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Med-moor anchor retrieval?

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by SATPHONE, Dec 28, 2021.

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  1. SATPHONE, Dec 28, 2021
    #1
    SATPHONE

    SATPHONE New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 18, 2014
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    Essex
    I've been watching yachts pull in and out of Port Gustavia on a daily basis this week. On some occasions, they are retrieving the anchor with the windlass. On other occasions the anchor looks to be floated and or lifted by a local service and returned to the vessel? What are the options for retrieving a large set of anchors from a med moor? What if these anchors are somehow tangled with adjacent anchors?

    Happy Holidays,

    David

    FYI - This is the webcam:

  2. Pascal, Dec 28, 2021
    #2
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    I don’t know how they do it in Gustavia (I used to med moor my little 25 footer there in the early 90s when the dock was usually empty...).

    In some
    Places like nantucket they have divers to assist setting and retrieving anchors to make sure they don’t get tangled up.
  3. Ken Bracewell, Dec 28, 2021
    #3
    Ken Bracewell

    Ken Bracewell Senior Member

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    The divers in Gustavia use lift bags to float the anchor (and sometimes a second to lift the chain). The boat's windlass is then used to pull the anchor and chain back to the boat. The diver will lift and lower the anchor in order to untangle the chains as the anchor is retrieved. This is the same process used in Nantucket.
    When you arrive, you drop your anchor as you please, and then you pay to have the diver untangle as you leave.
    On occasion the divers will be used to re-set the anchor or take any slack out of the chain after the boat is at the dock.
  4. Capt Ralph, Dec 28, 2021
    #4
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    I can imagine out loud (in text), not only are you trying not to tangle up with your neighbors anchor, but not destroy the quality of the bottom.
    If the anchors are just snatch loose and drug before lifting off the bottom, The anchor holding bottom will not be so firm in a few years, months (weeks?).
    Last thought; wind & current changes. I could imagine in text, two spread anchors may be deployed. You know they are crossing other anchors.

    Sounds like good money for a diver and dink pusher.
  5. ychtcptn, Dec 29, 2021
    #5
    ychtcptn

    ychtcptn Senior Member

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    I love watching those that think they can do it without the divers, not common in SBH but seen a few times in ACK.
  6. olderboater, Dec 29, 2021
    #6
    olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    No different than those who run aground in various places because they don't need a pilot boat or pilot.