Tying To The Shore - mad

[NornaBiron]

We are anchored in a quite beautiful bay on Symi, Greece. All day there have been numerous boats coming and going, anchoring around us and causing no problems to each other. At 6pm (with the light fading as we have sheer cliffs on three sides which block the sun from 4pm) a gullet comes in (he is now only the fourth boat in the bay as everyone else has gone home), drops his anchor and ties to the shore so that he is only 57m away from us (we are at full stretch away from him due to gusty winds). When we swam to our anchor and tried to explain that if the wind changed we would hit him he shrugged his shoulders and told us to tie to the shore. We are anchored off the middle of the beach, there are no trees or rocks behind us to tie to. We are of that strange ilk that believes that our anchor will perform better if the boat is bow to the wind not beam on, therefore we don't tie to the shore unless we absolutely have to. The gullet skipper wasn't taking any notice of our concerns so we moved away and reanchored. Ten minutes after we'd settled and swum to check the hook the gullet decided he didn't like it and left - the air was very blue. Once he'd gone we moved back to our original position.

As far as we are concerned, tying to the shore adds to any potential problems that may occur if there are sudden, severe wind changes: there are now shorelines to deal with as well as getting the anchor up to move if necessary. We understand that in very popular areas it may be polite to tie to the shore so that more boats can get in to enjoy the surroundings. However, in a bay that previously held 30 boats and now holds 4, was it really necessary to mess up everyone elses swinging circle so that the gullet could be 'safely' tied to a rock?

It appears that the gullets are not content with messing up their own anchorages in Turkey, they also want to spread the hassle to Greece!

[thinwater]

I have learned that ~ 80% of the folks who anchor too closely or badly will leave before nightfall, or will move. Generally I wait until well after dinner to worry about moving. Most cruisers anchor more wisely.

[NornaBiron]

Originally Posted by thinwater

I have learned that ~ 80% of the folks who anchor too closely or badly will leave before nightfall, or will move. Generally I wait until well after dinner to worry about moving. Most cruisers anchor more wisely.

Agreed, but the gullet that comes in at 6pm in fading light is usually staying for the night!

[monte]

I agree with not tying to shore overnight. It's fun during the day but we almost always cast off the shore lines and swing at night. It can be difficult in tight spaces as you take up a lot more room swinging. Sounds like the guy was a wanchor, glad he left

[NornaBiron]

Originally Posted by monte

Sounds like the guy was a wanchor, glad he left

So were we, he could have left 20 minutes earlier though and then we wouldn't have disturbed our beautifully deep set anchor!

[Ex-Calif]

Not sure what you want in this thread other than commiserating.

- He was a wanker
- You made your point to him
- He may have left because he thought about it and was embarrassed

He may not do it again.

I probably would have waited until a wind shift to move my boat or until I was sure he was staying. You don't say when it gets dark and re-anchoring in the dark is no fun.

[DoubleWhisky]

Hi NornaBiron

I think the main reason for the gulet to prefer tying to the shore was lack of confidence in her anchor.

Most gulets have reasonably big and heavy anchors, but of older design mainly.

You can trust Your Spade in the wind shift, it will just rotate level, may be with small list and will remain set. On the other hand there are a lot of anchors with tendency to break out in the wind shift and with little or no capability to reset in strong enough wind.

It is quite reasonable to expect that the wind in somewhat protected bay of Simi at this time of year can reach twenty - twenty some knots, but will not exceed thirty - thirty some knots. With well set anchor You can ride the crosswind of this force Med moored (with tight rode and stern lines), but chances of resetting broken out old pattern anchor in such wind are minimal.

The same is true about smaller yachts with flat anchors. Think a boat with reasonably sized FOB HT anchor or other anchor of Brittany kind (quite popular in area). When reasonably set, will hold the boat in quite a much of crosswind Med moored, but will rather not reset once broken out.

Of course, they should choose their spot for med mooring properly.
The gulets are the plague - I do agree

Cheers

Tomasz

[barnakiel]

We tied to the shore countless times never had an issue.

One anchor in deep water one on the beach (a line to a palm or a rock, if they are available).

b.

[MarkJ]

If you tie to the shore and drag you have precious seconds till you are on the rockery.

I hate it, and dont gave the right lines for it. Those reels of 1 inch webbing tape must be hundreds of meters long.

[DoubleWhisky]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

If you tie to the shore and drag you have precious seconds till you are on the rockery.

I hate it, and dont gave the right lines for it. Those reels of 1 inch webbing tape must be hundreds of meters long.

24, 35. 56 or 70 meters actually

[DoubleWhisky]

The following links are not about tying to the shore, nevertheless they are about gulet and I found them quite interesting...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l57bCBwr_9s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dftz...8F020DE2029CE8

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by DoubleWhisky

The following links are not about tying to the shore, nevertheless they are about gulet and I found them quite interesting...

Theres times to use full throttle. and it was when he was first coming out. I think he needed to scrape that port side rock wall at full speed.

there but for the grace of god go us all.

[Ex-Calif]

wow that sucks...

1 - I think surfers have an insight to the wave sets. There was a period of no breakers - that's when you go. He couldn't have had worse timing.
2 - This was no place to be timid. Creeping out to the end of the breakwater and then applying throttle was not the good plan. That's a heavy boat. Full head of steam (5+ knots) and let the momentum carry you through
3 - Wasn't quite high tide but still didn't look like more than a foot or so low
4 - Good video to show the guys who claim small outboards are OK for cruising

Makes the guy with the 56hp Westsail 32 seem smart - LOL.

[DoubleWhisky]

Originally Posted by Ex-Calif

Wasn't quite high tide but still didn't look like more than a foot or so low

Crete is not tidal

By the way - if You follow the second YouTube link You will find the set of 5 videos covering all the calamity...

[Ex-Calif]

Originally Posted by DoubleWhisky

Crete is not tidal

By the way - if You follow the second YouTube link You will find the set of 5 videos covering all the calamity...

So why is there a ring around the rocks? Did someone leave the bathtub plug out?

Just curious.

PS - I think I've seen enough of that train wreck - :-(