Bahamian moor in Caribbean

[eddystone]

What prompted me was reference to ground swells in the Pilotage Notes ( D M Street )attached to Imray Antigua A27. "On any beach open to the northwest as far south as Antigua, there is he danger of the ground swell, especially if the beach ashore is quite steep and the sand really soft. I strongly advise either a Bahamian moor or moor bow and stern when anchoring off. If the ground swell comes in during the night when on a single anchor it will pivot the boat around in the surf and within a few minutes the boat is driven onto the shore" He does however mention the season for ground swells generated by storms in the North Atlantic is October to the end of March and occasionally in April. So v.unlikely in May.
Still like to give it a go to see how it works - it occurred to me I have never used two anchors together in any configuration although anchored with a line to shore (or rock in Sweden) many times.
Thank you all for your responses.

 

[Neeves]

Eddystone

I commend your interest in looking at alternative and a willingness to test the alternatives. Additionally you are sensible to be considering trying it, or them, out in local water before having to use them in anger. You also appear to have thought through some of the issues and have requested background for kit you might think could be difficult to source in your desired location.

If only other people thought laterally.

I am amazed you have never anchored in a 'V' - but then I never did till I came to Australia (and don't tandem anchor - they don't work too well (but one day there may be a specific situation that suits a tandem) - so never say never.

But then I never would have considered buying a multihull - till we came to Australia

You have used shore lines - again nor us (till we came to Australia)

But the idea that anchoring is all and only about deploying the anchor off the bow is restrictive and dangerous - there are so many other ways to secure a vessel (Med moor, Baltic moor, shore lines, Bahaminan moor, anchor in a 'V', Kellet? and lets not get into jettisoning catenary (and heavy chain) in favour of the elasticity of a decent snubber

Ignore the sceptics - do it! - and then let us know your conclusions - real life experience is worth too much to keep it a secret.


Knowledge is best shared.

Jonathan

 

[Bajansailor]

On any beach open to the northwest as far south as Antigua,

The ground swells from North Atlantic storms do reach much further south than Antigua - we occasionally get them here in Barbados as well.
However the chances of one coming in without any warning during the night nowadays are very rare - the forecasts are very good generally nowadays, and we usually hear about them at least a couple of days in advance. Keep an eye on your local forecast.
And avoid the temptation to anchor very close to the beach overnight, just in case the wind does decide to come around from the west, and / or a ground swell arrives unannounced.
If you decide to try a Bahamian moor, make sure you do it over a large sandy area - you don't want the rope on the leeward anchor getting snagged on rocks after you pay out the chain so that the join is definitely below the keel.

Re Don Street's pilotage notes, just be aware that they were probably written a long time ago, long before we had decent forecasts re ground swells.

 

[Zing]

What prompted me was reference to ground swells in the Pilotage Notes ( D M Street )attached to Imray Antigua A27. "On any beach open to the northwest as far south as Antigua, there is he danger of the ground swell, especially if the beach ashore is quite steep and the sand really soft. I strongly advise either a Bahamian moor or moor bow and stern when anchoring off. If the ground swell comes in during the night when on a single anchor it will pivot the boat around in the surf and within a few minutes the boat is driven onto the shore" He does however mention the season for ground swells generated by storms in the North Atlantic is October to the end of March and occasionally in April. So v.unlikely in May.
Still like to give it a go to see how it works - it occurred to me I have never used two anchors together in any configuration although anchored with a line to shore (or rock in Sweden) many times.
Thank you all for your responses.

In that case, I would say a far better solution is to not be there. There is no need to be as there are enough good alternatives. You won't sleep at all. Chucked around and worried about breaking free and getting washed on-shore.

There is another significant danger to deal with and that is of the ground swell dumping you on the sea bed. Some prone anchorages are very shallow. If you don't have enough water to allow for this you will break your boat. Another reason to not be there.

As others have said, severe north swells are well forecast and rare. I use Windguru.

Using one in a crowded anchorage when others are not, as others have said, is possibly a bad idea. Your swing will be so different, you may collide.

