H216 in the breakers

[Jeff Prideaux]

I was sailing in the ocean along Atlantic beach, NC and decided to try deploying the anchor just outside the breakers at the beach. I made sure to let out enough line to handle the ocean swells without the anchor dragging. My shore party wanted to swim out to the boat from the beach but I felt it was too rough and told them (over the walky talky) to stay put on the beach. After a while I decide to pull the anchor in and first got the motor started in idle. I figured that after I pulled the anchor up (while squatting at the bow) I would have perhaps only 30 seconds or so to get the boat moving away form shore before the prevailing wind blew me into the breakers. Well guess what, the engine died when I put it into gear. I had to make a quick decision: keep f**king with the engine or sail off the beach. I decided to trust the sail over the engine. I didn't feel I had time to raise the main sail so I un-furled the gib. Luckily, I was able to sail away from the beach under gib alone until I got enough sea-room to then raise the main and sail down the coast and back through the inlet to the sound.I was able to get the motor started later on. I discovered a small leak in the fuel hose. The motor was apparently sucking air when it tried to suck gasoline.The moral of the story, is that its nice to have an engine but sometimes when the going gets rough, you have to trust the older technology (sail power!!!).

 

[Wanderer138]

Try this next time

You did the right thing by starting the motor first, but I think you could have done a couple more things that could have helped you in that situation:1) raise the mainsail before you raise the anchor. In case the motor craps out, you've got immediate, one-handed backup.2) motor (or sail) up to the anchor rather than pull the boat up to it along the anchor rode with the motor in neutral. It's less work because the anchor line will be slack so you can sit in the cockpit and retrieve it. As you pass over top of the anchor, throw a wrap around the winch and the anchor should break out with no fuss. If you pull the rode in until the chain comes aboard, you can motor (or sail) away with the anchor dragging along behind to clean it off.Yes, I agree it sounds like overkill, but you were anchored just beyond the surfline on what I assume was a lee shore. In any event, the important thing is that you trusted your instincts and saved your boat and for that, any sailor deserves to be congratulated.PeterH23 "Raven"

 

[Jeff Prideaux]

thanks

Those were all good suggestions!!! It was a lee shore. In hind-sight I should have first motored up to the anchor. When the motor crapped out I would have still had the anchor set to hold the boat in place.... There is nothing like experience. Fortunately for me, my experience didn't have a bad ending.