Anchoring Etiquette: How do peole pick their spot?
- Thread starter Kings Gambit
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I tend to assume that most sailboats and trawlers have put out plenty of scope and that most fast cruisers haven't. I also try to position myself that regardless of wind and tide swing, I'll be well clear of the other boats even if they have only 3:1 scope compared to my 5:1.
If there are several boats in an anchorage, I'll position myself so that I'll be clear of all of them regardless of what the tide and current does. However, I get annoyed and concerned when another boat comes and anchors between us. I anchored at the minimal safe/courteous distance and they have suddenly cut that distance in half. (Then turn on their generator or run their engine of course).
To answer your question, if someone asked me how much scope I have out, I'm more than happy to tell them. Their asking, tells me that they are at least thinking about the situation and gives me an opportunity to engage in a conversation. For example I can tell them that I have 120 feet out and they are currently parked right over my anchor. I can also give them any local knowledge that I have, or get local knowledge from them. It tells them how large a swing I will have and that if they are going to be within that 100 foot circle, they had better have about the same amount of scope out as I do. At the very least it gives me an opportunity to suggest that they are a bit close and might want to consider moving "over there" so their boat will be more secure.
Anchor rudeness
Sometimes I drop anchor in the "deep" spot at our local anchorage so other sailboats come close because of their draft.
If I see a boat looking to anchor really close, I go up on the bow and just stare at them. I also will put out all of my fenders on that side. If they don't get the message I will blow my horn and try to wave them off. But sometime, you just have to pull anchor and move.
Sometimes I drop anchor in the "deep" spot at our local anchorage so other sailboats come close because of their draft.
If I see a boat looking to anchor really close, I go up on the bow and just stare at them. I also will put out all of my fenders on that side. If they don't get the message I will blow my horn and try to wave them off. But sometime, you just have to pull anchor and move.
I suspect there have been many instances of poor anchoring techniques that lead to confrontations of all sorts. Judging where your boat will be or should be when anchoring is somewhat an art. A lot of these stories have been fascinating.
However, on the other side of the coin, I once anchored in a small cove in the San Juan Islands (WA). First one there. Dropped my anchor and let out the proper length of anchor line. Then another boat came to the cove--enough space for the two of us. Then some more boats arrived. Several anchored close so I pulled in my anchor line so as not to swing so far. A power boat who had anchored nearby watched as my anchor line got shorter and shorter and then we dragged. He yelled for us to come along side and had us tie up with them. With an apology for anchoring so closely, he offered to have us rafted up for the night and then proceeded to have us come aboard for drinks and a fresh crab dinner. It was all very pleasant and I slept well, wither from the secure tie up or the drinks I'm not certain. But we made friends for life and he taught me much about catching dungeness crab.
Not all close anchoring add up to arguments, loud music and stern stares. This one added up to friendship and some excellent crab dinners over the years. I took what this power boater taught me and in the years since have several times had a smaller boat come along side and tie up for the night. We've made many friends.
By the way, bagpipes don't scare boats away--I play the pipes and many times they come closer after the evening tunes.
However, on the other side of the coin, I once anchored in a small cove in the San Juan Islands (WA). First one there. Dropped my anchor and let out the proper length of anchor line. Then another boat came to the cove--enough space for the two of us. Then some more boats arrived. Several anchored close so I pulled in my anchor line so as not to swing so far. A power boat who had anchored nearby watched as my anchor line got shorter and shorter and then we dragged. He yelled for us to come along side and had us tie up with them. With an apology for anchoring so closely, he offered to have us rafted up for the night and then proceeded to have us come aboard for drinks and a fresh crab dinner. It was all very pleasant and I slept well, wither from the secure tie up or the drinks I'm not certain. But we made friends for life and he taught me much about catching dungeness crab.
Not all close anchoring add up to arguments, loud music and stern stares. This one added up to friendship and some excellent crab dinners over the years. I took what this power boater taught me and in the years since have several times had a smaller boat come along side and tie up for the night. We've made many friends.
By the way, bagpipes don't scare boats away--I play the pipes and many times they come closer after the evening tunes.
