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Re: Avoiding the Rocks
[Re: CDavis2]
#134400
07/04/2017 10:10 AM
07/04/2017 10:10 AM
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 742 Redmond, WA
MrEZgoin
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 742
Redmond, WA
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Thanks for sharing your story. I didn't catch what boat you were on, a power cat I assume?
Were you able to raise the anchor on battery power alone or did you raise it by hand?
I don't see anything wrong with taking key documents with you when abandoning ship - I think this is considered good planning.
M4000 "Lio Kai"
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Re: Avoiding the Rocks
[Re: CDavis2]
#134403
07/04/2017 10:51 AM
07/04/2017 10:51 AM
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,788 GA/NC
GeorgeC1
Traveler
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Posts: 6,788
GA/NC
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CDavis2 said: We were on a 48' Power Cat with Marine Max. The windlass ran fine from the battery although I also think we had the generator running if that made a difference at all. We were able to raise the anchor under power. I am not sure if we would have been able to get it up by hand. The windless would not have worked on the batteries. It will work on most but not all charter boats on the genset. It's something to check on the briefings. On some boats it will only run if a specific engine is running. Others it will work with either engine. Off course you can always drop the anchor without power. I lost the windless diving the Wit Shoal in deep water. We had 200 feet of chain out. Not fun getting it in and I had 6 big guys. Chain is heavy so the more you have out the worse it is!
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Re: Avoiding the Rocks
[Re: GeorgeC1]
#134404
07/04/2017 11:39 AM
07/04/2017 11:39 AM
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 742 Redmond, WA
MrEZgoin
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 742
Redmond, WA
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Since the windlass clutch is rarely loosened on most charter boats, I have found it can be seized up. It's something worth checking before you're in the situation of having to quickly deploy the anchor under gravity.
M4000 "Lio Kai"
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Re: Avoiding the Rocks
[Re: CDavis2]
#134409
07/04/2017 09:35 PM
07/04/2017 09:35 PM
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 414 Memphis, TN
beerMe
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Posts: 414
Memphis, TN
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A few years ago Island Yacht Charters lost one of their big sailboats on the East side of VG. Never got the straight story but the biggest issue was too close to a leeward shore. I promised myself right then I'd stop doing that! Several times when rounding Beef Island I've been surprised how close some others cut the corner.
With a power-only boat it might just be prolonging your agony. Bet you sure were glad when you felt that anchor grab! As steep as the hill is there I would have thought you'd have to be pretty darn close to get to 40' of water.
Thanks for posting, good job!
Life involves risks, take some prudent ones (NOT with the BVI ferries)!
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Re: Avoiding the Rocks
[Re: BEERMAN]
#134415
07/05/2017 02:47 PM
07/05/2017 02:47 PM
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,049
StormJib
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Posts: 1,049
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Each dinghy and motor combination is different. Unless you take your time and really understand all the mechanics and loads? Most who try to tow with a dinghy will find the dinghy just goes sideways from the rotation load of the propeller and little mass or wetted surface of the dinghy. More weight, better positioned weight, a bridle, repositioning the tow line, adding thrust very slowly in a controlled manner done all together might make towing possible. MIGHT! Waves, wind, and panic... Well someone might get some good YouTube.
I would love to make some comment about not rushing away from the dock or cutting the checkout short... but, if the diesels operated all the way to North Sound I am not sure what most would have ever been able to uncover at the checkout dock.
Google the Dangers of the Lee Shore. Many of us are regularly in gross violation of the best safe practices near lee shores.
The degree of danger that is posed to your hull by a lee shore is directly proportional to the force of the wind and current that is pushing you toward it. If you misjudge this force and then lose power/control, you can be on the lee shore faster than you can anchor your boat.
Considering the inherent dangers of lee shores, a prudent skipper should never approach a lee shore closer than one-quarter mile, even in calm conditions, with greater distances recommended as the wind speed increases.
Stuff can happen anywhere on any boat. I line or other object in the water can shut most boats down in the blink of an eye. A sudden failure of the rudder or steering is very possible. The loads while reaching can be extreme even more so on a cat. Bad fuel can shut you down as soon as it get rough. The list goes on and on.
Next time you are out note the times you put your vessel near a lee shore where the chance of recovery is very small.
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Re: Avoiding the Rocks
[Re: cajunscuba]
#134416
07/05/2017 03:22 PM
07/05/2017 03:22 PM
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,788 GA/NC
GeorgeC1
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,788
GA/NC
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cajunscuba said: Would the dinghy be strong enough to at least keep it from hitting the rocks and hold the boat somewhat in place? I'm not talking about towing the boat with the dingy. Seems like it could at least slow it down from drifting to the rocks until help arrives. I've seen people move sailboats short distances with dinghies. Maybe it was too rough for that. Calm winds a dinghy will move the boat fine. More than 7 or 8 knots not so much. The problem is you would never get the dinghy launched and a suitable tow method hooked up in time to help. There is no good way to hook a tow line so lashing the dinghy alongside is best. Takes time.
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Re: Avoiding the Rocks
[Re: StormJib]
#134417
07/05/2017 04:01 PM
07/05/2017 04:01 PM
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 304 Rockford, Michigan
aarpskier
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 304
Rockford, Michigan
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StormJib said:
The degree of danger that is posed to your hull by a lee shore is directly proportional to the force of the wind and current that is pushing you toward it. If you misjudge this force and then lose power/control, you can be on the lee shore faster than you can anchor your boat.
