alistairedw
Well-Known Member
Just got back from a 2 week flotilla in the Southern Ionian.
Thought you might enjoy a confesson about some cock-ups I made.
Number 1
Anchoring in Kastos I drop the bow anchor and raft up alongside another yacht. I am tightening up my shore line on the winch when my daughter announces that the end of the 50 metres of bow anchor chain has just dropped into the water! Fortunately the chain was only in about 4 metres of water and a teenager on a neighbouring yacht dived for the end, and I was able to haul it back on board with the boat hook. The end of the chain had been tied on with rope and the rope had failed.
We remove the rope from our bucket and I re-attach the chain
with this line.
I assumed the chain was shackled on. Had I checked this out I would have realised not to let out all the chain.
Number 2
I decided to try sailing in to anchor amongst some other yachts in One House Bay on Atokos. As I make my approach everything seems fine although there seems to be a lot of wind funneling down into the anchorage off high ground. We let the bow anchor go in about 9 metres but the breeze pushes us back and the anchor doesn't hold. The wind pushes us back into very deep water and I have to spend a few minutes using the engine to get us safely clear of the other yachts. My daughter shouts from the foredeck that the anchor chain has slid sideways off the bow roller so she is unable to use the windlass.
Before I can help her I have to furl the mainsail.
We have about one metre of chain left in the locker and then the length of replacement rope mentioned above. The only way I can retrieve the anchor is to pull the whole lot up and then pull it forwards over the bow roller. I struggled to lift 49 metres of chain plus the anchor but eventually sheer desperation gave me the strength to force the chain back over the roller, and I was then able to retrieve anchor and chain with the windlass.
I will pick a less challenging spot next time I try to sail in and drop the hook.
Number 3.
In Kalamos I need water and have to go alongside a quay to get to a hosepipe. I wait patiently while another yacht fills up and then drift back to give him room to get off the quay. I set myself up for a nice shallow approach to the quay and motor forward slowly. However I fail to notice a very tight lazy line running out from a moored motor boat, go too close to it and get the line wrapped around my prop. Lead boat skipper has to go for a swim to wind the line off the prop.
I guess we all have to learn the hard way sometimes! Anyway we had a great 2 weeks with plenty of fantastic sailing.
Thought you might enjoy a confesson about some cock-ups I made.
Number 1
Anchoring in Kastos I drop the bow anchor and raft up alongside another yacht. I am tightening up my shore line on the winch when my daughter announces that the end of the 50 metres of bow anchor chain has just dropped into the water! Fortunately the chain was only in about 4 metres of water and a teenager on a neighbouring yacht dived for the end, and I was able to haul it back on board with the boat hook. The end of the chain had been tied on with rope and the rope had failed.
We remove the rope from our bucket and I re-attach the chain
with this line.
I assumed the chain was shackled on. Had I checked this out I would have realised not to let out all the chain.
Number 2
I decided to try sailing in to anchor amongst some other yachts in One House Bay on Atokos. As I make my approach everything seems fine although there seems to be a lot of wind funneling down into the anchorage off high ground. We let the bow anchor go in about 9 metres but the breeze pushes us back and the anchor doesn't hold. The wind pushes us back into very deep water and I have to spend a few minutes using the engine to get us safely clear of the other yachts. My daughter shouts from the foredeck that the anchor chain has slid sideways off the bow roller so she is unable to use the windlass.
Before I can help her I have to furl the mainsail.
We have about one metre of chain left in the locker and then the length of replacement rope mentioned above. The only way I can retrieve the anchor is to pull the whole lot up and then pull it forwards over the bow roller. I struggled to lift 49 metres of chain plus the anchor but eventually sheer desperation gave me the strength to force the chain back over the roller, and I was then able to retrieve anchor and chain with the windlass.
I will pick a less challenging spot next time I try to sail in and drop the hook.
Number 3.
In Kalamos I need water and have to go alongside a quay to get to a hosepipe. I wait patiently while another yacht fills up and then drift back to give him room to get off the quay. I set myself up for a nice shallow approach to the quay and motor forward slowly. However I fail to notice a very tight lazy line running out from a moored motor boat, go too close to it and get the line wrapped around my prop. Lead boat skipper has to go for a swim to wind the line off the prop.
I guess we all have to learn the hard way sometimes! Anyway we had a great 2 weeks with plenty of fantastic sailing.
