Anchoring During Boat Show in Annapolis

[nickmerc]

I need to know if I am being too much of a jerk about something.

I have my boat on Back Creek in Annapolis. It is right across Port Annapolis Marina. This is one of the most narrow parts of the creek and it is renowned for having poor holding. The creek is only a few hundred feet wide at this location and is around 10 ft MLLW. This is also a main thoroughfare for about 90% of the boats that use the creek. Local ordnances state that boats are not allowed to anchor closer than 75 feet to a dock. There is a gale warning for tomorrow which will include a 180deg shift in winds. Now you know the setting.

As is expected Boat Show brings tons of transients. Most are very nice people and willing to work with the locals. However, there are always some exceptions. The local slip holders (including myself) have been able to keep this area clear. Today I walked down to the boat to do some work and I saw a 45' sloop anchored about 50' off of my dock. I asked him if he planned to be there for a few hours or if he planned to stay. He stated that he planned to stay for the show. I then proceeded to ask him if he would relocate since he was too close to the dock, the holding is poor, and there is a gale warning for tomorrow. He assured me that his vast experience and several circumnavigations guaranteed that he will not drag and that he has no issue docking a 27' boat with only 50' of room to back into a slip. I tried to convince him he needed to move. Anyway after a few minutes of this I gave up and contacted the harbormaster. The harbormaster had the transient relocate.

In the end I got what I wanted but I am wondering if I am being a jerk about the situation. This is not a one time occurrence. This happens several times during boat show.

I see these reasons from my side:
- I and my slip neighbors pay to keep our boats here and deserve to have access to our slips
- 5 boats have dragged this season who anchored in this area causing damage to boats on my dock and at other marinas
- There are several free and city run mooring balls all around Annapolis that could be used
- There is plenty of space up the Severn river which is 10 minutes away
- There is no way someone can put enough scope out to properly anchor and allow for the boat to swing

I see these reasons from their side:
- Back creek is very well located in relation to resupplying and for access to downtown
- Back creek is reasonably well sheltered
- It is very crowded this time of year so any open water will do

Let the judging begin.
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Glass Bongs

[killarney_sailor]

I can't disagree with you at all. I anchored in Back Creek last year and finally gave up and took a mooring right in the back corner of BC since it was just getting craz,y boats were so close together. When I was on the can there was one day when it was a bit breezy (25 kt?), not close to a gale and boats were dragging all over the place. The mooring had a pretty long pendant and I woke up one morning to find the dinghy of an anchored boat on my side of the buoy. The harbormaster came along shortly after and very firmly made sure that he moved.

Would make sense to outlaw anchoring in BC and add a lot more moorings. They could also cut the mooring charge a bit too I think. I seem to remember that it was $25 with no weekly rate. That would help cruisers on a budget.

[carl762]

No, you're not being a jerk. He is/was.

On a similar vein, we have this Greek Festival every 1st, 2nd and 3rd of October in my neighborhood. Without fail, A$$hats actually park in other peoples' driveways, or block them, basically thinking they own the *(#))#)# neighborhood. Drives me nuts. This weekend, I'm escaping to the boat.

Again, you're not being a jerk. They're multiplying too. Scares me.

[speciald]

Call the Annapolis Habour Master. He will move them or tow them, their choice. He is the one that survey's the anchored boats around show time.

[eryka]

I don't see anything jerky about your actions. The local regs say you need to be 75 feet away from the docks, and whether "he" thinks he can get into the slip in 50 feet instead of 75 is completely irrelevant (and may or may not be true anyway). Why did this guy assume the regulation limit it didn't apply to him? Because it was inconvenient? GRRRRR!

Glad you were able to get the harbormaster to come by to enforce it.

[sailingdog]

Not being a jerk at all...he was... why does he think that it is okay for him to anchor someplace it ISN'T allowed.

[MJBrown]

Based on what happened a month ago with the last storm I dont blame you for wanting him out of there. Especially since there's yet another storm coming tonight. I help deliver boats to and from the show and at times we've found Back Creek so crowded it's been difficult to find your way through to the marinas. I can't imagine what would happen in those conditions should yet another storm blow through.

[Garffin]

Not at all! Sounds like that guy might have circumnavigated one too many times  I know some people have no common sense at all. If you’re not local and you come into an anchorage and someone ask you to please move for whatever reason you should do so without question and then thanks them for the advice.

[nickmerc]

Thanks guys. That is what I thought. Just to add to the story, I looked out my window last night and only about half of the boats had an anchor light one. Of those that did I would say a third of them were using only those solar pathway lights.
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1SquirtyTeen live

[eryka]

Yes, but are they in the same places they were in when you went to sleep? We haven't seen anyone drag yet, but the winds aren't up yet either.