Is there a trend to combine anchoring and shore-lines into one technique ...

[jordanbasset]

I think some anchorages are known as places to tie back, or certainly parts of them. So for example in Lakka as you come in the right side is traditionally used to tie back to the rocks. This enables a lot of boats to anchor in what can be a very crowded anchorage. The problem is some one who comes in not knowing this will free anchor in the space and it means that the space for 5 or 6 boats to tie back is gone.

 

[KellysEye]

We usually used a shoreline in the Med because of the steep drop off but never needed one in the Caribbean.

 

[RichardS]

Richard,

You are correct the red towel boat is completely in the wrong. However I think that you have to be pragmatic and accept that in tight anchorages people are going to tie up to the shore. It is simply less hassle to do the same.

It's the "hassle" factor which I find confusing.

We had just the two of us onboard and were only staying for one night. Taking out a shoreline means launching the dinghy just for that purpose as we were eating onboard that night or swimming across and braving the sea urchins and faffing around for another 30 minutes on what was forecast to be, and was, a very calm night.

If you're going to stay for a few days and want to be secure whatever the weather brings, I can understand it .... but for one calm, clear night, it just seems ridiculous.

The red-towel boat must have taken about an hour to sort out their shorelines and it was all a complete waste of time because early next morning all the shorelined boats, including the red-towel, who had all stayed one night, had all gone.

After we anchored another two boats came in and anchored upwind of us so we then had 4 free-anchored boats safely in a line and we all stayed the one night which seems the eminently sensible approach.

Interestingly, by the time we left around 10:30, all the shorelined boats had already left and been replaced by four new boats who had all chosen to free-anchor in a line along the channel. Whether someone came along later and used shorelines and started the whole cycle again, I obviously don't know.

Richard