[Rhodes22-list] Playing at Anchor

[Alex Bell]

Bob,

I agree with your comments. Best to be a prudent sailor and err on the 
side of caution. I for one would not want to see someone come in to an 
anchorage that I've taken the trouble to drop the hook  in and watch 
them throw out a light anchor and minimal rode. A boater must be 
responsible for his/her boat and ensure that they don't drag down on 
someone. It's happened to me one night. The captain was fast asleep as 
the wind picked up and his boat was heading for us.

I think there seems to be a "minimialist attitude" sweeping the Rhodes 
list that encourages less than the best of what can be used. I'm for 
overkill, be it anchors, rodes, dock lines etc. BTW, there's an article 
in the latest Cruising world/Sailing/Seaworthy (forgot which) that deals 
with mooring lines and relative strength. One area of concern is 
continued use of nylon lines after they become stiff, etc. Seem they're 
more liable to break at that point. The article was aimed at hurricane 
prep the failures that occur during storms.

Seaworthy has a really good article on USCG and the lifeboat service. 
For those who thought I was an alarmist regarding Okacroke Inlet and 
Cape Hattaras area, you should read this article. It tells how the Coast 
Guard coxswains are rated at 3 levels with the lowest being able to 
handle a boat in 30 mph winds, the next level over 30 mph and the top 
level at any kind of weather. They're needed to handle boats in rescue 
missions where boaters most often get into trouble. Hattaras and 
Okacroke are among the top couple of areas in the country. The article 
tells why seas are so confused and dangerous, with the Gulf Stream 
colliding into the Labador currents going south. This creates the 
shoaling and the problems navigating the area. BTW, a Nor'easter seems 
to be a hurrince without the tropical heat and lacks a name. Good thing 
cause our insurance includes a higher deductable for "named storms"

Alex Bell

Robert Quinn wrote:

> I'm sure that there are more folks out there with more experience than 
> I, but I must say that the experts (e.g., Chapman Piloting, Annapolis 
> Book of Seamanship, American Sailing Association, US Sailing, 
> Practical Sailor, etc. to name a few) would tell you that a "light" 
> anchor on an all rope rode is really not the way to go.  For lunch or 
> a quick stop you can get away with a lot as long as you are alert and 
> paying attention, but for overnight in tidal waters or areas where the 
> winds shift and a storm may brew (I think that includes most waters) 
> you need a lot more. There is literally tons of information out there 
> to guide you in your choice of anchor and rode.
>
> Bob on the "NoKaOi"
>
>> Bill Effros wrote:
>>
>>> ...  The all-line rode,
>>> combined with a lightweight modern
>>> anchor, is totally safe, and highly
>>> reliable.
>>
>> -------------------------------------
>>
>
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