Anchor Dragging Etiquette

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Rich_F

Rich_F

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Anchored in Loch Scresort (Rum) on Saturday night, my GPS anchor alarm went off at 3am. Fortunately, a change in wind direction was the culprit. However, I was disturbed to see a fellow boat (Swedish-flagged) dragging its anchor seawards.

After I had been watching for a couple of minutes, wondering about the best course of action to take, the owner became aware of the situation, got up and relaid the anchor. However, I was left wondering what I should have done in the situation, and wishing that I'd thought it through ahead of time.
 
Difficult one. If the sea conditions would allow and if the dinghy was already inflated the I would go after him with that, remembering this is at night, dont want to become a CG call out myself. Otherwise it might have to be up anchor and away. Fog horn, mmm might be worth a try, how many others were there about to disturb?

I dont think that there is one simple answer, certainly the colour of the flag would make no difference, not to me.
 
I think that is very well put.

The CG always emohasise the creed that you should not put yourself in 'danger' in trying to give assistance. This of course is always open to appropriate interpretation but here the question has to be - would you launch the dingy normally in such conditions?

Buoying the anchor can take as much time as recovering the damm thing, and it's certainly easier to deploy than pick up the buoy and reconect (IMO).

Rocks scenario, knowing people were aboard and on the basis that I realistically could do something about it - probably means 2 handed - would have me on the fog horn, searchlights firing up the engine, hauling anchor and calling in a pan pan.....in that order.

Final point to consider though would be the ground, how it shelves and what it was - ie is their any realistic chance his anchor will either set or 'hook up'. Either would be temporary of course but such reasonable expectation would enable a more measured less hurried approach.
 
Yep, the colour of the flag thing was a bit tongue in cheek - I'd like to hear the justification from whoever checked it! Maybe it's because the Swedes have a reputation for dragging anchors left, right and centre when they come over to cruise the west coast.

There were around 10 of us in the anchorage. On reflection, I quite like the fog-horn idea; if others in the anchorage put their beauty sleep ahead of averting a disaster, then they're not the sort of people that I would mind disturbing!

I, perrsonally, don't like the idea of chasing in the dinghy, because events like this will probably happen in less than calm conditions. That's why my second favourite approach would be to buoy the anchor rode and give chase - its quicker/easier than weighing the anchor, and avoids the need to re-set it afterwards. But, I don't know how much buoyancy I would need to achieve this - maybe I should find out!
 
Good points, Duncan.

I guess the issue regarding weighing or buoying the anchor depends very much on individual boats. With heavy tackle, and no electric windlass, I'd rather not be struggling to break out the anchor in difficult conditions, and then having to re-set it in an area that appears to have, at least some, dodgy holding.

Though I would also be uncomfortable about leaving my primary ground tackle behind, albeit only for a brief period.
 
Initially, I would try to contact the drifting yacht by one or more of the following: VHF, foghorn, handheld searchlight.

If this failed, I definitely would not set out to sea in offshore winds in an inflatable dinghy at 3am. The drifting yacht would not be in any danger for a while so plenty of time to up anchor and chase after them. I would be very reluctant to leave my main ground tackle behind.

The problem with disasters is that they are often a combination of several minor mishaps. If you are going to the rescue of another boat, you need to be fully prepared and equipped yourself.
 
I find a very high power spot light danced on the windows helps to wake people without the whole anchorage knowing.
 
Definitely don't set out in the dinghy unless you have at least set up a person to watch for your return. The motor has only to faulter and you could be dead meat yourself. olewill
 
This did happen to me. While at anchor in a lovely bay a nice little Nantucket Clipper sailed in and anchored much closer to the shore than i could get. About 1/2 hour later i was below when i saw the same little boat float past quite close sideways. Rushed on deck to shout but got no answer and couldn't see anyone. Dinghy was already afloat so I jumped in with a rope thinking I might just secure him to me. When I got to the boat a head popped up out of the companionway on the phone trying to summon help as he didn't know what to do. I asked if he wanted my help, he did. He didn't have a windlass and said he couldn't lift the anchor himself. I pulled it in, then he asked what he should do next!! I suggested he tie up to a nearby mooring buoy (private) until he could get himself sorted - He didn't know how to, and asked me to take his boat and moor it for him!! After he was secure I asked him what had happened - and get this - it was his boat, he was the skipper and had been sailing for years, the young couple he had as crew (who had gone ashore) had never sailed before and had paid him for a weeks trip!!!

Back to your point, the conditions were fine and I had no problem chasing him down in the dinghy. But even in these fair conditions he was already to far from my boat for the rope to be of any use. I suppose I could have tried to tow with the dinghy if he hadn't been on board. I doubt he had enough rope/chain for the now much deeper water he had drifted into for the anchor to be reset.

Not sure what I would have done if conditions had been severe
 
[ QUOTE ]
I don't know how much buoyancy I would need to achieve this - maybe I should find out!

[/ QUOTE ] If you use about twice the depth of line to connect then buoyancy shouldn't be much of a problem. But probably not polypropylene if it's a popular anchorage! Disclaimer: I'm guessing - I never actually tried this.
 
Doh!

I'd been thinking of how much buoyancy I'd need to hold the chain at the surface. It hadn't occurred to me to attach the buoyancy via a line!
 
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