What a beautiful day to be on Narragansett Bay yesterday. 10-15 knot winds constant out of the south, moving ever so slightly to the southwest. But someone’s day was ruined. We left Wickford, headed under the Jamestown Bridge, rounded Beavertail and headed up to Newport when we heard the call. A 40-foot sport fisherman “Slacker” out of Wickford had been up on plane and its anchor broke free of its windless and the chain rode wrapped itself around the starboard prop. Ouch that had to do some damage. The captain called the Coasties and handled it well, but you could tell he was more than a little shaken. The auxiliary and Safe Sea managed to get there before he got close enough to Dutch Island to do any damage. We continued on our sail and arrived back in Wickford at the same time Slacker came in under tow. Those guys sure didn’t look happy. You could see the chain rode tight on the bow going straight under the boat How do you explain that one to your wife. Remember the cleat in your anchor locker? Make sure to lie off you anchor rode (use a separate line looped though the chain for a chain rode) Happy Sailing Russell S/V Alllie Kat
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Anchor Tie That MOTHER Down
Once out in a 25+ Kt breeze my anchor fixed in a bow pulpit anchor holder, bounced free in the pounding while running down wind. It was tied and bunged but had about 1 inch or less of movement and worked loose. Man, that anchor and chain went over fast, but I ran forward faster and no damage was done. It was hell pulling that thing up with all that force on it and I'm in good shape. After, that while under way I always put it in the locker. I am so glad it didn't hang up and pound on the hull or that the whole thing didn't go over the side ripping out the pad eye. Always tie that MOTHER down as the song goes.
Once out in a 25+ Kt breeze my anchor fixed in a bow pulpit anchor holder, bounced free in the pounding while running down wind. It was tied and bunged but had about 1 inch or less of movement and worked loose. Man, that anchor and chain went over fast, but I ran forward faster and no damage was done. It was hell pulling that thing up with all that force on it and I'm in good shape. After, that while under way I always put it in the locker. I am so glad it didn't hang up and pound on the hull or that the whole thing didn't go over the side ripping out the pad eye. Always tie that MOTHER down as the song goes.
Anchored in the ship channel
One day we were coming out of Sandy Hook into Raritan Bay in a spanking breeze with four foot seas. Just as we are about to cross the ship channel we hear this tremendous noise. Sure enough, the anchor had let go and forty feet of chain and nearly all the rope rode had run out in a flash. Managed to get to it and snub it off before we lost the whole thing, as the boat rounded into the wind. We had no windlass then and getting it all back up before we were run down by a ship required a young stong back who jumped aboard from a friend's boat and bringing the rode back to the primary winches. It was a back-breaking job, fuelled by lots of adrenaline. We now have a windlass. Theoretically, the chain should never get loose. But every time we weigh anchor lashing it securely takes precedence over all other tasks.
One day we were coming out of Sandy Hook into Raritan Bay in a spanking breeze with four foot seas. Just as we are about to cross the ship channel we hear this tremendous noise. Sure enough, the anchor had let go and forty feet of chain and nearly all the rope rode had run out in a flash. Managed to get to it and snub it off before we lost the whole thing, as the boat rounded into the wind. We had no windlass then and getting it all back up before we were run down by a ship required a young stong back who jumped aboard from a friend's boat and bringing the rode back to the primary winches. It was a back-breaking job, fuelled by lots of adrenaline. We now have a windlass. Theoretically, the chain should never get loose. But every time we weigh anchor lashing it securely takes precedence over all other tasks.
Just don't secure the anchor TOO well...
Remember that your anchor is an important piece of emergency equipment, and you should be able to deploy it reasonably quickly. I always make sure that my anchor rode is flaked before I go sailing. I'll never forget the day that my steering cable failed about 300 feet upwind of a rocky reef. My anchor was the last line of defense. And what would you do if your engine died in a narrow channel? There's got to be a balance between preventing an unintentional anchor release and having the thing ready to save your bacon when seconds count. Paul sv Escape Artist
Remember that your anchor is an important piece of emergency equipment, and you should be able to deploy it reasonably quickly. I always make sure that my anchor rode is flaked before I go sailing. I'll never forget the day that my steering cable failed about 300 feet upwind of a rocky reef. My anchor was the last line of defense. And what would you do if your engine died in a narrow channel? There's got to be a balance between preventing an unintentional anchor release and having the thing ready to save your bacon when seconds count. Paul sv Escape Artist
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