Scary situation at anchor

[Derek Rowell]

Last Saturday Marge and I anchored in Potter Cove on Prudence Is., RI. There was a large power boat about 25 yards to port. Two other power boats came up and rafted with him. There was a bunch of kids on board who got in the three dinghies and prodeeded to buzz 'round and 'round our boat, doing "wheelies" etc. This went on for over three hours without stop, and finally after dinner at 7:30pm Marge called out to them to "knock-it-off". They went back to their boats. As we got into our dinghy for the final doggie run, the father came over, very belligerent saying that we had made his 10 year old son cry, and how dare we, and that if we didn't like the noise we should move. While we were ashore the teenage son started going around our boat yelling and screaming at the top of his lungs. When we got back the father called out "I hope you have a nice quiet evening!"I was nervous about this guy at this point. The whole gang was drinking heavily, and so I hauled the dinghy up on to the bow because I had the feeling that something was up, and we might wake up to find no dinghy, or at least a dinghy with a hole in it. One boat left.We went to bed at 10pm. Ten minutes later I felt a bump against the stern and all sorts of noise blared forth right behind the stern. I looked out and there were the two boats with their sterns to us, dinghies astern with the outboards running, about six feet from my stern. There was music blaring and they were yelling at the tops of their voices. The outboard motors were making a LOT of noise. Obvious payback!We went up and asked them politely to stop, at which time they said that we had drifted on to them (there was virtually no wind, and we hadn't budged an inch). I pulled in 20 ft of chain, and watched - they slowly "drifted" right on to our stern again. I asked them what the hell they were doing, and they said they weren't doing anything - it was me that was drifting all over the cove. Funny that they were the only boats in the cove pointing stern to the light wind!Marge and I were a bit scared - these people were quite drunk and obviously intent on intimidation, and so we decided to move. We did, moved about 200 yards. The problem was that in re-anchoring in the dark I somehow got my left hand under the chain, the boat lurched and I got my hand squashed under the chain. It hurt like crazy all night, so we left at first light and I went to the ER to find that the pinky was fractured in a couple of places, it's now in a temporary splint and I have to see a hand specialist on Thursday.We got the name of one boat, but no hailing port, and could not see any name or registration on the other two.The question is - what is the best way to deal with a situation like this? Should I have called the Coast Guard? I didn't want to do anything to escalate the situation... There are some scary people out there!Derek

 

[Sunshine]

The best thing to do;

Is to move and dump your holding tank as you pass upwind from them.

 

[Patrick Lombard]

Sorry to hear...

...that you meant that growing American generation of ASSHOLES that have lost the abilty to respect the rights of others. What's this Country coming too?

 

[Derek Rowell]

Holding tank?

What's a holding tank? We don't use those in Rhode Island ;DDerek

 

[Rich]

You're not out in blue water

You should have called the Rhode Island State Police. Remember, you're not in some godforsaken place offshore, you're in a sheltered bay within easy reach of land authorities. Keeping a cellphone onboard is the prudent thing to be doing these days as a supplement to vhf anyway (consider buying a phone with a limited number of minutes and leaving it aboard if you don't want a cellphone at home). Their conduct was unquestionably threatening and I suppose you could still file a report if you wanted to, just to make a little last "payback".

 

[Don]

Next time

If it were me Derek, I'd have called the NK harbormaster and/or CG. From your description, two boats and perhaps all three were not properly displaying numbers, name or hailing port. If the kids had no life jackets, that's another strike as well as operating to endanger, kids under 16, lack of nav lights at night on the dinghies, etc... We were in Potter's Cove Sunday but didn't see the excitement. Hope you're on the mend quickly.Another incredible example of how to not set an example for children - some people should never be allowed to procreate.Don

 

[Franklin]

like father, like son

It's in the genes. Knowing me, I would have pulled out my 9MM and fired a warning shot and if that didn't do it, sink the dinghy. Calling the CG and police might have been a wiser solution. It could also have escalated it too after they left. Yeah...just sink them ~

 

[Sunshine]

Hey Derek,

Nice claim, but it don't hold water or....

