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Re: Anegada Mooring Ball Depth
[Re: PaulB]
#194416
05/09/2019 04:17 AM
05/09/2019 04:17 AM
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Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 322
Christo
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 322
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The last five years or so we've taken a 48 ft. mono with 5'5" draft into the mooring field at Anegada. It's tight, but we have never had a problem. Enter slow, with an escape plan firmly in mind and your claw on the throttle ready to take action! If the only balls free are the ones close in to the shore or right at the back of the field then forget it...those are too shallow. Also remember that the BVI has tides...The Moorings website states the range as 12 - 18 inches. Tide Forecast says up to 2 feet...which sounds on the high side compared to our observations so I assume that must be the maximum high water spring to minimum low water spring difference. And factor in swell. We always snorkel our position once moored to ensure there is enough daylight under the keel. Tip 1.) If a decent swell is running then we don't attempt Anegada. www.WINDGURU.CZ/58 has been a reliable source of swell prediction for us. Tip 2.) don't do the long, slow loop around the mooring field to approach the ball perfectly into wind from a few hundred meters away (like you would anywhere else), head direct to within a boat length or two of the ball and use that bow-thruster to complete the hand-brake turn! Tip 3.) when you do your boat briefing / handover, check if there is an offset on the echo-sounder. Our first year someone had put 4ft beneath the keel 'to be safe'...so it helpfully read zero all the way in, which is bugger-all use to anyone. We now ensure that it is calibrated correctly, without any offset. Tip 4.) Good pair of polarised sunglasses. Tip 5.) don't be put off Anegada. Most of the BVI is incredibly simple navigation compared to the rest of the world...Anegada is just slightly less so. In the right weather you will be absolutely fine with 5'5". And that first painkiller after snagging a ball tastes better than anywhere else in the BVI (if you're the skipper!).
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Re: Anegada Mooring Ball Depth
[Re: PaulB]
#194418
05/09/2019 05:05 AM
05/09/2019 05:05 AM
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 2,151 Ontario, Canada
warren460
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 2,151
Ontario, Canada
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Christo’s advice is solid
Last edited by warren460; 05/09/2019 05:06 AM.
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Re: Anegada Mooring Ball Depth
[Re: PaulB]
#194427
05/09/2019 08:17 AM
05/09/2019 08:17 AM
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 833 Houston, Texas
louismcc
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 833
Houston, Texas
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I'll second Christo's advice, especially Tip 3. I didn't verify the proper calibration of our depth sounder so anchoring at Anegada was a bit stressful. I think we were reading negative numbers when in an area that the chart indicated was 8 - 10 feet. We were on a mono that drew 5'9".
Louis from Houston
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Re: Anegada Mooring Ball Depth
[Re: louismcc]
#194453
05/09/2019 01:14 PM
05/09/2019 01:14 PM
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Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 1,343 Washington DC
bailau
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 1,343
Washington DC
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I'll second Christo's advice, especially Tip 3. I didn't verify the proper calibration of our depth sounder so anchoring at Anegada was a bit stressful. I think we were reading negative numbers when in an area that the chart indicated was 8 - 10 feet. We were on a mono that drew 5'9". LOL...had same issue. Base told me they were setting offset and then they set it wrong. Made for some very tense few moments...:)
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Re: Anegada Mooring Ball Depth
[Re: Christo]
#194612
05/11/2019 06:32 PM
05/11/2019 06:32 PM
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 559 Apex, NC
agrimsrud
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 559
Apex, NC
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Tip 3.) when you do your boat briefing / handover, check if there is an offset on the echo-sounder. Our first year someone had put 4ft beneath the keel 'to be safe'...so it helpfully read zero all the way in, which is bugger-all use to anyone. We now ensure that it is calibrated correctly, without any offset.
Having an offset on the depth sounder is not necessarily wrong. So don't wipe it out without first checking the depth on the sounder vs. reality. On my boat the calibration offset is 4 ft on the instrument. Which will give me the true water depth on the display. I always bring a sewing measuring tape (i.e., vinyl) attached to a larger lead fishing weight. At the first opportunity I get the depth and compare it to the sounder and adjust accordingly. A depth sounder that is lying to you is absolutely useless and in fact worse than not having one at all. Imho.
Life's short - sail more!
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Re: Anegada Mooring Ball Depth
[Re: agrimsrud]
#194683
05/12/2019 05:23 PM
05/12/2019 05:23 PM
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 833 Houston, Texas
louismcc
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 833
Houston, Texas
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i recall from earlier trips that Moorings used to include a lead line in their on-board equipment. This was back in the days when it seemed like calibration was the least of issues with the depth sounder so perhaps they don't do it any more. Also, given the amount of equipment stored in the lockers, getting to the bottom to find said lead line (if it exists) would be an archaeological dig.
High on our list for our next trip (maybe 07/2020?) will be to verify the sounder calibration. Also we'll make sure that someone hasn't turned off the anchor windlass breaker before we depart. I've tripped breakers before when using the windlass but never was sent out with the breaker in the off position.
Louis from Houston
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