Scotty_Tradewind
Well-Known Member
Well my 10kg baby Rocna got its 'feet wet' for the first time this last weekend.
It has taken the place of a 25lb CQR copy.
Newtown, Isle of Wight was the testing ground. Safe and with a good clay bottom it couldn't be easier.
I was solo and in a confined space at low tide. I lowered the anchor after I had got Betty drifting back slowly on the little bit of tide coming into the lake.
With a short stab of reverse and 30 metres of chain let out, we slowed up nicely on the anchor with it setting first time.
Content to then relax I set the anchor alarm and settled to enjoy a drink and a snack.
Daubing sunscreen onto those bits that needed it, I made myself comfortable on a mattress on the cockpit sole and enjoyed watching a few other craft coming . Their were many cock-ups. Boats not able to set their anchors and others collecting anchor chains around their props etc..
Then I stirred quickly.......A Moody 38 was coming at me sideways some two lengths away about to be ‘T’ boned by Betty, with a maiden in distress, shouting "help I'm on my own".
Looking up I saw her anchor had been deployed across mine and had not held.
Fenders were hurriedly made ready by us both and the coming together was a soft one.
I asked the maiden to go to the cockpit and to put her boat in slow for'ard and to steer the boats together so I could attached a bow line to cement the embrace.
This she did with great aplomb and we could relax.
The huge Delta anchor, which had found itself the wrong side of my chain, was hauled up a bit at a time by me, "are you alright?" she enquired several times as I rested my old bones and took breath.
Once the anchor was retrieved and laid beneath her bows the electric windlass was operated by my new 'friend' and the anchor raised.
Then husband and friends appeared in an inflatable like the gallant knight coming to rescue his maiden. 'Damn it' I thought, 'just when I may have made contact with my evenings supply of good company and deserved free wine'.
Well to my surprise and delight he said nothing except 'should they put their anchor down as we were both hanging on mine'.
"Oh no" I said confidently, "mines a Rocna that will hold us both easily in this clay".
Well it sure did, but two days later when I had enjoyed the Newtown sun and a bottle of wine they kindly dropped off as a peace offering, I had one heck of a job to get the Rocna out!!!
It has taken the place of a 25lb CQR copy.
Newtown, Isle of Wight was the testing ground. Safe and with a good clay bottom it couldn't be easier.
I was solo and in a confined space at low tide. I lowered the anchor after I had got Betty drifting back slowly on the little bit of tide coming into the lake.
With a short stab of reverse and 30 metres of chain let out, we slowed up nicely on the anchor with it setting first time.
Content to then relax I set the anchor alarm and settled to enjoy a drink and a snack.
Daubing sunscreen onto those bits that needed it, I made myself comfortable on a mattress on the cockpit sole and enjoyed watching a few other craft coming . Their were many cock-ups. Boats not able to set their anchors and others collecting anchor chains around their props etc..
Then I stirred quickly.......A Moody 38 was coming at me sideways some two lengths away about to be ‘T’ boned by Betty, with a maiden in distress, shouting "help I'm on my own".
Looking up I saw her anchor had been deployed across mine and had not held.
Fenders were hurriedly made ready by us both and the coming together was a soft one.
I asked the maiden to go to the cockpit and to put her boat in slow for'ard and to steer the boats together so I could attached a bow line to cement the embrace.
This she did with great aplomb and we could relax.
The huge Delta anchor, which had found itself the wrong side of my chain, was hauled up a bit at a time by me, "are you alright?" she enquired several times as I rested my old bones and took breath.
Once the anchor was retrieved and laid beneath her bows the electric windlass was operated by my new 'friend' and the anchor raised.
Then husband and friends appeared in an inflatable like the gallant knight coming to rescue his maiden. 'Damn it' I thought, 'just when I may have made contact with my evenings supply of good company and deserved free wine'.
Well to my surprise and delight he said nothing except 'should they put their anchor down as we were both hanging on mine'.
"Oh no" I said confidently, "mines a Rocna that will hold us both easily in this clay".
Well it sure did, but two days later when I had enjoyed the Newtown sun and a bottle of wine they kindly dropped off as a peace offering, I had one heck of a job to get the Rocna out!!!
