Anchoring Etiquette

Looks like an FOB anchor that must be why they had 50M of chain out they were relying on the chain weight rather than the anchor. :eek:
 
Stockless anchors are usually pretty awful, the only good thing about them is they stow themselves in hawsepipes reliably. Judging by eye is not reliable either, but that looks too small for the size of vessel.
 
john_morris_uk said:
No problem but I’m slightly bemused. We anchored in Clifton Bay, Union Island earlier today. It took us a little while to find a spot as the locals/Tobago Marine Park have filled it up with mooring buoys, but anchoring is permitted and it’s free so we dropped the hook. We anchored in about 5 metres near the edge of and in the lee of one of the reefs. A little over twenty metres of chain out. There’s a 45’ French Schooner a little way behind us.

I’m settling down to watch the cricket when there’s a knock on our hull. The French couple from the boat behind have swum over and are saying they’re leaving at 0600 tomorrow and we’re over their anchor. I must have raised an eyebrow unwittingly as they immediately explained that they’d got FIFTY metres of chain out.

Of course I said it was pas de problem and we’d be up in the morning to make sure we’re clear of them as they retrieve their anchor. They then said, actually we’re getting up at 0600 so we’ll probably be leaving at 0700.

I’ve set the alarm for 0630… let’s wait and see what actually happens.

I’ve no problem in moving. After all they were anchored here first but FIFTY METERS OF CHAIN in 5 metres of water?
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I'm not criticising a far more experience sailor than me, and I don't know the local circumstances, but isn't the correct etiquette when anchoring to park up behind the other boats, not in front?
 
newtothis said:
I'm not criticising a far more experience sailor than me, and I don't know the local circumstances, but isn't the correct etiquette when anchoring to park up behind the other boats, not in front?
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The pilot book for Clifton says don’t anchor in the main channel. After that it’s just a matter of finding a space in amongst the other anchored boats and moorings. It took us five attempts yesterday which is the most I’ve ever had to make in my life!
 
As we watched the schooner depart a Sunsail boat arrived. They came up alongside us about a boat length away and looked a bit out of control.
I asked Mrs M if she could get a couple of fenders out without making it too obvious.

Fortunately they’ve gone to another part of the bay.
 
john_morris_uk said:
As we watched the schooner depart a Sunsail boat arrived. They came up alongside us about a boat length away and looked a bit out of control.
I asked Mrs M if she could get a couple of fenders out without making it too obvious.

Fortunately they’ve gone to another part of the bay.
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Sounds awfully over crowded😏
 
Fr J Hackett said:
Looks like an FOB anchor that must be why they had 50M of chain out they were relying on the chain weight rather than the anchor. :eek:
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The FOB was advertised as the anchor used by The Société Nationale de Sauvetage en Mer. Given these boats don't actually do much anchoring between saving lives, our boat came with one. A cheap umbrella from.the market would have held better.
 
Stingo said:
Hope you find a few, as I did many moons ago.

If you do catch any, be aware that the locals won't be pleased for you. Best not let them catch sight of your catch!
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Be aware that we are in the closed season for lobsters now (May - August, ie the months with no 'r' in them) and the folk in the Grenadines do observe this closed season very strongly (unlike here in Barbados, where nobody gives a damn about closed seasons, including the Coastguard).

Re their anchor, and how small it looks, relatively, it might be a 16 kg Britany from Budget Marine?
Anchor, Britany 16kg / 35.3Lb - Budget Marine
 
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