Anchor Ball

[sailaboutvic]

Now before I get tear off a strip for being a bad mariner ,
I know every one here always put up a anchor ball when at anchor I also know everyone here uses a triangle when motor sailing ,
I'm just a bad boy I have no defence.
I guess 40 years of cruising and anchoring and being surrounded by boat from every part of the world who don't put up there anchor ball , just got me into this bad habit .
Although I do remember we did once upon a time.

We have never been approached by anyone telling me to do so.

So you can imagine ( well probably not as readers here always use anchor ball) my surprise when we anchored in can only be discript as a dyke at the died end of it with a line ashore to be approached by a police boat and be told I have to put up an anchor ball. Now I could had argued having line ashore we technically moored and not anchored but hey they where real nice policemen plus they ask me very nicely.
By the way we in the Netherlands.
A few days later I did the same again forget to put the ball up. 15 mins into a cupper and alone came another police boat , once again very politely but firmly again I was told ANCHOR BALL ...
Now I'm thinking it's the red ensign setting them off at me .
Since then the anchor ball went up as soon as we settle.
Except to day......
Back to our bad habits,
We anchored between two islands with 10 boat Dutch , Germany, Belgium and us the only British boat ,
The min we sew the police rib heading towards us, we thought Anchor ball, to late ....
Christine just manage to pull out our round black fender as he was 2 mts from us , you could see the look on his faces and trying not to break out in a smile ,
but still the words where spoken , anchor ball .
They when off and approached every boat without one ,
what a relief its not just British boats .
So the morale of the story is , if you plain to come to the Netherlands this summer , don't for get the ANCHOR BALL,
Of course no need to tell anyone here . ?

 

[franksingleton]

There have been cases in Portugal of fines being imposed for not flying an anchor ball. We always fly a ball. It is a trivial matter, so why not. It can help other boats to know that you are st anchor. We also attach an anchor light below the ball - far better than at masthead.
Motoring cones are a different matter. It can be dangerous to go up front in a rough sea. From our marina, we usually hoist the main while going down the river. When it is rough outside, the last thing I want to do is to mess around with an anchor ball before I have got my sea legs back. It is high time somebody dreamt up another way of indicating motor sailing.

 

[Poignard]

I sailed out of the Golfe du Morbihan very early with the last of the ebb a couple of days ago and passed a yacht anchored in a little bay between Port Navalo and Le Crouesty, presumably awaiting the flood. I noticed he was not displaying an anchor ball but then I thought he doesn't need to since the lid of his anchor locker was propped open and clearly visible!

 

[scottie]

I suspect that in all the boats I have sailed in over many years there was never one carried or even thought of to my chagrin and that is about 70 years
but never sailed in The Netherlands although I was aboard Lady Gilliane ? But that’s another story

 

[Poignard]

There have been cases in Portugal of fines being imposed for not flying an anchor ball. We always fly a ball. It is a trivial matter, so why not. It can help other boats to know that you are st anchor. We also attach an anchor light below the ball - far better than at masthead.
Motoring cones are a different matter. It can be dangerous to go up front in a rough sea. From our marina, we usually hoist the main while going down the river. When it is rough outside, the last thing I want to do is to mess around with an anchor ball before I have got my sea legs back. It is high time somebody dreamt up another way of indicating motor sailing.

Yes, I can't remember when I last saw a motor sailing cone in use.

But, offhand, I can't think of anything that would be a convenient alternative. If it has to be visible from ahead, it has to be mounted in front of any headsail, and that necessitates a walk to the bow to deploy it or take it down.

 

[ashtead]

I motored into cherbourg marina this evening and about 4 foreign boats anchored outside (one of which was Dutch) and most if not all seemed to be displaying an anchor ball which I have used once perhaps off Dartmouth but not a common site in the Solent in Osborne bay. Our peace once moored up was only caused by the customs Duane launch burning in at well over 3 knots creating a massive wash but speed they were going into the marina I doubt they were looking for anchor balls.

 

[Zing]

There have been cases in Portugal of fines being imposed for not flying an anchor ball. We always fly a ball. It is a trivial matters…

It’s not a trivial matter at all. It’s a pain in the ass.

