The romantic notion of a secluded anchorage vs. real life

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by Dave9111

Lake St. Clair is sort of a special case. There are a lot of boats on that lake. Lake Erie and Huron, not so much.

I guess it’s all relative to what you’re used to. I found Lake Erie to be quite busy when I passed through a few years ago. St. Clair also. Most of L. Huron is not so busy, but local areas are, and most especially Georgian Bay and the North Channel.

[Cheechako]

Seclusion is there if you seek it out.

[capn_billl]

Originally Posted by Stu Jackson

There's nice little island up in these here parts with two anchorages available. One is crowded all the time. The other one is empty almost all the time because there is a BIG rock at the entrance. I haven't yet explained to anyone else that since the rock is marked clearly, and won't be moving in my lifetime, that it's easy in-easy out. Keeps the crowds in the other anchorage. I have't told the cruising guide folks either...

That's kind of my deal, I'll see a hundred boats packed into an anchorage, and another inlet a few miles away with not a single boat, ....my first thought is "what's wrong with anchoring there, is there an unmarked hazard?".

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by capn_billl

That's kind of my deal, I'll see a hundred boats packed into an anchorage, and another inlet a few miles away with not a single boat, ....my first thought is "what's wrong with anchoring there, is there an unmarked hazard?".

More likely its not got a Tiki bar..

[john61ct]

no cellphone internet

[Don C L]

I may have missed it, but I am sure some folks prefer the company in a more populated anchorage out of a need for feeling a bit more secure... you know, if I drag, or get hurt or something, there is someone nearby to help out.

[Sojourner]

Originally Posted by Don C L

I may have missed it, but I am sure some folks prefer the company in a more populated anchorage out of a need for feeling a bit more secure... you know, if I drag, or get hurt or something, there is someone nearby to help out.

I'm sure this must play into it, but it's funny how the reality is the exact opposite: in a secluded anchorage, you control as many variables as possible, many many more than in one with others. You know your skills, scope, ground tackle, experience, and there is no one around to drag into you requiring you to need help, or to mow you down as you take a swim or dinghy to shore....

[Don C L]

Originally Posted by Sojourner

I'm sure this must play into it, but it's funny how the reality is the exact opposite: in a secluded anchorage, you control as many variables as possible, many many more than in one with others. You know your skills, scope, ground tackle, experience, and there is no one around to drag into you requiring you to need help, or to mow you down as you take a swim or dinghy to shore....

Oh yeah I agree completely, I'm just thinking of the folks I see locally at times. Another thing may be that if they see a crowded anchorage next to an empty one they may think there is something wrong with the empty one. Or another possibility is if you have already spent one or two or three weeks with the sensory deprivation of only blue sea and blue sky, you're probably ready for some human contact.

[daydreamer]

There are lots of answers to the OP's questions. Many good ones already given. I'm going to focus on one not yet mentioned.

Use vs. Storage

Most marinas are full of boats being stored, not ones actively being used. Ditto for many mooring fields. Almost no one stores their boat at anchor. This varies by location, of course, but if you subtract out the boats not being used, many marinas and mooring fields would not appear so crowded.

[Dockhead]

If you expect to reach that kind of place within weekend sailing range of a major city, you will be challenged in most cases (exceptions -- Stockholm, Copenhagen, Helsinki).


The flip side of the romantic vision is that you have to put in some miles to get there, maybe thousands. It doesn't come neatly packaged and purchasable with a weekend's worth of time.


There are plenty of lovely places which are really as you describe. The entire archipelago from Vastervik in Sweden to the border between Finland and Russia is like that -- a thousand miles of millions of islands, where you might spend a whole summer without sharing an anchorage with even one other boat even once. Where you can wander around on private property by law, and roam as you like.


I guess Newfoundland and Labrador are like that. Iceland is like that. The Western Isles of Scotland are like that. I guess Alaska is like that. I guess Norway is like that.


If you don't like what you've got around you, sail on, as Boatman61 said!

[Simi 60]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

If you expect to reach that kind of place within weekend sailing range of a major city, you will be challenged in most cases (exceptions -- Stockholm, Copenhagen, Helsinki).


The flip side of the romantic vision is that you have to put in some miles to get there, maybe thousands. It doesn't come neatly packaged and purchasable with a weekend's worth of time.

We are the only boat in an anchorage right now and less than 10 miles from probably the biggest marina on the east coast of Australia.
I could go to several other spots around here and have no one near me as well.

[BingoBird]

Originally Posted by wtmf

moorings are owned. the wind and sun are free.
if you ate lonely stsy in the city and vacation on a boat? have you noticed that MOST vlog's take place NOT sailing?? i am still waiting for a vlogger to be mostly sailing.

Wind and sun are free? Sure, unless you sail some areas of Croatia. They are charging for anchoring in some spots. So i guess wind is free? Nuts.

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

If you expect to reach that kind of place within weekend sailing range of a major city, you will be challenged in most cases (exceptions -- Stockholm, Copenhagen, Helsinki).>>>>>>>>>>>

...and San Francisco, too. Weird, huh?

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Simi 60

We are the only boat in an anchorage right now and less than 10 miles from probably the biggest marina on the east coast of Australia.
I could go to several other spots around here and have no one near me as well.

Cool! I've never been to the Antipodes so don't know anything about cruising there, but I'm not surprised to hear this!


Reinforces the point that you should sail on, if you don't like the crowds where you are now.

[Pegu Club]

Originally Posted by Jammer

Dylan Winter. http://keepturningleft.co.uk.


But I do agree that he's a special case.

Keep Turning Left is a really great vlog, stumbled onto it some years back, recommend it to those who have had enough of the T&A vlogs. Dylan is a sailor through and through.

Fair winds,