TonyJones
Well-Known Member
WNS README FIRST PLEASE
The purpose of What Now Skip is to give forum members the opportunity of learning from each other's experiences and opinions. To that end, awkward boating scenarios are presented for forum members to discuss. WNS is not a test with replies measured against a predetermined ‘correct’ answer. In fact, in most cases, there is usually more than one solution to the posed scenario. Selected attributed posts will appear in the next issue of the magazine.
However, please read the scenario carefully as some of the information given may imply certain possibilities or restrictions on possible courses of action – without spelling them out specifically.
The author always tries to describe the situation as fully as possible but ambiguities sometimes arise. If you are unclear as to any particular aspect or require clarification of an issue – just ask.
Our favourite skipper has recently helped a friend new to boating to acquire a very nice second hand 40ft flybridge cruiser. To express his thanks he and his wife have invited him to celebrate the first trip with lunch at a local waterside restaurant. The boat is anchored in a small, rather crowded bay. Because the weather is fine with little wind he recommended a fairly short scope to limit the swinging circle. Although the tide is falling there’s not much current in the bay and there will still be plenty of depth at low water, which is in about an hour.
Just as they are all tucking into the sweet, a passer-by comes into the restaurant and enquires if anyone owns the blue 40 footer as it is dragging its anchor towards shallow water over some rocks. They abandon their meal, run down to the jetty, pile in the tender, and five minutes later are on board. The problem is obvious; in the last half hour a sea breeze has sprung up and is now blowing at about 15mph.
The boat has now stopped dragging but there’s only a few inches of water beneath the props. On his advice, the owner motors up to his anchor and tries to retrieve it. Alas, it is stuck under one of the rocks in about a metre and a half of water. Our skipper suggest casting it free and using a fender to buoy the end of the chain.
So he backs away upwind into deep water and lets all the chain run out - only to find that bitter end of the chain is attached by a totally rusted shackle in the very bottom of the chain locker, accessible only through a hatch in the forecabin bulkhead. Unfortunately, the owner’s tool kit consists only of light tools suitable for routine engine maintenance.
What now Skip?
The purpose of What Now Skip is to give forum members the opportunity of learning from each other's experiences and opinions. To that end, awkward boating scenarios are presented for forum members to discuss. WNS is not a test with replies measured against a predetermined ‘correct’ answer. In fact, in most cases, there is usually more than one solution to the posed scenario. Selected attributed posts will appear in the next issue of the magazine.
However, please read the scenario carefully as some of the information given may imply certain possibilities or restrictions on possible courses of action – without spelling them out specifically.
The author always tries to describe the situation as fully as possible but ambiguities sometimes arise. If you are unclear as to any particular aspect or require clarification of an issue – just ask.
Our favourite skipper has recently helped a friend new to boating to acquire a very nice second hand 40ft flybridge cruiser. To express his thanks he and his wife have invited him to celebrate the first trip with lunch at a local waterside restaurant. The boat is anchored in a small, rather crowded bay. Because the weather is fine with little wind he recommended a fairly short scope to limit the swinging circle. Although the tide is falling there’s not much current in the bay and there will still be plenty of depth at low water, which is in about an hour.
Just as they are all tucking into the sweet, a passer-by comes into the restaurant and enquires if anyone owns the blue 40 footer as it is dragging its anchor towards shallow water over some rocks. They abandon their meal, run down to the jetty, pile in the tender, and five minutes later are on board. The problem is obvious; in the last half hour a sea breeze has sprung up and is now blowing at about 15mph.
The boat has now stopped dragging but there’s only a few inches of water beneath the props. On his advice, the owner motors up to his anchor and tries to retrieve it. Alas, it is stuck under one of the rocks in about a metre and a half of water. Our skipper suggest casting it free and using a fender to buoy the end of the chain.
So he backs away upwind into deep water and lets all the chain run out - only to find that bitter end of the chain is attached by a totally rusted shackle in the very bottom of the chain locker, accessible only through a hatch in the forecabin bulkhead. Unfortunately, the owner’s tool kit consists only of light tools suitable for routine engine maintenance.
What now Skip?
