time it was other than o'dark thirty and very late.  Checking our position, I found we were very, VERY close to another boat.  Dangerously close.  I woke up Tom.  At first he thought that boat moved up on a mooring right behind us and then realized NO, we had drug down towards this boat.  I scrambled to fire up the engine and Tom scrambled forward to the anchor locker.  Now we were even closer to hitting them!  AND - this is a boat we know!  Super nice people.  It would be like hitting your favorite uncle's fancy, top of the line Mercedes.  It's terrible to drag down on anyone!  But absolutely horrible to drag down on a seasoned cruisers you know who has been helpful with advice and guidance.

I couldn't wait any longer, I slowly powered us forward to avoid hitting them.  Tom brought the anchor in.  I suggested we just take a mooring and Tom agreed.  Great..... But.....moorings here are not like the big, shiny balls with long, floating pendants you find in the BVI's.  Oh no!  More often than not, they are a gallon oil jug (sometimes yellow, sometimes black....because that's easy to spot half submerged) 1/2 floating in the water with a pendant that may or may not be good.  However, first we had to find a mooring in the dark.  Not an easy task.  Tom spotted one and started me towards it.  I landed the approach on the first try and he was able to snag it and get us secured.  The pendant seemed beefy and we watched for a while to be sure it was holding us.  Then we went below...dumbstruck about what had just happened and fitfully fell asleep.  

The next morning, as we laid in bed, we tried to figure out what happened - how we could have come lose and drug.  Our answer came when we got up in the cockpit for morning coffee.  Just before sunset the night before, a yacht came in and anchored between us and the yacht ahead of us.  The next morning they were in our exact anchor location - not where they were before!  We think they drug down across our anchor, popping us free.  That was more than likely the motion that woke me up.  Now....this might be us making excuses for dragging anchor but it seems logical.  We were set and Tom dove on the anchor to be sure, then suddenly we were dragging freely and the next morning another boat has drug down into our exact anchor location.  Hum?  
NOTE - No, I did not set an anchor alarm.  Yes, I should have.  To my knowledge, the "favorite uncle" boat never woke up.  Whew!  No, I am NOT saying who it was.   

St Catherine's Sound and Walburg Creek

9-22-13 and 9-23-13  We headed out St Simon's channel and then turned north.  The wind didn't really cooperate so we motored most of the way.  We also had some rain.    We got a later start than we should have.  That is one thing that we have not adjusted to....getting up and leaving early.  Its not that we can't, we just haven't.  In this case we should have.  With winds on the nose a good part of the way, it slowed us down.  We had to enter the sound after dark.  Gasp!  Yes, it was a bit of a stomach tensing time but we went for it.  Our Garmin chartplotters did an excellent job of guiding us.  Sailing Chickie Tammy ......
Omg - as I am typing this on the deck a dolphin has surfaced and seems to be hunting for an afternoon snack right around our boat.....so Kewl!!!!
Tammy recommended Walburg Creek for an anchorage just off St Catherine's sound.  She was right.  It's terrific.  Nice wide river and great holding - even in the dark.  D-oh.   This creek is approx mile 620 on the ICW charts if you are following along or needing a good anchorage.
Ooh - two dolphins.
We are still getting used to tidal swing.  Very weird to be bow into the current and stern to the wind....for now until the tide changes.
The guidebooks say St Catherine's is a private island owned by the St Catherine Foundation in conjunction with the New York Zoologically Society.  They have some animal reserve /  rehab going on.  Walburg Island is mainly marsh so tons of birds.  Over the marsh I spotted a big motor cruiser headed up the ICW this morning in the binocs.
We mainly chilled today and did some boat stuff.  Freezer was acting up again.  Tom discovered loose wires and fixed them for good and now it's working.  Our radar wasn't working yesterday so I dove into that.  Loose connection behind the panel. We fixed.  Tom also noticed that fuel filter #1 was very cloudy last night.  Exploring that today, he found some water in there.  Luckily the filter did it job and keep it out of the engine.  We dumped the water, changed the filter and ran the engine for a while.  Worked like it should.  Yay.
Tacos and fresh baked cookies are on the agenda/menu for tonight.
Internet/cell service is iffy here so no pics.  I did take some and I will try posting those when we get to a better spot for service.  The sunset last night was spectacular with all the clouds around.  It looked like the sky over the sound was on fire.