Wednesday, January 9, 2013

An Extra Adventure

Lots of fun this morning.  We decided to get away early because there were forecasted big winds. So a quick coffee, peanut butter on bread and off we went.  About 38 feet.  Because our anchor was fastened securely to the bottom.  

After trying to pull it off with brute force for half an hour or so we finally gave up.  Glen donned his bathing suit and dove on the anchor to see the problem.  He saw the anchor chain disappear into a maze of steel on one angle and our anchor off in another direction.  

Because Glen can hold his breath for an astonishing 12 seconds he thought he would be able to unwind the chain.  So down he went, the full 14 feet, to untangle the mess.  Well, it turns out that you can't do much in 12 seconds.  So Glen floated on the surface for 5 minutes or so, looking at the mess, pondering the problem.


Blue Pearl, floating idyllically, firmly secured to the bottom 
After a few more futile attempts to use the boat to pull us off, we made the mental decision ($$$) to see about getting professional help.  Glen dinghied over to the gas dock to see if someone knew a diver.  In 15 or 20 minutes a young man appeared and made towards the dinghy with his mask, snorkel and fins.  Glen volunteered to help with the tanks but the diver said he was afraid of tanks and that we should go.

Back at the Blue Pearl he jumped in and after about 5 minutes he surfaced and told us it was a mess.  He wanted to know which of the 3 anchors was ours!!!  He dove and dove and dove with a knife, a wrench and a rope. Finally we were able to attach the rope to an anchor - we hoped it was ours - and haul it up to the dinghy.  We unshackled the chain from the anchor and down he went with the chain.  He came up about three times saying, "One more time," and finally it was just one more time and the chain came free.
What he does best... supervise.
Turns out there was a caterpillar tread on the bottom decorated like a Christmas tree with chains and anchors.  

SO IF YOU ANCHOR AT CANE GARDEN BAY, DON'T DROP IT RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE DINGHY DOCK - GO TO ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER.

On the way back Glen asked him what we owed him.  He said whatever we thought was fair.  So Glen gave him $2.  No, actually he gave him everything in his wallet which was $80.  Glen was prepared to get him more if he asked.  The anchor is worth $400 and 200 feet of chain must be another $200+.  We suppose $80 is not bad pay for an hour of work but we wish we had given him more.

So we didn't get away early and we had 25 knots in our teeth for 4 hours.  But… we have our anchor!!!  And we are in Leverick Bay waiting to cross to Saint Maartin.

"The World" - anchored off Sir Richard's Necker Island

2 comments:

  1. Oh the perils and pitfalls , but worth it all.
    Patti

    ReplyDelete
  2. isn't cruising great! Glad you were able to rescue your anchor. Look forward to seeing you in Antigua - we will do a box wine sampling!

    ReplyDelete

Please sign your comment so we know who you are.