RobbieW
Well-known member
The cat moved this morning after a little nagging from me and the other cat he was close to, now its in a nice space of its own. btw, he told me he had 20m out
Why can't people anchor?
- Thread starter Trident
- Start date
The cat moved this morning after a little nagging from me and the other cat he was close to, now its in a nice space of its own. btw, he told me he had 20m out
Neeves
Well-known member
It is quite possible to drop a roll bar anchor and it sits on the seabed with the shank vertical (it sits on the rear of the fluke and roll bar) - it is then possible to loop the chain round the shank. This is pretty exceptional as you need to be sitting almost stationary.
I know as I've done it - could not believe it possible.
Jonathan
noelex
Well-known member
It is important to be going slowly backwards when you drop the anchor. Even this sort of situation where the boat has been stationary as the chain is dropped is not good. The loose pile up of chain means the boat can gain some momentum before placing any force on the anchor. Anchors find it tough to set with a sudden large force:
Dropping while going forward, then reversing back, is even worse. You can end up with this situation where the chain is wrapped around the anchor (although in this case it was caused by a very short scope, a poorly set anchor and a variable wind). This anchor came back up the wrong way with the chain leading from the fluke as Richard described:
Dropping while going forward, then reversing back, is even worse. You can end up with this situation where the chain is wrapped around the anchor (although in this case it was caused by a very short scope, a poorly set anchor and a variable wind). This anchor came back up the wrong way with the chain leading from the fluke as Richard described:
Mistroma
Well-known member
Perhaps he realised he needed more when I did an incredulous "WHAT, ONLY 10 METRES!!!" when I asked him (assuming it was the same cat).
We moved to Portinatx to beat the weather (looked as if tornadoes might be likely near Palma) and another charter cat dropped his hook further offshore. Didn't sound like much chain going out but zero chance of hitting us. Fortunately we had a quiet but slightly rolly night. Onshore wind got up around 10 with no warning and the cat dragged through the other anchored boats. They were also dragging but more slowly. Our anchor was holding well but we had to motor to avoid others nearby. We saw no response on the cat until he was close to other boats and then he just put on his engine and sat in neutral hoping his anchor would catch. Nothing we could do to help as he continued towards the shore and was eventually snarled up in line from swimming buoys and only feet from rocks.
Bad enough that he had little chain out but even worse that he had no idea what to do to sort it out when he started dragging.
PS Did you get any tornadoes in Santa Ponsa?
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Mistroma
Well-known member
Normal procedure here is to drop anchor whilst still going forward, let some chain out until boat stops, let it fall back over the anchor and jump in for a swim. I especially love the anchoring committees on the foredeck. A 45-50' boat will arrive and have 3-5 people on the foredeck with 1 left the helm (he/she still feels the need to dash up to the bows to check on progress). Some drift back to the cockpit once the anchor is down but at least 2-3 have to stand and peer at the chain for 5 minutes (it's just hanging straight down and anchor not actually visible).
We were hanging off the stern of a German boat recently and had to move the dinghy to their port side because a 50' yacht was almost touching as they retrieved their anchor. The lady on the bows said that they'd pulled in 10m already and had 40 more to go. Seemed to take ages and they just sat there, presumably lifting from a 40m pile on the bottom. I guess they'd simply stopped dead in 6m and dropped 50m on top of the anchor. The skipper of the German boat couldn't believe that all that chain came in and their boat remained stationary.
We were hanging off the stern of a German boat recently and had to move the dinghy to their port side because a 50' yacht was almost touching as they retrieved their anchor. The lady on the bows said that they'd pulled in 10m already and had 40 more to go. Seemed to take ages and they just sat there, presumably lifting from a 40m pile on the bottom. I guess they'd simply stopped dead in 6m and dropped 50m on top of the anchor. The skipper of the German boat couldn't believe that all that chain came in and their boat remained stationary.
RobbieW
Well-known member
Not a tornado but deffo a thunderstorm with a big swirl under it. Went from 5 kts to 40 with a 90 degree shift in a couple of minutes then slowly round through the remaining 270 over 20 mins or so. Leaving was a good call as there was carnage in the anchorage, several boats came loose including Lady Ellen which was out of control and damaged several other boats. Not sure if her anchor dragged or was pulled out by the mid size ketch anchored near her (the one with the aft sail up as a riding sail - that got shredded). That was about 11 am, we got another thunderstorm about 1800; that didnt swirl but the very heavy rain took visibility down to a few metres for a while. It also brought some near miss lightning, I've got some failed instruments and autopilot at the moment which is a pain.
Did you see a tornado warning or construe it from experience ? AEMet were showing 'Tormentas' & for both Ibiza & Mallorca that day I thought - it didnt look like Portinatx would have offered any more shelter than SP, less in fact
Trident
Well-known member
Two tornados hit San Antoni - one on shore one out at sea - there's the usual amateur video on the Daily fail website
Glad we left two days before...
Glad we left two days before...
sailaboutvic
Well-known member
Robbie not another lighting hit . Two in three years , remind me not to moor next to you
Mistroma
Well-known member
More good luck than skill. I had commented on some cloud formation earlier and said it looked as if something nasty was likely to arrive. However, I could easily have decided that the overnight offshore lightning show was all we were going to get. Fortunately, we wanted to head over to Ibiza and the bad weather seemed more likely to be in Menorca/Mallorca. Tornadoes were a slim possibility in my mind so happier to get 50nm further away.
