Anchoring practice

Holy crap, today was windy. I already anticipated some wind and found a great hideout in a little cove behind some rocky islands. Unsure about the depth of the cove I didn’t go in too far. Since Isabell was swinging back and forth I let out the aft anchor as well. That helped for the swinging, but put us broadside to the wind. Bad idea. Since the local bottom was loose gunk, the main anchor started dragging. I started worrying, since the place is filled with underwater stones. After a cup of coffee and some thinking, I started the engine, cut loose the back anchor and hauled in the forward anchor until it hung about two meters deep in front of the boat. Then slowly motored in to the shallow area, where the best shelter was for the wind. To my surprise it was more than two meters deep all the way in. I would have felt stones by the anchor hitting them before the boat got to them. But it was safe. After the excitement of this morning it was much more peaceful. (in my mind and around me). The anchor that I left behind is tied to a buoy that I threw overboard. I’m going to have to pick it up tomorrow morning. Make note to self. Don’t bother to put out more than one anchor. It will just cause trouble. The rest of the day was spent looking over the rigging, self steering, engine and such. The sun came out at times and I had constant company of a gull that sits perched on a rock about ten meters behind the boat. Let’s hope for decent weather tomorrow. Then the gull can have the place to himself again.

Author: captain

Johannes, born in 1960 in Zierikzee, The Netherlands. Owner of S/Y Isabell. Retired environmental toxicologist, now living aboard and sailing south.