News & Views for Southern Sailors - Southwinds Magazine

Sail & Power — Anchored Together
By Capt. Herman Bips
What a wonderful cruise to
Longboat Key! Having
arrived early in the week, I had
my choice in the anchoring
area and placed my red buoy
ball to mark my anchor location.
I enjoyed a great day
swimming, fishing and gathering
with friends for a happy
hour at a local establishment.
The sunset was splendid and a
light breeze filled in the evening
sky. I was off to a good sleep,
since I had been up early departing
Tampa and motor sailing in a
hot and light-wind day.
I was in a deep sleep, with the
boat gently swaying at anchor. Ah, the
cruising life for me.
Then — at 3 a.m., “CRUNCH.
CRUNCH.” What in the world is that
not-so-good sound of metal on fiberglass
I jumped up, grabbed my glasses
and a light, and rapidly descended
to the cockpit. What is that large,
motor yacht doing up against my boat
Did I drag anchor
I checked my bearings—and yes, I
was still in the same wonderful
anchorage area with my red anchor
ball bobbing in the small waves. The
motor yacht had dragged anchor
about an eighth of a mile and stopped
after his prop fouled my chain anchor
line. I banged on my new neighbor’s
boat, and up they came, two dads with
their young sons at their sides.
Keeping my cool in this situation,
we started to formulate a plan to deal
with this delightful event of a powerboat
and sailboat rendezvous. Before I
could finish the plan, the owner
thought that we had decided he
should start his engines and try to
back away. Crunch again as my chain
wound around his prop.
Being an avid diver, I told him
that I would dive down and see what
we could do. Having two large, heavy
boats being held only by one anchor, I
feared that we would pull the anchor
out and pick up other anchored boats
on our way to the beach.
I dove in the dark water and was
amazed at how well I could see with
deck lights on and flashlights aimed at
the prop. I had my boat pulled toward
the anchor and off the other boat to
slack the chain from their prop to my
boat. Then I tied off a line on the
anchor chain just behind the anchor. It
worked, and I was able to unwind the
chain and free their boat from mine.
The brothers from Kansas City
took their boat some distance and
anchored again, yelling thanks as
they passed me. In the morning,
they left early and decided not
to wake me again.
Two days later, I am still
anchored in the same location,
and they return and invite me
to lunch and drinks to say
thanks for my attitude and diving
maneuvers. As it turns out,
they are relatively new to boating
and said they would take my advice
and get an all-chain rode and a large
anchor. I took their sons trout fishing
in the flats and enjoyed the day.
Sometimes in life, although we are
interrupted in our enjoyment of the
outdoors and have to deal with a heck
of a mess, keeping a friendly smile and
coming up with a plan of action that
just might work seem to be better
alternatives than a negative attitude
and an angry response. Plus, it’s a
great way to make new friends.
Happy anchoring!
Capt. Herman Bips sails his Freedom
ketch/cat along the southwest coast of
Florida, having also sailed to Mexico—and
some years ago to Cuba. His homeport is
the Davis Island Yacht Club in Tampa, FL.
He can be reached at www.sailtampa.com.
70 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com