Commandeered to Cuba

[Franziska]

Ann, and if the anchor is gone some local person could weld something up for few bucks.
One side effect of communism has always been that folks got really creative and make things of their own to balance the need of unavailable daily goods.

Alternatively a heavy lump of metal could be used for a short period.
In ancient romain time they sometimes used heavy rocks as anchors.

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

^^^^^Franzisca is right, and probably easily found at a dump, which Cuba probably has.

I don't know about sourcing chain or line there, but they probably have both, maybe just not made up together. The chain is needed for disembarking cargo. And rope has many uses.

Just to have a way to anchor on arrival in Costa Rica, I'd say aniy old chain and line could be made to work. Even if you have to have an anchor watch.

The big deal is to not allow oneself to get too excited.

Ann

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Benz

Given that it's a straight shot to Costa Rica, I'd take my chances sailing there, tying up with halyard ends to the first wharf I found, and buying some line at the nearest hardware store.
Cuba will have clothesline at best--those who haven't been there can't imagine the scarcity of nearly everything.

Sounds like the best plan.. I would imagine most everything that can be gets recycled in Cuba so outsider skip rats would get sparse pickings, if any.
Chances of anyone sailing there with supplies of rope and chain during Covid season are exceeding slim methinks.

[Benz]

An even more sensible option (depending on location) might be to just boogie up to Key West or Miami--if anywhere on the north coast, that'll be closer, and get properly sorted for the trip. Given the damage the OP detailed at the beginning, he might need more than an anchor and rode to get seaworthy. How 'bout a dinghy? Weren't the sails damaged?

[Sailing Ohm]

Originally Posted by Franziska

Ann, and if the anchor is gone some local person could weld something up for few bucks.
One side effect of communism has always been that folks got really creative and make things of their own to balance the need of unavailable daily goods.

Alternatively a heavy lump of metal could be used for a short period.
In ancient romain time they sometimes used heavy rocks as anchors.

Off topic but Cuba isn’t communism... it’s a form of extreme socialism.
Communism doesn’t exist in the modern world outside of a few traditional cultures that practice subsistence living (think Amazon tribes or aboriginal).
It probably existed it Native American populations, Hawaii pre US contact, as well as Polynesian cultures. In fiction it is also the basis for the Star Trek federation...

Communism is a society where everyone contributes equally and goods/services are freely exchanged based on what’s needed at the time.

Any society that uses money as a basis for valuation is explicitly not communism by definition.

It’s a shame that more people don’t understand this...

[Franziska]

Thank you for the clarification. You are right.
Still what I said about creativity of the needy holds true for medium to strong socialism too.
This does usually not include western style social democracies though. Which is a very modest form.

Originally Posted by Sailing Ohm

Off topic but Cuba isn’t communism... it’s a form of extreme socialism.
Communism doesn’t exist in the modern world outside of a few traditional cultures that practice subsistence living (think Amazon tribes or aboriginal).
It probably existed it Native American populations, Hawaii pre US contact, as well as Polynesian cultures. In fiction it is also the basis for the Star Trek federation...

Communism is a society where everyone contributes equally and goods/services are freely exchanged based on what’s needed at the time.

Any society that uses money as a basis for valuation is explicitly not communism by definition.

It’s a shame that more people don’t understand this...

[sanibel sailor]

Ingenuity in remote areas runs strong. When I wrecked my motorcycle in Siberia, I thought it was totalled. Bent forks, broken engine guard, smashed cowling, bent disc rotor, etc... The village mechanic shop fixed it for $75, labor only as they did not require any new parts. Four guys for 6 hours. Things that would have been junked were fixed/straightened/welded/repaired. It wasn't quite as good as new, but rode me to Western Europe, then from Canada to Florida. Still running on those repairs.

[TeddyDiver]

Instead of chain or rope you could find cable instead, the only downside you need some kind of drum for it..

[Benz]

Originally Posted by TeddyDiver

Instead of chain or rope you could find cable instead, the only downside you need some kind of drum for it..

I suspect that cable would be as hard to find in Cuba as chain and rope. They simply don't have those things there, and what little there is is not available for sale.

[Franziska]

Heck, if it's just for an emergency delivery, take a spare sheet or halyard and anything heavy at the destination if you need to anchor for a short while or, better, go into a marina or other harbour or pick up a mooring.
You can sail without an anchor no sweat.

Similar if the dinghy has gone missing. On this one time occasion you can even swim to shore.

If there is a will there is a way. There is not even the need to anchor along the way, he is not on a sightseeing cruise, is he. Just sail to the nearest/easiest to reach port outside Cuba and fix anything necessary there.

Originally Posted by Benz

I suspect that cable would be as hard to find in Cuba as chain and rope. They simply don't have those things there, and what little there is is not available for sale.

[Russian007]

Okay, I see a Jim Carrey/Jeff Daniels movie. "Lloyd and Harry Go to Cuba"

[sailorboy1]

man that sounds worth seeing once it gets to redbox

[gandoka]

Ok....here's an update regarding Dancing Lions's epic adventure.

Not without a fair share of mishap and misadventure, including yet another crew member, a chilean chap with no previous ocean experience, that bailed from the trip after being seasick for three straight days, a broken boom in mid passage, a busted exhaust pipe that filled the boat's cabin and salon with smoke and soot, totally blackening the cockpit and dodger, running out of fuel, and being assited by a USCG cutter....the Lions finally arrived in Isla Mujeres a few weeks ago. My friend Bill has flown to Florida to retrieve a spare boom and a set of additional sails and will be flying back to the island next week. The plan is to refit the boat as well as possible and move it south to Rio Dulce, Guatemala, to get hauled out and receive much needed TLC while it remains on the hard through the impending hurricane season.

There are just too many good anecdotes about Bill's experiences in Cuba and the Lion's victories and tribulations for me to write down here. I'll let Bill be the one to share the story with you all.

There is definitely enough material for a book, or a movie.

Stay tuned!

[ben2go]

Originally Posted by gandoka

Ok....here's an update regarding Dancing Lions's epic adventure.

Not without a fair share of mishap and misadventure, including yet another crew member, a chilean chap with no previous ocean experience, that bailed from the trip after being seasick for three straight days, a broken boom in mid passage, a busted exhaust pipe that filled the boat's cabin and salon with smoke and soot, totally blackening the cockpit and dodger, running out of fuel, and being assited by a USCG cutter....the Lions finally arrived in Isla Mujeres a few weeks ago. My friend Bill has flown to Florida to retrieve a spare boom and a set of additional sails and will be flying back to the island next week. The plan is to refit the boat as well as possible and move it south to Rio Dulce, Guatemala, to get hauled out and receive much needed TLC while it remains on the hard through the impending hurricane season.

There are just too many good anecdotes about Bill's experiences in Cuba and the Lion's victories and tribulations for me to write down here. I'll let Bill be the one to share the story with you all.

There is definitely enough material for a book, or a movie.

Stay tuned!

I have friends that are currently in a marina in Rio Dulce. I'll give them a heads up, so they won't accidentally get in the way of the impending mishap. They are planning to to be there until after hurricane season.

[JPA Cate]

So, this whole story was about publicity?

Oh.

Ann

[StuM]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

So, this whole story was about publicity?

Oh.

Ann

Looking at a nautical sequel to Dumb and Dumber?