Anchoring Etiquette

[markc]

Taking advantage of the glorious weather yesterday we zoomed over to IOW (not passing too close to any raggies…..probably) and dropped the hook in Newtown Creek.

When we arrived – 12 ish, it wasn’t too busy and easily found a spot where we wouldn’t encroach upon anyone else (being a sort of anchoring novice I try to keep as far from anyone else as possible!).

As we were sitting on the flybridge soaking up the sun, two boats came in and anchored to the starboard side of the boat on the starboard side of us. I thought one of them seemed very close to our neighbour but just as they had set their anchor the wind changed direction and all the boats moved round 90 degrees. This left our neighbour about 1 ft in front of their new neighbour, obviously causing some concern (they looked very uncomfortable). They asked the skipper if he would move considering that he was so close – he refused, even though he had just arrived and was very close. In the end our uncomfortable neighbour had to up hook and move elsewhere so they could relax.

All this leads me to the question, what etiquette is there in a busy anchorage? Is the fact that you aren’t touching another boat enough to refuse to move? Should you leave a designated margin of error, say 10m? Or should you move if you’re not happy? Also, if you feel you would like to give some general anchoring tips, I would love to hear them!

M


http://www.geocities.com/jinto100/Jintopics.html

 

[hlb]

It's dificult to predict how a number of different boat will lie at anchor. Fly Bridge ones like ours are always trying to lie side on to the winds. It's not unusual to find two boats laying commpletly in the oposite direction. Think the only real way if theres not much room is to guess as best as you can, have a go and see what happens. Then see what happens. So then have another go, now that you've seen how your laying.
Not good manners to get to close though.

No one can force me to come here-----------
----- I'm a Volunteer!!!

Haydn

 

[burgundyben]

Good question, I anchored in Newtown on sat afternoon, it was busy but I was round the corner in clamerkin lake, I reckon I was about ooh, 10 mtrs from nearest boat.

In Osborne bay yesterday, I anchored and dropped back further than expected, ended up about 7 or so mtrs from a yot, the yoti looked worried even tho my boat is only ickle, so I uped the anchor and moved forwards a bit.

Plus there was anuva Huntress there which was cool.

On the subject of anchoring, I sort of struggle a bit sometimes when I have hopepless crew on board so what I do is, point the boat into wind or tide, depending which way I think it will lie, then stop the boat, and drop the anchor over the side from the cockpit and then walk the rope forwards to the foredeck, I do the opposite for pulling it up. This means that I dont have to walk all the warp forwards onto the foredeck see, clever, plus its quicker for me and safer as I dont leave the cockpit, all I have to do as I approach is tie the tail of the warp on somewhere.



SSHG - Soltron Self Help Group. Member number 1.

 

[Medskipper]

Par for the course I fear! It was probably the same bugger that cut you up at 110MPH on the motorway on your way down to the boat!

Barry



I just want to retire with my boat to the Med!

 

[Mr__Max]

I was anchored in Lulworth on Saturday and as the place gradually filled up it became obvious that the boats that had anchored in front of me were now lying over my anchor.
So I had little choice but to ask them to move forwards to allow me to pull up my anchor, which didnt go down to well, so I've now decided to mark my anchor with a tripping line and a float to prevent this from happening again .

Common sense doesnt seem to prevail

 

[Baltimore_Bill]

The main problem with tripping lines and floats is that the next daft pillock that arrives in the now very crowded anchorage will pick up your float thinking it's a vacant mooring buoy thinking how lucky he is to get the last free mooring in the bay.

Anchoring etiquette suggests that the last one in should anchor clear of the others and if he swings too close, should re-anchor. Of course, the knobhead rule will apply anywhere, especially on a sunny weekend which drags out all the "Olympic Flames"

 

[Rob_Webb]

You can avoid the chance of knob-head picking up your tripping line 'mooring' buoy by painting suitably deterrent wording on it ..... I recommend something with your boat's name to improve the chance of knob-head putting 2 & 2 together.

But now I think about it you could have all sorts of fun with 'Danger' notices about unexploded mines etc.... in fact, why not even use a dark grey buoy with knobbly bits sticking off it.... that would keep them all away!!!

 

[Scubadoo]

If the anchorage looks too busy I move on until I find some where nice and quite with just a few boats around. If it is too busy you will never get any peace with the amount of toys carried on the larger boats - jetskis etc etc.

I was in Osbourne Bay yesterday late afternoon and fairly quiet much better than the weekends.

RM.

 

[claymore]

How very true - what ever happened to manners and sense?

regards
Claymore