 

[johnalison]

An anchor ball is trivial but a motoring cone may not be, especially is one needs to go to the foredeck when a decision has been made to motor on in heavy weather because the wind is heading or a course change made that requires it.

I imagine that the problem in the Netherlands is compounded by the fact that anchoring in many inland waters is not commonly done there and other boats may not be expecting an anchored boat. I haven’t often anchored there, except perhaps in the Brassermeer or at Sneek.

 

[laika]

It’s not a trivial matter at all. It’s a pain in the ass.

It's about 3 minutes tying one end of the bit of string you keep rigged to the anchor ball to pad eye or grab rail, the other to a halyard and hauling on the halyard. It then tells other boats not to expect you to be give way and protects you from insurance claims when someone drives into your starboard bow. What's not to like?

After all the mucking about with choosing my spot, taking bearings etc. it's the least effort part of anchoring.

 

[Zing]

It's about 3 minutes tying one end of the bit of string you keep rigged to the anchor ball to pad eye or grab rail, the other to a halyard and hauling on the halyard. It then tells other boats not to expect you to be give way and protects you from insurance claims when someone drives into your starboard bow. What's not to like?

After all the mucking about with choosing my spot, taking bearings etc. it's the least effort part of anchoring.

Isn’t it nearly always obvious that you are anchored, eg in an anchorage? Even if anchored in the middle of a channel wouldn’t it be obvious that you were either moving so slowly you couldn’t manoeuvre out of the way or that your anchor chain was visible? Either would require the other boat to avoid you. If they can’t make these simple observations they probably won’t even be looking for a ball, or won’t know what it means. As it’s going to be a failing of the other boat that caused a collision I can’t see how a Court would find you any degree to blame for not having a ball.

 

[Neeves]

We have a queue of bulk carriers waiting to enter Newcastle Harbour to pick up coal. They are anchored in an open roadstead, simply off the harbour but simply waiting in the Tasman Sea. They obviously all lie to wind and the wind generates waves and the waves pass down the side of the ships.

If they have an anchor ball displayed it is then obvious, if you cannot see the chain, that the apparent movement of the vessel resulting from the waves passing along the side of the ship, that they are at anchor. Its the waves that are moving - not the ship. This is obviously important if you are passing ahead of the ship.

Here in Oz - this is the only time, maybe situation would be a better word, I have seen an anchor ball displayed - and it is very useful - as you can see the ball, the waves (and the ship) from a considerable distance, but the chain (which is the other giveaway) might be hidden - maybe wrong words, might be out of sight. I have never seen a cone displayed.

There have been a number of collisions at night between idiots travelling too fast and hitting anchored vessels causing injury - and some might have been because the idiots mistook an anchor light for something terrestrial (easily done - but not at issue if you are moving slowly (it becomes obvious).

Anchor balls have their use on commercial vessels - but seem to have passed their use by date for most private yachts with a LOA, say less than 50' ?

As we are unlikely to anchor in Holland I'm not going to worry about it. Anchor lights - we meet regulations and +.


Correct me if I have this wrong - I do find regulations contradictory. You should use an anchor light if at anchor, at night, but if you are on a single public mooring you do not need a light. The assumption appears to be that everyone will know there is a public mooring negating the need for a light - don't you have itinerant yachtsmen who might not know about all the publics moorings.....? Do you similarly not need a ball, on a public mooring? We don't use public moorings so this is academic - but I wonder as the issue has been raised.... Normally I don't wonder and I simply curse those who have inadequate anchor lights.

Jonathan

 

[sailaboutvic]

There have been cases in Portugal of fines being imposed for not flying an anchor ball. We always fly a ball. It is a trivial matter, so why not. It can help other boats to know that you are st anchor. We also attach an anchor light below the ball - far better than at masthead.
Motoring cones are a different matter. It can be dangerous to go up front in a rough sea. From our marina, we usually hoist the main while going down the river. When it is rough outside, the last thing I want to do is to mess around with an anchor ball before I have got my sea legs back. It is high time somebody dreamt up another way of indicating motor sailing.

