That Bobber moment

[georgeo]

I like 'Homard' as much as anyone, but the source for this culinary delight almost spoiled my day last week. Leaving Lesardrieux, heading south east about Brehat, engine in neutral and under main, I was setting up the genoa to head north east across Plateau de Menarc'h when first mate called out 'what is that we are trailing?' At same time previously pleasing progress rapidly disappeared. Then into view came the orange ball on one side of the boat and the flagstuff thingy on the other. Now we had already dodged about a million of these things but this one had slipped under the 'radar' as it were. Initial impressions that the line to the sea floor was caught on one or both of our bulbed twin keels with the floats by now trailing aft. The inevitable pirouette produced a wrap of line around the keels. 'Sh*t!'. What to do without making situation worse? I secured rapidly tightening trailing line around a cleat and reached for the knife. But would this make things better or worse? Cutting the line would release the floats but still leave the line attached to the pots on the seabed wrapped around keel. But without the floats, would the line be pulled through and released? Scrabbling around with the boat hook I was unable to get at the load bearing line as it was deep under the hull.
Fortunately, the next pirouette by some miracle unwrapped the twist (just as I was contemplating a pan pan call), and with great relief I saw the floats readopt their customary attitude as they were left behind in our wake. Cautious engagement of the prop then showed all in order in that department.
But I have been thinking about this since. Hence the poll, would cutting the floats off make situation better or worse? Look forward to receiving forums views on this, and any other hints as how to deal with this (probably common) situation since I suspect I am not the only one who may be in a similar position in the future.

 

[snowleopard]

If you cut off the only bit you can reach you are limiting your options. I would do it only as a last resort.

 

[Searush]

I agree it's a last resort, but still a useful option when all else has failed. Mind, that still doesn't mean that cutting won't fail too. Life's like that.