Anchoring - who is responsible?

[BobnLesley]

Sometimes people reply 'it's you going forward'

Some years ago we anchored upwind though well clear, of a British flagged Vancouver 27 in Torrevieja on the east side of Spain, whereupon one of the two rather stiff ladies of a certain age aboard it came onto the foredeck expressing concern that we were too close especially as the holding was poor. I didn't think there was a problem, but I was in a good mood and there was ample space elsewhere, so we upped anchor and resettled ourselves , perhaps 30-40m behind and slightly to starboard of them.

Barely half an hour later we were sat in the cockpit with beers when we noticed that the Vancouver was dragging; it was going to pass comfortably to port of us, but I wandered up onto the foredeck and hailed the two ladies to let them know. The response was immediate: "Don't be so stupid! We've been here five days... It's you who's dragging... We warned you the holding was poor." My countering that 'we couldn't drag upwind' was not well received

I shrugged my shoulders, returned to my beer and three or four minutes later their cockpit drifted past ours and though I remained silent, I couldn't resist giving them a little wave. Both ladies and their two Newfoundland type dogs were all now sat in their cockpit (it must've been cosy down below on wet days?) with arms folded (only the ladies) and glaring at us; eventually one of them again called '"It's you... we've been here for five days!"

That yacht must've dragged for another ten minutes/100m, passing a couple more yachts along its way - both of whom also advised that they were dragging - before the ladies admitted defeat, started their engine and lifted the anchor. As the yacht motored back to the front of the fleet, I raised a toast with my beer bottle and requested "Please don't anchor too close, or directly upwind of us... I've been told that the holding's very poor."

They did comply with my request, but it scored me an even bigger glare than the earlier ones.

 

[Bouba]

Some years ago we anchored upwind though well clear, of a British flagged Vancouver 27 in Torrevieja on the east side of Spain, whereupon one of the two rather stiff ladies of a certain age aboard it came onto the foredeck expressing concern that we were too close especially as the holding was poor. I didn't think there was a problem, but I was in a good mood and there was ample space elsewhere, so we upped anchor and resettled ourselves , perhaps 30-40m behind and slightly to starboard of them.

Barely half an hour later we were sat in the cockpit with beers when we noticed that the Vancouver was dragging; it was going to pass comfortably to port of us, but I wandered up onto the foredeck and hailed the two ladies to let them know. The response was immediate: "Don't be so stupid! We've been here five days... It's you who's dragging... We warned you the holding was poor." My countering that 'we couldn't drag upwind' was not well received

I shrugged my shoulders, returned to my beer and three or four minutes later their cockpit drifted past ours and though I remained silent, I couldn't resist giving them a little wave. Both ladies and their two Newfoundland type dogs were all now sat in their cockpit (it must've been cosy down below on wet days?) with arms folded (only the ladies) and glaring at us; eventually one of them again called '"It's you... we've been here for five days!"

That yacht must've dragged for another ten minutes/100m, passing a couple more yachts along its way - both of whom also advised that they were dragging - before the ladies admitted defeat, started their engine and lifted the anchor. As the yacht motored back to the front of the fleet, I raised a toast with my beer bottle and requested "Please don't anchor too close, or directly upwind of us... I've been told that the holding's very poor."

They did comply with my request, but it scored me an even bigger glare than the earlier ones.

Your whole story only proves one point....that people don’t buy boats to pick up women

 

[lustyd]

Come to think of it I could add my laser rangefinder to the list of toys I take on flotilla holidays. The red spot might make someone think I have a sniper rifle, too! Radar would be impractical in so many ways...

You mean you don’t pack a radome and plotter for holidays?!

Yes there are scenarios where it’s impractical, but for those with modern radar on their own boat it’s well worth using and makes anchorages much less stressful.

 

[Wansworth]

Some years ago we anchored upwind though well clear, of a British flagged Vancouver 27 in Torrevieja on the east side of Spain, whereupon one of the two rather stiff ladies of a certain age aboard it came onto the foredeck expressing concern that we were too close especially as the holding was poor. I didn't think there was a problem, but I was in a good mood and there was ample space elsewhere, so we upped anchor and resettled ourselves , perhaps 30-40m behind and slightly to starboard of them.

Barely half an hour later we were sat in the cockpit with beers when we noticed that the Vancouver was dragging; it was going to pass comfortably to port of us, but I wandered up onto the foredeck and hailed the two ladies to let them know. The response was immediate: "Don't be so stupid! We've been here five days... It's you who's dragging... We warned you the holding was poor." My countering that 'we couldn't drag upwind' was not well received

I shrugged my shoulders, returned to my beer and three or four minutes later their cockpit drifted past ours and though I remained silent, I couldn't resist giving them a little wave. Both ladies and their two Newfoundland type dogs were all now sat in their cockpit (it must've been cosy down below on wet days?) with arms folded (only the ladies) and glaring at us; eventually one of them again called '"It's you... we've been here for five days!"

