Last week, for the second time in as many days, our Sheer Tenacity was under threat from a dragging French ketch. He is STILL determined to go round the Horn, despite inadequate ground tackle and a manual windlass.On the first occassion, I was helping Chris Hull deploy a safety anchor from his bow in a Southerly buster. He was on a mooring bouy in a congested anchorage, and was understandably worried about the condition of the ground tackle. Tinker and I reversed in 25 knots to drop a 20kg CQR 30mts ahead of the mooring bouy , while Chris paid out the rode and made fast. I then headed back towards Sheer Tenacity , who was holding firm on our 30kg Bruce, and 50mts of 10mm chain. Mary was standing on the bow yelling at this French Fellow, who was dragging down on us, sideways , while trying to pull UP his anchor on the manual windlass. Mary's yells finally produced results, and his wife started the engine, and just managed to avoid us. He then proceeded to power around, looking for another place to anchor, wisely out of our earshot! But not far enough, and still upwind! Two days later , we went through exactly the same drama, and once again he dragged 100mts down towards us, and only just avoided taking out our bowsprit , when I exhorted him to START YOUR FROGGING ENGINE!!!
Jeremy and I had shared a few laughs about Brazilian anchoring techniques, which usually involve trying to get as close as possible to the beach, and tossing out an undersized anchor attached to a few metres of chain, and a piece of string ! Thankfully, they are mainly day/fair weather sailors, and have not been around when things get nasty. But we have been advised to excercise caution when in close proximity to some French yachts! Suggestions about keeping a safe swing circle are normally acknowledged by their National single digit salute! Our Fellow was too busy winding chain, to waste time saluting, so our kindness went unacknowledged. Thankfully, he then chose to re anchor about a mile away from us.......leaving just enough room for another Fellow, to squeeze in on his 48ft blue steel ketch, and drop his anchor and 20 mts, on the run, wrong way to the prevailing wind, almost on top of our Bruce. I was en route to refill water jugs, so detoured past him to point out this fact, and that we had LOTS of chain out because of the sudden strong southerly winds. He smiled, and as is their norm, ignored me.
Yesterdays last fish and chips lunch in Abrooa was cut short, by a sudden, and violent wind, which preceded the front. As we Tinkered our way back to the boat, we watched with relief, as the big Blue ketch, dragged his way between Sheer Tenacity, and Jervon, and only just managed to avoid the rocks half a mile downwind. He took off across the bay blowing blue smoke, as he powered his way against the 30-40knots of wind, to seek shelter . We took turns on anchor watch, from 15.00hrs until 02.30 the this morning, when the gale abated. During the night, nine large trawlers and fishing boats came in to seek shelter from the elements, and we were once again very pleased that we have chosen the ground tackle we have, and take the time and trouble to set the hook properly! Don't they teach them this in France and Brazil, or are they just slow learners?? Mind you, poor technique is not the sole prerogative of the Latins . We have witnessed a fellow South African, proud of his amount of chain, drop his hook, and all 80 mtrs of chain on top of it, in a heap, like a doggy doo-doo, when he's only 40 mts from the beach! One can never afford to be too casual (or arrogant), and even when you think you have done everything by the book, the sea can, and will often, still teach you a lesson!
Next stop Nitaroi.
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