LESSONS LEARNED WHILE CRUISING Jamie & Behan Gifford
Being Anchored: It’s More Than a Process
I remember my father telling me
to cleat the bitter end of the anchor line before dropping the anchor. “Yes, I know”, said I, the eager twelve year old. When enough anchor line was out I moved to cleat it, but found that I was losing a tug of war. I quickly reasoned that this was not going well, especially since I did not follow my father’s instruction. The event gave me cause to practice the process of anchoring and the state of being anchored. The process of anchoring is well
covered in books, articles, and dockside debates. Still, results vary. The basics are simple enough. It’s the numerous variables that add complexity and uniqueness to the process. If anchoring is likely to cause a marriage changing event then it’s time to practice; and to hit the books. This doesn’t mean pulling out a credit card to buy a new
anchor. Well, maybe it does; but there really is no single best anchor. A sailors’ claim to the contrary may be more of a testimony to their learning the process and what works for them. Whatever gear and techniques
you employ, patience helps. Take the time to understand the features of the anchorage, bottom topography and composition, to talk to the crew, survey nearby boats and buoys, to let the boat settle to the wind and current before you back down, and to back-down slowly at first. With success comes the more enjoyable state of being anchored. Unfortunately, even the best anchor set can change, even at an inconvenient time. Despite the similar look and feel between being anchored and dragging anchor, they are altogether different. A boat dragging anchor closely resembles a vessel underway, except in that the
Ever changing environmental conditions and proximity to other boats can quickly change. Even a light air wind shift can send the picture perfect anchorage into disarray.
crew may or may not know that they are underway. From Puget Sound to Australia,
we’ve seen many boats drag. Sometimes there was no crew aboard or they were aboard and unaware. We’ve learned to keep an air-horn and binoculars in the cockpit and to call out on VHF channel 16 immediately if we notice someone dragging. Doing so will alert the snoozing crew, or you to the fact there is no crew aboard. It’ll also notify nearby boats in case they need to take action. In Cabo San Lucas, we listened to a
VHF conversation between two cruise ship captains. One captain was giddy calling the other to ask if he could send over some crewmembers. “Why” came the reply. To help reset your anchor because you’re dragging (chuckling heard). Clearly the two knew each
48° NORTH, SEPTEMBER 2011 PAGE 49
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106