 

[Ross]

This is a good example of why we have

VHF channel 16. Call the Marine police and The Coast Guard And report the incident as it is happening. If you have cameras take pictures. Tell the participants that they are hazarding you vessel.We must not be intimidated by hoodlums on land or water. Start firing flares if you have them do all that you can to attract attention. If you have a search light and this is at night illuminate the participants.They were clearly disturbing the peace and tranquility of the anchorage.

 

[Honeyman]

I've learned...

the hard way (vandalism), not to play policeman or "enforcer". As others have said radio first and foremost, cell phone, pictures if at all possible. I'd have tried to move first without saying anything, you REALLY don't know how many NUTS are out there who care absolutely nothing about ANYONE other than themselves!!! A good quote to remember is, "those who make you mad, control you".

 

[Ross]

Polypropylene rope floats. Floating rope fouls

propellers. If ya get my drift.

 

[Paul Akers]

I was there, too!

Just North of your anchorage on my mooring. The police were in the cove one week earlier. I had gone to bed early on Saturday and didn't hear the commotion, otherwise, you'd have had a cooperating witness. The harbormasters and police don't tolerate any of that foolishness. I'd like to have seen the dummies get put into their places.Bravo! for you to bite your toungue and not carry it too far! Now we can watch out. Thank you.P.S. Keep your flare gun and camera by your side next week. They'll be on the lookout for you.

 

[John Nantz]

Enforcement Agencies Not Much Help

Unfortunately, in today's world, it seems that law enforcement agencies are not a lot of help. Unless it turns into real violence it's hard to get their interest. On the other hand, make a lane change without using your turnsignal and look out! Apparently that is considered agressive driving by our state highway patrol.Honeyman's quote "those who make you mad, control you" is a good one - haven't heard that one before.Ross's comment about using Channel 16 to call the CG seems like a good one too. Perhaps they could at least notify the appropriate authorities if they don't take action themselves. All one can do is try. If nothing else it could show up on the 911 list as a problem area. If there is no record there's no problem. I think that erring on the side of reporting the incident may help (somehow) in the future. Yea, they'd probably want to put another tax on us for law enforcement.As previously mentioned, geting as much information (pictures, boat names, type and identifying features, registration numbers, etc. time, description of what happend blow-by-blow may be helpful. Pictures would be great - probably turn the flash off so as not to alert them? Chartlet of Potter Cove: http://mapserver.maptech.com/homepage/index.cfm?lat=41.642978156258906&lon=-71.33908372382683&scale=40000&zoom=100&type=0&icon=0&searchscope=dom&CFID=883595&CFTOKEN=41968917&scriptfile=http://mapserver.maptech.com/homepage/index.cfm&latlontype=DMSFox Island, WA: http://mapserver.maptech.com/homepage/index.cfm?lat=47.266887056533314&lon=-122.64090675335906&scale=80000&zoom=50&type=0&icon=0&searchscope=dom&CFID=883595&CFTOKEN=41968917&scriptfile=http://mapserver.maptech.com/homepage/index.cfm&latlontype=DMSThere's a known problem similar to this at Fox Island in WA, and it's been going on for several years now. "Kids", probably grown-ups by now, like to run their water ski boat around boats that anchor in the cove. The trick they like to do is go nearby and the skier makes a swing and throws water into the cockpit. First heard of this about 13 or 14 years ago and just reecently heard of another account so it's still hapening there.We really feel for you Derek and I hope your finger heals properly. That's a real bummer.

 

[Cap'n Ron]

I met the enemy, and he was us...

