My wife, Sandi, and I just chartered a new Catalina 320 recently in San Diego for a 4-day cruise. This was her "big test" to see if she was ready for cruising, as she is a very novice sailor. After an uneventful trip down to the Coronado Islands, We decided to head back up into San Diego Harbor and anchor for the night. We found a nice spot across from the Navy base next to the "Strand" I think its called, and had a great nights rest! The next morning, we pulled anchor early on a Sunday morning and were soon running down the channel under the Cornoado bridge. The channel is about 50 ft deep, and we were carrying about 200 ft of rode and line. The traffic wasn't too bad just yet, and as we cleared the bridge, a large 5 ft wake hit us nose on. Suddenly, I heard this grinding noise. "What's that?" Sandi asked as she continued to steer down the channel. As I rushed out of the cabin and looked forward, the anchor had bounced out of the holding bracket and was on its way to the bottom of the channel! I ran forward just in time for the anchor line to run out and grab the bottom as we came to a screeching halt. I shouted to her to release all the sheets as I wound the line around the windlass to retrieve it. Of course the breaker was off, so I ran down to reset that. I got back on deck to hear a local boat pass us and yell, "you can't anchor there.." "NO #$@#%!!!" Anyway, I yelled to Sandi to start the engine and move forward to give me some slack to wrap around the windlass, when wouldn't you know it- The U.S. Navy decided to launch a dedstroyer and it was coming down the channel right toward us, blasting his horn 5 times for us to move. I had just begun winching in the anchor line and had about 20 ft left and I told Sandi "full speed forward and head out of the channel!!, which she did as I held on to this anchor line dragging under the boat. I wish I could have seen the Navy captains face as he was wondering what kind of idiot anchored in the channel and was going around in circles trying to drag it up!
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A day on the foreriver...
Good story! Reminds of last summer when I managed to lose both rudder and engine control at about the same time, in the middle of a crowed channel in Portland. I immediately went into emergency mode, which for me involved dropping the hook. My terrified crew decided to wait until after I had let it fly to point out the Irving tanker bearing down on our position. Alls well that ends well . . . a lobster boat hauled us out of the way, but I had to lose the anchor. Justin - O'day Owner's Web
Good story! Reminds of last summer when I managed to lose both rudder and engine control at about the same time, in the middle of a crowed channel in Portland. I immediately went into emergency mode, which for me involved dropping the hook. My terrified crew decided to wait until after I had let it fly to point out the Irving tanker bearing down on our position. Alls well that ends well . . . a lobster boat hauled us out of the way, but I had to lose the anchor. Justin - O'day Owner's Web
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