Considering the inherent dangers of lee shores, a prudent skipper should never approach a lee shore closer than one-quarter mile, even in calm conditions, with greater distances recommended as the wind speed increases. Plagiarism is still defined as the passing off of another's ideas or words as one's own. Taken virtually verbatim from the article: "Lee Shores Present a Danger" at safesea.com, without quotes or attribution. Not cool.
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Re: Avoiding the Rocks
[Re: beerMe]
#134419
07/05/2017 07:48 PM
07/05/2017 07:48 PM
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 5,861 Bradenton, FL
Winterstale
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 5,861
Bradenton, FL
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beerMe said: A few years ago Island Yacht Charters lost one of their big sailboats on the East side of VG. Never got the straight story but the biggest issue was too close to a leeward shore. I promised myself right then I'd stop doing that! Several times when rounding Beef Island I've been surprised how close some others cut the corner.
With a power-only boat it might just be prolonging your agony. Bet you sure were glad when you felt that anchor grab! As steep as the hill is there I would have thought you'd have to be pretty darn close to get to 40' of water.
Thanks for posting, good job! That was Aurora...an IP 485....and it was off of Coral Bay, St. John -- halyard fouled their prop - 6 rescued off the boat and the story goes....they went back to IYC and got on another IP......
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Re: Avoiding the Rocks
[Re: Winterstale]
#134420
07/05/2017 10:14 PM
07/05/2017 10:14 PM
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 414 Memphis, TN
beerMe
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 414
Memphis, TN
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Winterstale said:beerMe said: A few years ago Island Yacht Charters lost one of their big sailboats on the East side of VG. Never got the straight story but the biggest issue was too close to a leeward shore. I promised myself right then I'd stop doing that! Several times when rounding Beef Island I've been surprised how close some others cut the corner.
With a power-only boat it might just be prolonging your agony. Bet you sure were glad when you felt that anchor grab! As steep as the hill is there I would have thought you'd have to be pretty darn close to get to 40' of water.
Thanks for posting, good job! That was Aurora...an IP 485....and it was off of Coral Bay, St. John -- halyard fouled their prop - 6 rescued off the boat and the story goes....they went back to IYC and got on another IP...... Ah yes thanks for helping with my poor memory. I remember reading there was some talk that they had been warned by staff about a dragging line earlier - stuff like that. I thought they were motor sailing, one might have thought there was at least a chance of clawing their way off the shore. I can't believe Skip would give them another boat after that!
Life involves risks, take some prudent ones (NOT with the BVI ferries)!
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Re: Avoiding the Rocks
[Re: Mandknky]
#134423
07/06/2017 09:13 AM
07/06/2017 09:13 AM
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 5,861 Bradenton, FL
Winterstale
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 5,861
Bradenton, FL
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Mandknky said: Island yachts did not provide the folks that wrecked Aurora, the IP485 , with another boat after it went on the rocks near Ram's Head.... check out the photos on the Sea Tow St Thomas Facebook page if you want to see some photos of the event and aftermath.... Sorry - my bad - thought I read someplace that they went back out on another IP.
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Re: Avoiding the Rocks
[Re: CDavis2]
#134424
07/06/2017 04:20 PM
07/06/2017 04:20 PM
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 622
BaardJ
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 622
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CDavis2 said: My wife called our base which was relatively close and requested emergency assistance. I am not sure exactly how long it took for cavalry to arrive with a boat to tow us back but it must have been the longest 30 minutes of my life even though our anchor was holding once it reached about 40’ of water and we had drifted to within 100 feet of the shore. Thanks for sharing this harrowing experience and glad to hear it all ended safely. In the heat of the emergency did you consider broadcasting a PAN-PAN message? I'm thinking one of the Trellis Bay/Scrub Island/Spanishtown ferries or VISAR would have heard the message and might have arrived much sooner than the chase boat to render a tow (or at least render assistance if the anchor dragged and it quickly became a MAYDAY situation). If I were drifting onto a lee shore, I would probably first broadcast a request for help from (hopefully) nearby vessels before calling the charter base. A reminder that we should all be monitoring Ch 16 when we are underway - never know when or where we might be called upon to provide assistance.
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Re: Avoiding the Rocks
[Re: CDavis2]
#134426
07/06/2017 08:57 PM
07/06/2017 08:57 PM
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,049
StormJib
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,049
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When in doubt always call and let the authorities know what is going on. Many will be surprised how far the USCG VHF towers and repeaters go. In the shadow of some of the BVI mountains you may not get the coverage. But, the USCG does answer the telephone and can reach out and contact many others for you and keep track of you until you are safe. When in doubt call and report your status. Channel 16 or 22A for US Coast Guard telephone 499-6770 or *CG *24 (cell phone) or call 999 or 911 for VISAR (494-4357 or 494-HELP) If you are going to Call Pan Pan on VHF the USCG will likely hear it or get it. Same with VISAR. Call them early and share the status and concern. Both the USCG and VISAR are pros at this and there to deal with it and even prevent things from going really poorly putting others at risk.
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