Learning in NC

[jjcoltr2]

This past weekend I loaded up the dog and set out from our home marina aboard Cherry Point MCAS in Havelock, NC and cruised down the mouth of the Neuse River. We went around the south side of the mouth of the river where the bombing range towers are located. The huge towers stand over the marshland like AT-AT walkers from Star Wars, visible from miles away. We sailed into an incredibly narrow and shallow channel behind Raccoon Island and looked for a beach for the dog's relief. Unfortunately I got the bright idea to pick a lovely sandy shore just south of Raccoon Island on the Piney Island side that was currently being buffeted with wind. We anchored off this windy shore, business was done and the boat loaded to reposition behind Raccoon Island to hide from the waves for the night. Unfortunately, my anchor proved too difficult to get aboard before getting back to the cockpit and motoring further offshore and the wind pushed the boat onto Piney Island. Next time the rode will be winched in while motoring forward slowly into the wind until the anchor chain is visible and I can motor somewhere safer to redeploy and retrieve without worry of being blown onto shore. Better yet, I will find a beach to anchor off of that isn't a lee shore! Good thing I had BoatUS and was able to hail on VHF 16 the local towboatUS out of Oriental, NC. I attempted to free myself until 1:00 am, tried to sleep in the drum that the Mac becomes when shipwrecked on a lee shore, then called the tow in at 6:30 am. Busy day apparently for tows, got taken off the shore at 3 pm after a little coordination with the USCG out of Wilmington. I'm sure there is a great transcript out there somewhere of my calls over the VHF. I motored all the way home with my and my dog's tail between our legs, getting in the marina just after night, so got to use my new side-mounted nav lights, that was cool. Little water in the bilge and I may have some pumping to do when I get back to the marina...

[Inquisitor]

Welcome to the forum!

Sorry to hear of your troubles, but it sounds like you're better prepared than most. Besides it made for a great adventure and story. I can just picture it. Real pictures would go a long way.

Just getting my boat back in order after three long years... an my first real sailing trip next year will be to your area. Maybe I'll run into you... figuratively that is.

[Herschel]

Well, on the off chance that your home marina is evidence of your being a Marine aviator, may I offer the age old adage that any landing you (and your dog) can walk away from is a good landing! Your grace under pressure is to be admired. I've had the odd misjudgment at sea myself. Old shipmates still probably telling the stories. Hang in their.

[NiceAft]

jjcoltr2,

You and your dog had an adventure.

You mentioned that when the chain becomes visible, the anchor is clear from the bottom (not in those words).

30 feet of chain is desirable. It will throw off your system of knowing when the anchor is off the bottom, but it will give you superior anchoring in deeper water and choppy seas. You can always tie a bright cloth on the chain indicating water depth.

[Chinook]

Pretty helpless feeling, being pushed by a strong wind onto a lee shore. It's happened twice to me. First time was on Banks Lake, a large reservoir near Grand Coulee Dam. I anchored in the lee of Steamboat Rock, a scenic formation with 200 foot tall cliffs, in anticipation of a strong cold front. Winds up to 50 mph came up from the predicted direction, but then clocked around so the bulk of Steamboat Rock no longer afforded protection. Anchor was well set, however, the lake bottom failed. Anchor ripped a huge mass of weed from the bottom and we quickly dragged onto a narrow sand beach, located between 2 nasty rock piles. I had a spare anchor and chain on board, and once the wind eased off a bit, I was able to row out in the dinghy, set the second anchor, and kedge off the beach with the winch.

I got into a similar pickle while trying to negotiate a narrow, twisting channel into a nice, protected anchorage on the north end of Cat Island in the Bahamas. Wind was blowing around 15 knots on the beam. Channel was fairly narrow and only 4 or 5 feet deep. I underestimated the amount of side drift and got pushed up onto the sand shoreline along the side of the channel. This time I had to kedge off using two anchors, and I managed to turn the boat around, giving up on that inviting protected anchorage, which had proven too difficult to enter. We spent a somewhat bouncy night, anchored out in more open water, but at least we weren't being bounced around on a beach.

Lesson learned: a dinghy and a pair of anchors can prove mighty helpful in extracting from an unwelcome lee shore.