I have a short story about my experience in Mark Bay (Nanaimo) last year that caused no damage, but was an example of what became an issue when it was time to leave. Unable to at the moment. Gotta go.
Last year on our way north I dropped and set anchor in Mark Bay out away from other boats. I normally pay out about 110 - 140 feet depending upon weather outlook for the evening. Later, a large power boat came in and dropped anchor in front of our boat, and after he set, it appeared he might be over our anchor. No worries with plenty of room between us.
Next morning we prepared for a morning departure to catch the flood north. Fortunately there was no wind at the time, and as I was bringing in the rode, it appeared one of us was going to have to move. By the time our boat was right at the other's stern, husband and wife came up on deck. Husband helped fend off the two boats, his port our starboard as I finished bringing in the chain. Anchor is still down and his bow stem is right on top, so I asked the wife to release their rode and slide back so that I could finish bringing up the anchor.
By the time I got the anchor up, it was necessary to scoot our boat around his bow, but no harm, no scrapes, no foul. Had there been any kind of wind and/or current, matters would have been dicey. Perhaps an anchor float would have helped the other skipper to pick a less intrusive spot.
On a separate note, how does one lose their anchor short of cutting it loose or an unsecured bitter end? Several years ago our Mariposa (Cal T-2) boating buddy with a ten pound Danforth and no windlass was unable to bring his anchor up in Cortez Bay. He was about to cut it loose, when I offered to take his bitter end and try to release it. Was unable to in reverse, so I switched to a stern cleat and motored ahead slowly. Our boat weighs 35,000 pounds, and as the slack was picked up, the rode became as taut as a piano string. For a moment it seemed as though something was going to break, but then whatever it was hung up on released and the anchor was salvaged.
Just another among many experiences that come from the joys and challenges of cruising.