By all means practice setting one up. It's another tool in the toolbox. I have only used a Bahamian moor once in an anchorage of strong reversing currents. I wish I hadn't bothered, it was such a pain with heavy equipment and uncertain too as my kedge was not as good as the main. I've subsequently got rid of it for an aluminium one. I should just have set my alarm to get up to monitor the hold at the turning of the tide

 

[eddystone]

In that case, I would say a far better solution is to not be there. There is no need to be as there are enough good alternatives. You won't sleep at all. Chucked around and worried about breaking free and getting washed on-shore.

There is another significant danger to deal with and that is of the ground swell dumping you on the sea bed. Some prone anchorages are very shallow. If you don't have enough water to allow for this you will break your boat. Another reason to not be there.

As others have said, severe north swells are well forecast and rare. I use Windguru.

Using one in a crowded anchorage when others are not, as others have said, is possibly a bad idea. Your swing will be so different, you may collide.

By all means practice setting one up. It's another tool in the toolbox. I have only used a Bahamian moor once in an anchorage of strong reversing currents. I wish I hadn't bothered, it was such a pain with heavy equipment and uncertain too as my kedge was not as good as the main. I've subsequently got rid of it for an aluminium one. I should just have set my alarm to get up to monitor the hold at the turning of the tide

Well I've now learnt:
- Bahamian moor most useful not in the Caribbean but at home, if at all.
- Only additional equipment I need is a £10 bow shackle
- Don't do this in Studland Bay on August Bank holiday (unless or especially if both anchors are buoyed - where are emojis when you need them!)
- I'm glad I have 2 anchors which qualify as main

 

[jdc]

Well I've now learnt:
- Bahamian moor most useful not in the Caribbean but at home, if at all.
- Only additional equipment I need is a £10 bow shackle
- Don't do this in Studland Bay on August Bank holiday (unless or especially if both anchors are buoyed - where are emojis when you need them!)
- I'm glad I have 2 anchors which qualify as main

Excellent summary. You might add 'Remember that Don Street is 106'. I find his writing didactic and old-fashioned, as well as often just wrong.

 

[dunedin]

Excellent summary. You might add 'Remember that Don Street is 106'. I find his writing didactic and old-fashioned, as well as often just wrong.

Yes, I wouldn’t necessarily take anchoring advice from Don Street - he did have a bit of a “reputation”, boating wise. Coincidentally I was reading an old YM article recently, and Mr Street tried to anchor overnight at Southend - and was doused next morning by a passing yacht to warn that he was dragging. In fact he had managed to drag 7 MILES from Southend Pier, across the main Thames shipping lanes and passing Isle of Sheppey. The fisherman anchor was found still hooked on the bob stay!
His eventful day concluded by apparently hitting the lock wall at nearly 6 knots, breaking off the bowsprit, trying to get into Limehouse Basin lock without an engine (and whilst the bridge was closed).

 

[jdc]

I begin to think more highly of him! imperfection I can stand (even embrace, I do it myself) but I'm not fond of being lectured at unless it's backed up with science.

 

[Neeves]

- I'm glad I have 2 anchors which qualify as main

I take this to mean you have 2 anchors, either of which can be used as the main anchor - NOT - you have 2 anchors which together can be used as the primary

I wish others carried two primary anchors - its surprising the number of people who lose their anchor and have no adequate spare. The one you retired and replaced with a modern anchor is not a spare - its just extra weight. If you retired it and replaced it - take it home.

Jonathan

 

[geem]

Antigua in May. The notes on the Imray chart refer to ground swells and advise measures to reduce swinging circle. The likelihood is that this won’t be the case in May. I’m assuming as it’s English speaking Caribbean will be non metric hence thinking 5/16th chain. The slightly smaller yacht we had in BVIs only had 100ft chain so not possible to fall back far enough to drop kedge - therefore proposed to a) lay out main anchor as normal b) drop kedge from dinghy in estimated correct position c) bring back to yacht and attach to main anchor chain so that the join is clear of keel/rudders/sail drive.
Need for swivel - noted
Do you think they should have equal scope given one is chain and one is rope?
When I’ve got me a swivel I aim to go out and practice in Cawsand Bay so maybe QHMP should put out an NTM - “caution idiots spotted in Cawsand area”

Your over thinking it. Plenty of space in the anchorages such that you won't need to do anything special. You are more likely to create a problem than solve one by using two anchors in an anchorage since you will alter you normal swing profile. Possibly getting too close to other boats using a single anchor

 

[Genoa]

Just a slight divergence, if a swell runs at an angle to your boat, rig a veering line from the quarter to the anchor rode and realign the boat to a single anchor, for overnight, this has served me well to keep bows to anything lumpy at an angle to the stream.