That yacht must've dragged for another ten minutes/100m, passing a couple more yachts along its way - both of whom also advised that they were dragging - before the ladies admitted defeat, started their engine and lifted the anchor. As the yacht motored back to the front of the fleet, I raised a toast with my beer bottle and requested "Please don't anchor too close, or directly upwind of us... I've been told that the holding's very poor."

They did comply with my request, but it scored me an even bigger glare than the earlier ones.

Wonderful story

 

[LittleSister]

Both skippers are responsible, but one or more may also be irresponsible!

 

[kingsebi]

Some years ago me and a friend anchored off a beach in the South of France. We were the only boat and the beach must have been 2km long. Another boat came and anchored two boat lengths away. We were stumped at first, but then we brought the speakers out, played Rammstein at full volume and danced naked on the deck. Sure enough they upped anchor and left. Looking back I feel a bit sorry for that innocent couple on their charter boat.

 

[GHA]

Some years ago me and a friend anchored off a beach in the South of France. We were the only boat and the beach must have been 2km long. Another boat came and anchored two boat lengths away. We were stumped at first, but then we brought the speakers out, played Rammstein at full volume and danced naked on the deck. Sure enough they upped anchor and left. Looking back I feel a bit sorry for that innocent couple on their charter boat.

Seems to happen so often!

Though a gentle general observation, so many of the posts here seem to deal with the situation in a negative forcing way - no one tried being nice?

 

[kingsebi]

Nowadays I’d row over and have a chat assuming that they didn’t know better. Getting more responsible with age.

 

[GHA]

Nowadays I’d row over and have a chat assuming that they didn’t know better. Getting more responsible with age.

Though TBH, with some people I just try to be nice only cos you are more likely to get what you want, not cos they deserve it

 

[kingsebi]

Unfortunately that is also true. I try to stay out of crowded anchorages in the first place.

 

[Boathook]

Unfortunately that is also true. I try to stay out of crowded anchorages in the first place.

I would like to but where I sail every anchorage normally has a boat or boats in it unless the wind direction makes it 'open'.

 

[GHA]

Unfortunately that is also true. I try to stay out of crowded anchorages in the first place.

Tis what it is, don`t like fluky winds though. And charterers with skimpy chains flying all over the place, well worn old cruising boats you're likely to be fine.

This day last year was in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria where hear a boat motor out there could be a bit of a race if they'd freed up a better spot.

But nice to be alone sometimes. Not that many left, but they are out there - whereisit then??

 

[Roberto]

- whereisit then??

View attachment 186978

27.754931, -15.680421 ?

 

[kingsebi]

Tis what it is, don`t like fluky winds though. And charterers with skimpy chains flying all over the place, well worn old cruising boats you're likely to be fine.

I guess you can’t expect too much seamanship from people that sail two weeks a year.

 

[GHA]

27.754931, -15.680421 ?

Nope... right part of the planet though. Quieter island..
have spent a load of time round the corner from there, Arguiniguin nice town, nice people, hardly any sky sports full english breakfasts there

 

[GHA]

I guess you can’t expect too much seamanship from people that sail two weeks a year.

back to the top of the thread, don't expect anything & react to the there & then in the world as it is instead of how you want it to be

Though very few problems over the years, get up wind if you can. And steel boat so they're going to come off a lot worse than needing a lick of paint

IMHO the better skippers don't have many horror stories, do the right thing to keep the probabilities of nothing happening in your favour there & then.

 

[Snowgoose-1]

I parked my car in a large empty car park the other day. Not particularly close to the shops exit. After about half an hour's shopping , I returned and there were cars parked either side of me still leaving big gaps everywhere else.

I'm sure I have done the same . Perhaps it's a human instinct safety in numbers thing.

 

[seeSimon]

Or the people who insist on veering 7 times the depth of water.

I think I've perhaps experienced this "excessive scope" technique used against me as a method of hogging a small, yet very safe anchorage? Rather like parking across two spaces at the supermarket?

...most recently by an expensive looking well found cruising yacht under the burgee of a respected cruising club...shouting at all new arrivals to "keep off" as "they were lying to 40m of chain"...in 5m tidal range, in a cove within a harbour...in fair weather....

 

[oldbloke]

I guess you can’t expect too much seamanship from people that sail two weeks a year

You have no idea what I have been doing for the other 50 weeks, nor the previous 50 years

 

[NormanS]

I guess you can’t expect too much seamanship from people that sail two weeks a year.

Oh, very superior.