We left very early and were 1/2 way to Portinatx when we heard the first reports of tornadoes around Menorca/Mallorca. We managed to tuck right in to the little hook at SE of bay at Portinatx and reckoned it was safe enough. No room for boats in front, starboard or behind so unlikely to be hit in night. The cat was well ahead and to port so missed us by a mile when dragging the next morning. Only had to contend with another 2 boats dragging closer to our port side. So pretty lucky and much better than remaining beside Lady Ellen. Thanks for the update.
RobbieW
Well-known member
Robbie not another lighting hit . Two in three years , remind me not to moor next to you
Gotta replace all those aging electronics somehow Vic
sailaboutvic
Well-known member
Gotta replace all those aging electronics somehow Vic
Ok we keep it a secret .
Keep safe mate
SamanthaTabs
New member
Vic, you've got that wrong mate! Let's all anchor close to RobbieW seeing as they take the hits (sorry Robbie) :encouragement: enjoy reading the blog posts
pmagowan
Well-known member
Now don't always assume the worst when you see someone messing about on the foredeck. When I got the new Rocna I spent a lot of time messing around up there checking things for feel, different and inappropriate scopes etc. I even pottered around in the dinghy looking over the side. It must have looked quite odd to anyone watching but I like to get to know a new anchor as well as possible before it needs to be tested in anger. As it happens, on its maiden voyage it had to put up with a number of gales where others dragged yet we stayed put but I can still be seen at times, peering from the pullpit, trying to catch a glimpse of the rollbar above the sand.
rigman
Member
Why can't people anchor. Well here is a clue. Maybe it is the same bunch of clowns who
1. do not understand the rule of the road, or most probably do not know of its existence.
2. Navigate on a wing and a prayer. If gps goes down they are f.....d. Take a transit bearing to check if they are dragging. Never heard of it.
3. Have no idea how to berth a boat. Just think. Kalamas Kastos Kioni etc etc and the trail of bent stainless and chipped fibreglass they leave in their wake.
4. When stern in they never tension their anchor and blissfully wander to the taverna while their plank falls in the water and the stern is banging of the quay.
5. Wife and children in bare feet when heaving and dropping the anchor. I am horrified when I see them kicking the chain.
We can all make mistakes and make a mess of berthing etc but when you see people who do not understand the basic principles of seamanship there is something amiss. You would't be allowed to drive a car without a license but it is OK to take your wife and family to sea in a 45 ft boat. Bizarre.
1. do not understand the rule of the road, or most probably do not know of its existence.
2. Navigate on a wing and a prayer. If gps goes down they are f.....d. Take a transit bearing to check if they are dragging. Never heard of it.
3. Have no idea how to berth a boat. Just think. Kalamas Kastos Kioni etc etc and the trail of bent stainless and chipped fibreglass they leave in their wake.
4. When stern in they never tension their anchor and blissfully wander to the taverna while their plank falls in the water and the stern is banging of the quay.
5. Wife and children in bare feet when heaving and dropping the anchor. I am horrified when I see them kicking the chain.
We can all make mistakes and make a mess of berthing etc but when you see people who do not understand the basic principles of seamanship there is something amiss. You would't be allowed to drive a car without a license but it is OK to take your wife and family to sea in a 45 ft boat. Bizarre.
charles_reed
Active member
Latest gem - anchored in one of the inlets S of Fiskardo, in 16m water.
A 40' charter alongside me with a bossy teenager on the foredeck, let's out about 20m of chain - I call out that I've got 40m out.
Reply:- "Well it's only 16m deep".
A 40' charter alongside me with a bossy teenager on the foredeck, let's out about 20m of chain - I call out that I've got 40m out.
Reply:- "Well it's only 16m deep".
sailaboutvic
Well-known member
What's the problem charles , that 4 mts more then the depth his in
Resolution
Well-known member
I'm glad to see that they still teach maths at school.
Nostrodamus
New member
Today the American flagged boat with Russians on I had previously encountered moored next to us.
On the previous encounter he had tried to Med moor 3 times but had let his anchor out so far away there was not enough chain to reach the dock. Then when he did get close enough there were no lines on the stern. When I asked for them he went below, came up and threw them to me. They were not attached to the boat.
This time it was the same boat with a different crew. They came in where there were lazy lines and dropped the anchor at 45 degrees to the boat about 50m away and had no idea what a lazy line was. Again no lines were attached to the stern. They went out again, raised the anchor and came in. When they were told they would have to pay and produce boat documents they left.
On the previous encounter he had tried to Med moor 3 times but had let his anchor out so far away there was not enough chain to reach the dock. Then when he did get close enough there were no lines on the stern. When I asked for them he went below, came up and threw them to me. They were not attached to the boat.
This time it was the same boat with a different crew. They came in where there were lazy lines and dropped the anchor at 45 degrees to the boat about 50m away and had no idea what a lazy line was. Again no lines were attached to the stern. They went out again, raised the anchor and came in. When they were told they would have to pay and produce boat documents they left.
RichardS
N/A
Sorry Nostro but this reminds me of the guy who drank whisky with water and got a headache so he tried vodka with water and got another headache so decided to drop the water next time.
Richard
macd
Active member
Anchored last night in Port Man, Isle de Port-Cros, off the French Riviera. Quite crowded and slightly tricky to pick a spot since the depths varied from under 10 to 20 metres, although at least a brisk westerly meant everyone was lying true to their anchors.
Sorry to put a spanner in the works, but the anchoring was universally impeccable and considerate, even to the point of the first boat to leave, just before dawn, trickling out at a bare minimum revs. He got a deserved nod and a 'bonjour' over my first coffee.
Sorry to put a spanner in the works, but the anchoring was universally impeccable and considerate, even to the point of the first boat to leave, just before dawn, trickling out at a bare minimum revs. He got a deserved nod and a 'bonjour' over my first coffee.
