Anchoring - who is responsible?

[EugeneR]

Well anchored in Catisle bay in Antigua hoping to stay overnight. First time on cat and/or this area. Secure anchor spot in 3m since only 25-30m chain provided with our (charter) cat, gusting 25-30 so I feel I need a bit scope, the few other spaces filled. Good anchor alarm, good night's sleep ahead. Or so I hoped.

New boat drops comes in, talking dostance, we point to our anchor, they wave it away, they proceed to drop almost on top of ours. "Not my first rodeo, mate" is the response. They are lying less tha n 1 boat length in front of us, on our chain, if they drag they will likely hit.

My response, "you're the second boat, mate, your insurance". But is it?

I made a video without them seeing, to document, as I do not want to be passive agressive - bit perhaps I should have been more assertive?

I got the usual, "we're leaving at 6am".

Reality is, I now need to wake up every couple of hours to check on them. What would you do?

Oh, and now the loud music. Sigh.

Boat name is a give-away. What a *****.

 

[Roberto]

What would you do?

Move.
Sometimes reasonable discussions are impossible.

 

[EugeneR]

Pulling up anchor will require them to move, first.

 

[Roberto]

Pulling up anchor will require them to move, first.

On similar occasions -and as you have warned them already- I just said 'we are too near, I am weighing anchor so be careful I am coming towards you', the view of your yawing bow with pointy bits of metal slowly approaching their stern usually works, you may ask them to shorten their scope the time of your maneuver. Human stupidity being sometimes unfathomable, they might say 'no'

 

[GHA]

Whatever makes sense there and then. Nothing to be gained by having an opinion about someone else if they won't do anything, better to deal with the world as it is, not as you think it should be imho. If moving will make you feel more comfortable then move.

 

[Sandy]

I usually get my bagpipes out.

 

[Sandydog2]

Etiquette means they should move. But if they don’t agree it’s a problem videos won’t help you with insurance. If anything it proves you knew there was an issue and did nothing. It’s a pain, but better to move and have a peaceful night.

 

[westernman]

Get a bow sprit.
It helps scare people away. Particular if it is solid tree and sticks out 16 feet.

 

[Mister E]

I just point out my gelcoat is older than theirs.

 

[Wansworth]

It’s just all rather sad that A these sailors have no idea about seamanship and Bthey have no respect for other people……..

 

[EugeneR]

Lesson learnt, consider a floating thing above the anchor to help prevent others anchoring on it.

Moving would be higher risk option now, he seems anchored ok. Risk seems low, except I need to check regularly which is an unnecessary pain due to inconsiderate person.

It is what it is. Appreciate responses, all. Reminds me of one of my first posts on here, probably 10+ years ago now, first time sailing after my course, stuck in a 55kt wind off Croatia. Best advice was to make a coffee!

 

[westernman]

What you can do is very gently and surreptitiously move forwards towards them until you are just a few feet away, then tell them they are dragging and need to re-anchor.

It helps if you have something substantial and pointy mounted at the front of your boat which would scratch their gel-count if they touched. A second anchor perched on the bow would do it. If you have that I would not worry too much. If they touch in the night you will just get some gel coat on your anchor.

 

[Stingo]

What you can do is very gently and surreptitiously move forwards towards them until you are just a few feet away, then tell them they are dragging and need to re-anchor.

It helps if you have something substantial and pointy mounted at the front of your boat which would scratch their gel-count if they touched. A second anchor perched on the bow would do it. If you have that I would not worry too much. If they touch in the night you will just get some gel coat on your anchor.

And once they're within a few feet, inform them that your chain will get wound around their propeller as they motor forward - this should refocus their priorities.

 

[GHA]

On similar occasions -and as you have warned them already- I just said 'we are too near, I am weighing anchor so be careful I am coming towards you', the view of your yawing bow with pointy bits of metal slowly approaching their stern usually works, you may ask them to shorten their scope the time of your maneuver. Human stupidity being sometimes unfathomable, they might say 'no'

though over the years I've found you get what you want by gently getting people on your side, so one option here would be have a chat, come far? nice boat you have (always goes down well) then say it's all a bit busy round here, i like it quiet, would you mind motoring to one side so i can get my hook up and move?
Much more likely get them being helpful. Then mutter what a complete tosser I just manipulated on the way to somewhere quieter

 

[capnsensible]

It’s just all rather sad that A these sailors have no idea about seamanship and Bthey have no respect for other people……..

Yup. There's a lot out there that simply don't care. Had a similar situation in The Saints, South of Guadaloupe. French on a charter cat. They new exactly what we were telling them but ignored us. I just got fed up and moved.

Mind you, if I'd had an uzi......

 

[Wansworth]

Yup. There's a lot out there that simply don't care. Had a similar situation in The Saints, South of Guadaloupe. French on a charter cat. They new exactly what we were telling them but ignored us. I just got fed up and moved.

Mind you, if I'd had an uzi......

What’s that?…..a furry animal!

 

[Wansworth]

I anchored over someone’s anchour in Coruna……ok ,sorry up anchour and move ,later popped round to apologize and we had a pleasant afternoon chatting!

 

[Roberto]

What you can do is very gently and surreptitiously move forwards towards them until you are just a few feet away, then tell them they are dragging and need to re-anchor.

Sometimes people reply 'it's you going forward'

 

[Roberto]

though over the years I've found you get what you want by gently getting people on your side, so one option here would be have a chat, come far? nice boat you have (always goes down well) then say it's all a bit busy round here, i like it quiet, would you mind motoring to one side so i can get my hook up and move?
Much more likely get them being helpful. Then mutter what a complete tosser I just manipulated on the way to somewhere quieter

Yes absolutely. We are all supposed to want to spend a nice moment at anchorages.
One night I was at anchor, rain and fresh wind, a smaller boat sails into the tight anchorage and begins looking for a spot to anchor with a tiny torchlight, the couple onboard wet to their bones, looking rather lost, I suggested them to raft to my boat, which they immediately did. 'If anything strange happens we might have to untie' - ok no problem they said. The guy spent the whole night at watch outside under the rain, the following morning they left early and I found a bottle of wine in my cockpit. Isn't life beautiful

 

[GHA]

Sometimes people reply 'it's you going forward'

Sometimes people will know it is you going forward.. a low power computer constantly turned on is a huge benefit in so many ways, even better with radar so you an see who's dragging around you.

How many have had a bump and a guy in underpants - you're dragging!!, what, upwind??