If I'm not intent in a specific anchorage, I try to find a smaller cove with nobody else there and no moorings. Fortunately where I sail is uncrowded except for 3 day weekends. Having a slip it's easy to sail any weekend the weather is nice.
I feel less envious now of the popular places that attract hoards of boats.
I feel less envious now of the popular places that attract hoards of boats.
here there is essentially one place to anchor inside the harbor. is tiny and so far, all have respected the rest--is a place for cruisers to hang on hook, and for fishing boats--pangas-- to base out of. awesome fish come thru in coolers......and all watch out for each other--is different here in the marina-- not the comaraderie of cruisers as much.... many own condos and stay in those. i found a good place.
The herd instinct is strong. Some feel there is safety in proximity. Manners are rare. It is futile to be confrontational and dangerous as well. Unless there is no option, pick up your hook and move. Otherwise, grin and bear it. Good luck and good sailing, Ron
Kid noises
Kids laughter is music and whining is agony.
The only time I have a problem with kid noises is when there is a high pitched whiney one (apparently trying to get someones attention) that never turns down the volume and the parents just ignore at the expense of everyone else around.
Kids laughter is music and whining is agony.
By the way, bagpipes don't scare boats away--I play the pipes and many times they come closer after the evening tunes.[/quote]
I had the very real pleasure of being selected to spend 7 months in Scotland while in the USN. Never could even fake a liking for bagpipes and my paternal grandmothers side was Scottish! Apparently it's not a genetic thing
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My boat would be over the horizon.....
I had the very real pleasure of being selected to spend 7 months in Scotland while in the USN. Never could even fake a liking for bagpipes and my paternal grandmothers side was Scottish! Apparently it's not a genetic thing
. My boat would be over the horizon.....
music at anchor
...I would have played "Under My Thumb" by the Stones, or "Don't Stand so Close to Me" by the Police...I am sure others will add to the list...
About five years ago I wrote an article for Ocean Navigator ("Ocean Voyager" 2006) titled "Precision Anchoring". In it I mentioned a couple of techniques I used that not only helped me put the anchor right where I wanted, but also helped others know where your boat and anchor were, and perhaps more importantly would wind up after a wind shift.
One part of this was an anchor buoy that was rigged with a weight and pulley so that it rested right over the anchor position and didn't drift downwind. The other was the use of a laser rangerfinder so that I could accurately measure distances from the bow prior to dropping the anchor. An example of this was that I would be able to accurately determine just where to drop the hook off of a weather shore to allow for an overnight shift to a lee shore. Once the hook was down I could also pretty well predict whether I would swing into another boat that anchored too close to me.
More than once I had occasion to row over to a new arrival and point out where my anchor was, and be able to mention my exact distance to his boat and how with my stern being 110 feet from my anchor I would most likely swing into him after midnight when the wind shifted (even if there was no wind shift predicted, this story worked pretty well). If someone anchored too close astern I could tell him I had out enough rode that once my rode went taught in the middle of the night when the wind freshened I would probably be far enough astern to swing my rudder into his rode and trip his anchor. "You can stay where you are - just thought you might like to know." sort of thing. Just about always resulted in the late arrival moving further away.
One part of this was an anchor buoy that was rigged with a weight and pulley so that it rested right over the anchor position and didn't drift downwind. The other was the use of a laser rangerfinder so that I could accurately measure distances from the bow prior to dropping the anchor. An example of this was that I would be able to accurately determine just where to drop the hook off of a weather shore to allow for an overnight shift to a lee shore. Once the hook was down I could also pretty well predict whether I would swing into another boat that anchored too close to me.
More than once I had occasion to row over to a new arrival and point out where my anchor was, and be able to mention my exact distance to his boat and how with my stern being 110 feet from my anchor I would most likely swing into him after midnight when the wind shifted (even if there was no wind shift predicted, this story worked pretty well). If someone anchored too close astern I could tell him I had out enough rode that once my rode went taught in the middle of the night when the wind freshened I would probably be far enough astern to swing my rudder into his rode and trip his anchor. "You can stay where you are - just thought you might like to know." sort of thing. Just about always resulted in the late arrival moving further away.
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