 

[NormanS]

A thing to remember about a Bahamian Moor is that if you need to leave in a rush, you can't. It is much more complicated than two anchors in a Vee. I can expand on this if necessary, but I would think it is fairly obvious.

 

[capnsensible]

I think if I was on a charter in Antigua and a swell was forecast, I would tie the boat to Jolly Harbour, go to the pool bar and have a swim or two, play dominoes and drink pina colodas.

 

[Bajansailor]

I think if I was on a charter in Antigua and a swell was forecast, I would tie the boat to Jolly Harbour, go to the pool bar and have a swim or two, play dominoes and drink pina colodas.

Or if you are a die hard sailor wanting to get the most sailing bang for your buck, have a good beat up to Green Island off Nonsuch Bay on the east coast and have a day at anchor up there -
MarineTraffic: Global Ship Tracking Intelligence | AIS Marine Traffic
I am not too sure what sort of bars are available ashore there now (it is a long time since I was last there), so it might be prudent to bring your own pina coladas along.

The north shore could also warrant a visit - there are various little bays and islands you can tuck in behind to get away from a north swell.
MarineTraffic: Global Ship Tracking Intelligence | AIS Marine Traffic

 

[geem]

Or if you are a die hard sailor wanting to get the most sailing bang for your buck, have a good beat up to Green Island off Nonsuch Bay on the east coast and have a day at anchor up there -
MarineTraffic: Global Ship Tracking Intelligence | AIS Marine Traffic
I am not too sure what sort of bars are available ashore there now (it is a long time since I was last there), so it might be prudent to bring your own pina coladas along.

The north shore could also warrant a visit - there are various little bays and islands you can tuck in behind to get away from a north swell.
MarineTraffic: Global Ship Tracking Intelligence | AIS Marine Traffic

I am anchored off the beach at Green Island at the moment. Paradise ?

 

[eddystone]

I take this to mean you have 2 anchors, either of which can be used as the main anchor - NOT - you have 2 anchors which together can be used as the primary

I wish others carried two primary anchors - its surprising the number of people who lose their anchor and have no adequate spare. The one you retired and replaced with a modern anchor is not a spare - its just extra weight. If you retired it and replaced it - take it home.

Jonathan

Yes the latter - a Fortress sized as main anchor. (Rocna Vulcan main) and someone actually gave me folding stuff, albeit not much, to take my old Sowester away

 

[eddystone]

I think if I was on a charter in Antigua and a swell was forecast, I would tie the boat to Jolly Harbour, go to the pool bar and have a swim or two, play dominoes and drink pina colodas.

My wife/crew/skipper would approve of that, provided the Pina Coladas are non - alcoholic. Personally I think alcohol is the perfect antidote to staring at the chart plotter waiting for the anchor alarm to go off. OK so how did you get you get your emoji into the reply box?

 

[eddystone]

Slight thread drift but as there are at least 2 people who have been/are in Antigua posting here, is it worth getting the more detailed North Antigua chart (Imray A271) as well as the Imray A27 which I already have or is it just bigger scale with same amount of detail? Thing about chart plotters is they're great in real time but carp for planning.

 

[capnsensible]

My wife/crew/skipper would approve of that, provided the Pina Coladas are non - alcoholic. Personally I think alcohol is the perfect antidote to staring at the chart plotter waiting for the anchor alarm to go off. OK so how did you get you get your emoji into the reply box?

?

Top line in reply box. Got all sorts of options, you may have to ding on the furthest right one that looks like a gear cog first.

????

 

[capnsensible]

Slight thread drift but as there are at least 2 people who have been/are in Antigua posting here, is it worth getting the more detailed North Antigua chart (Imray A271) as well as the Imray A27 which I already have or is it just bigger scale with same amount of detail? Thing about chart plotters is they're great in real time but carp for planning.

The charter company will supply everything.