Frank I agree it is trivial but it's some thing we just don't do except now we have to remember to do.
We cruised every country in northern and southern Europe other then swenden and Denmark and quite a lot of North Africa including Portugal mostly living on our hook and not once as any official have said any thing .
It's very unusual to see a anchor ball ,
Hey but if we around Portlugal and we see a British boat with a anchor ball we sure to pop over and say Hi

 

[sailaboutvic]

An anchor ball is trivial but a motoring cone may not be, especially is one needs to go to the foredeck when a decision has been made to motor on in heavy weather because the wind is heading or a course change made that requires it.

I imagine that the problem in the Netherlands is compounded by the fact that anchoring in many inland waters is not commonly done there and other boats may not be expecting an anchored boat. I haven’t often anchored there, except perhaps in the Brassermeer or at Sneek.

You probably right John other then last night we nearly always anchored on our own , which I have to say is great , people tend to head for marinas or mooring docks .
It seen when Covid hit people when out to buy boats mostly motor boats who have no idea how to use them and causing all sorts of problems and the police are now really clamping down ,
Lucky for us so far no fines

 

[sailaboutvic]

Johathen as I understand the rules an anchor light or ball only needs to be displayed if you are anchored,
Being on an mooring buoy , I say your not at anchor .
As we was the first time we was told off ( anchored but tied back to an object on land like a Med mooring ) I would had said we didn't need a ball or a light , but why cause a bigger problem arguing when your being asked nicely , if they was going to fine me that would had been a different matter .

 

[sailaboutvic]

It's about 3 minutes tying one end of the bit of string you keep rigged to the anchor ball to pad eye or grab rail, the other to a halyard and hauling on the halyard. It then tells other boats not to expect you to be give way and protects you from insurance claims when someone drives into your starboard bow. What's not to like?

After all the mucking about with choosing my spot, taking bearings etc. it's the least effort part of anchoring.

Can't disagree with you that it only takes 3 mins ,
It takes a lot less when your given the evil eye by the water plod ,
It just some thing we never done except in our early days .
but then again I can't remember last time I took bearings when anchoring , normally I just eye up a couple of items up while I setting the anchor , job done .

 

[sailaboutvic]

An anchor ball is trivial but a motoring cone may not be, especially is one needs to go to the foredeck when a decision has been made to motor on in heavy weather because the wind is heading or a course change made that requires it.

I imagine that the problem in the Netherlands is compounded by the fact that anchoring in many inland waters is not commonly done there and other boats may not be expecting an anchored boat. I haven’t often anchored there, except perhaps in the Brassermeer or at Sneek.

John next time your here try anchoring on Ijseloog it's a great spot , it's like being in the Amazon ,
The wild life and birds .
We been told summer weekend it can be packed duing day time .
so far we used this place three time and every time with no more then two other .
We found some great places to anchor,
Which was my concern in the begin that we was going to have to use marinas every night.
Thank god it's not been the case .

 

[Chiara’s slave]

About 70% of boats in Newtown Creek were displaying their balls last week. And some of the rest must have been on buoys.

 

[[2574]]

I saw a motoring cone being displayed this week by a Joint Services boat, an HR, coming in to Coll Harbour. Then an anchor ball by the same boat a few minutes later.

I really can’t see why there is constant debate about whether one displays an anchor ball or not. It’s part of ColRegs, it costs nothing and it’s easy. Why not stick an anchor ball up?

“Good Grief” as Charlie Brown would say……

 

[franksingleton]

Bear in mind that some official might think that you have infringed some rule or other. Not flying a ball gives them an extra excuse to get at you. It is a trivial matter to fly a ball. Suggestions otherwise are nonsensical. It is a good place to hang tha anchor light. Does anyone not show an anchor light? It is stupid not to do so.
I agree that it is difficult to suggest an alternative To a motoring cone.

 

[Poignard]

As a matter of interest (to me at any rate), does anyone know anything of the history of the ColRegs, ie when they were first introduced and by whom, and how were the various rules decided on?

Presumably Great Britain, as the major maritime power, played a large part in formulating the rules and getting them widely accepted.