Now mates, do we want to be yachtsmen with pride or slink down into the gutter with shame?Start firing a weapon? What the hell kind of a wanna be Rambo nut is this idiot? These people have kids around too.There will always be bullys, follow and be like them, or take the high road?Were they violent? Damage property, or harm anyone? Did they break any laws? Really?I can fully understand being first at anchor, calling it yours...settling down for a tranquil and quiet night.I peronally like peace, quiet, a game of chess, a whiskey and the slap of the waves on the hull; loathe bullys and yahoos.What if some racers came in pumped up and drinking too, these folks can be prettttty noisey too, even at a marina, but at an anchorage you can howl at the moon!Standing in a ski-lift line, counting stocking capped heads, and thinking, "sure is crowded", but wait, I am one of the crowd too.Unruly, loud boisterous kids, macho men drinking (likely have 9mms too), get angry, holler, rev up engines...anybody own any of this? Should we shoot anyone that is the least bit out of line or take a plane above their kind of behavior, show an example of excellence and class.He without sin cast the first stone...

 

[Rich Stidger]

Derek, I feel badly for you with your hand....

This is a bad story of unprovoked behavior. Please file a report with the CG in Bristol and with the Portsmouth police. Portsmouth has jurisdiction over Prudence Island. These guys should not go un-punished IMO.BTW, I would very much like to know the name of the one vessel and the descriptions of all three. My wife and I frequent Potter's Cove (we have a mooring at Bristol Marine) and I would like to be on the lookout for these bad actors. Would you please post this info or email me from the owner's directory?

 

[Ross]

Obnoxious behavior is not a crime

and telling an obnoxious person that he is won't help. The mere fact that they would anchor close by is an indicator of their sense of propriety. I believe in such a case just hauling anchor and moving, the same as one would do if the smoke from a rubbish fire was blowing your way, would have made the entire evening a non-event.On the other hand Nancy and I went out Friday, sailed for about four hours in light winds and anchored about a mile below Havre de Grace on the Susquehanna. One boat about a quarter mile below us pulled anchor and moved because a raft of logs from the last flood was drifting down on him. We had to share the anchorage with one other boat about a half mile west of us. We were just a mile and a half from our slip, had no bugs, a flock of crows landed on the rails about dawn and woke us up. A couple of hours later the fishermen started to come out. Some times I could tell how many were in the boat without using binoculars.

 

[Tim R.]

Idiots are everywhere

Last season I observed a raftup of powerboats get rowdy while partying. No problem. That is what they do to have fun. A neighboring sailboat(not sure who was there first) decided to pick up anchor and move. Later that night when the powerboaters left(10-11pm), they made it a point to go near the sailboat on the way out of the anchorage to yell at them asking if they were too loud and laughing.Sometimes you just cannot win. The really depressing part is that these idiots can go anywhere we can. It is easy enough for them to anchor in shallower water but they always seem to want to be near other boats.My wife and I live in a secluded area. We hate neighborhoods. We take this same desire for privacy on the water.Tim R.

 

[Bob]

A deck mounted 12 pounder does make a difference

Incredible story!The first response I had was to grapple, board, slash and burn and take the lads as deck slaves to be traded somewhere near Barbados. A 12-pound deck mounted gun would have completed the job. Have'nt had the bottom scraped in a few years? How about a classic finish with a keel haul and let the sharks do the rest. Share the booty, pawn the electronics and move to the next adventure............another anchorage perhaps. Its hard to fathom, grown men, with costly boats and a common link to the sea act in the fashion you so described. I congradulate you on your patience, perception and performance under this stress. You suppressed "boat rage" where others might have had less cooler heads. Ah, but would'nt it indeed been lovely though to pull out the cutlass, and show these briggons a thing or two about manners? Bob"just an over forty victim of fate"...........

 

[Waffle]

I think it might have be wise to move

right away unless you a real big tough guy and like to fight. When your out on the water it is the law of the jungle to some degree. Might makes right with some people. It is better just to move.

 

[Ross]

William it must have been a terrible

night for you, probably didn't get any sleep at all.;(