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For all you guys who were discussing anchors over the last while - I saw a
perfect example last Monday afternoon that showed that it needs more than
the correct anchor to keep your boat in the right spot.
We had been at anchor for a few days in a normally very protected little bay
(upper end of Tod Inlet, Garrett) when a 45 ft power boat arrived, "dropped"
the anchor and the skipper and mate got into the dingy and went to ashore.
About 2 hours later a "light breeze" came up, the boat started to swing and
next thing it was drifting down onto about 8 or 10 other boats. The chap
next to me and I were certain we were about to get run down, but thankfully
weren't, and he was able to catch up to the boat in his dingy and get
aboard. The anchor system was all chain and well color coded as to length
(if you knew the code) and he was able to let out some more rode. The boat
kept right on drifting so he let more rode out - after 3 "extensions" to the
rode the boat suddenly came to a halt and settled down. Meanwhile the Coast
Guard had been called and in short order the local "Auxiliary" vessel
arrived - took a look at the situation and decided that the boat should be
moved back further into the anchorage. When my neighbor boater, who was
still on board, pulled up the anchor so that the CG could tow the boat, they
were absolutely amazed to find that the owner had used about 20 feet of rode
in a depth (at that time) of about 25 feet and that the anchor was a large
Bruce (Tod Inlet is a mud / sand bottom).
Just goes to show that the best choice of anchors for the situation doesn't
help if you don't let it work its magic.
Incidentally, the owners comments on returning hours later was - "wonder why
it didn't hold 'cause that's what I use all the time !!
Keep alert, a "drifter" might get you if you're not !!
John Tones Sidney, BC
MV Penta
