Local Knowledge

[FlyingCloud1937]

When someone offers local knowledge you should at least consider it.
This past September we were anchored off Doe Oay Orcas island.

A fellow his wife and children came in and dropped hook. I rowed over and suggested they take a stern line to shore to keep their bow up into Rosario Straits. They came by in the morning and thanked me.

Another fellow and his wife came in and prepared to drop hook within talking distance from us. I suggested that he need to drop his hook further from shore. As there is only cabbage and rock where you are now.

He came back with I've been boating for 15 years, and this is where I'm dropping. As they rowed to shore i said you might re-consider. He politely told me to mind my own business.

When the rowed around the corner in the morning this is what they saw.




They got about half way, and then turned around. They came back an hour latter. I suggested they call vessel assist, before the tide returns.

He asked if I could call them for him, to which I did. They showed up assessed the situation and quoted him $1500.00 US plus towing time.

He protested that he was a member, and it should be free. They said you are hard aground and this is vessel salvage. After about an hour of worrying he finaly agreed to assistance.

VA called for a larger boat, and it took a full 3 hrs before they could get the boat off. It bent the rudder, and broke the well mounted outboard.

Lloyd

[Golden Echo]

Wow that was a hard teaching!!!

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[colemj]

They anchored their boat and then spent the night ashore? Just making sure I read that correctly.

Mark

[GPSocal]

My mind is made up. Don't bother me with facts!


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t

[maxingout]

Local knowledge is worth its weight in gold. I use local knowledge, but I don't fully trust it. I put the anchor down and I put both engines in full reverse to see if the anchor will hold. That settles the matter for me.

[delmarrey]

The PNW can be tricky! And the farther north one goes the worse it gets. One has to calculate for tide heights, currents, bottom conditions and depths. There were several times I had to Med moor or drop a stern anchor due to conditions. In one location I had to tie off to two mooring balls to keep the boat from doing the pendulum act all night.

And one has to watch out for the other guy who swings into you or drags anchor when that Nor'wester comes at night. Taking advise from strangers is hard. But when one is out of their zone its best to listen, at least. Hopefully, the school of hard knocks will stick in the mind.

In the picture, it looks like all they had to do is wait for the tide to come back in.

[FlyingCloud1937]

Doe Bay

In a South Easter

[FlyingCloud1937]

Doe Bay festival

a lesser time

[Old Snipe]

At least you were nice enough to warn the guy FlyingCloud.

[FamilyVan]

I know many very good sailors who operate on local knowledge alone, no real knowledge of navigation what so ever. They get around great in the areas they know well. Neat pic, good story.

[Boatyarddog]

I suppose the Two buoys were taken?
Not good holding bottom there, in a blow.


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[Jim Cate]

In the picture, it looks like all they had to do is wait for the tide to come back in.

Looks that way to me as well... an anchor offshore and some patience might have saved a few bucks and some self respect.

But then I wasn't there...

Jim

[FlyingCloud1937]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Looks that way to me as well... an anchor offshore and some patience might have saved a few bucks and some self respect.

But then I wasn't there...

Jim

Originally Posted by FlyingCloud1937

When someone offers local knowledge you should at least consider it.







VA called for a larger boat, and it took a full 3 hrs before they could get the boat off. It bent the rudder, and broke the well mounted outboard.

Lloyd

Besides the next high tide was going to be 2ft lower then the tide that put her there. As it was VA, had to run a line to the top of the mast with one boat, and the second boat towed from the bow cleats.

Once she was floated, she had no outboard power, due to the broken well mount. She had no steerage under sail due to the rudder bent onto the hull.

The tow looked like a ZigZag due to the bent rudder. They had to almost stop every 200 yards, and re-point the boat. All the way to Anacortes. I'm guessing but about a5-6 hr tow, under the conditions.

Lloyd

[weavis]

I usually smile at peoples stupidity when it comes back to bite them. In this case, there is a sense of sadness at the incident. A quick look round on his part would have seen OTHERS having secured their vessel in the suggested manner.

People dont do that for fun.

Thanks for the recounting and photos........

[RKsailsolo]

The story and pics are a great recount of what each of us imagines what is possible if your not prepared.