so we let go and returned home.
Yesterday morning the seas in Deshaies, Guadeloupe were flat with the surface looking mirrorlike. But Deshaeis winds are known to be fickle, and the holding is generally considered "challenging". I'm anchored in about 50 feet of water with just over 200 feet of chain put out. I would have used more, but the anchorage is often backwinded and the boats ahead of me are only in about 20-30 feet, so will have less scope out.
During the course of the morning the winds started picking up and funneling through the hills. Because the airmass is stable, the winds didn't separate and create the usual backwinding, but stayed laminar and that catabatic effect strengthened. For a while we had constant 20+ knots coming through and that started the fun and games. One empty boat dragged into a cruiser and it took some effort to untangle the anchors. I took a look topsides and saw a boat drifting away towards Montserrat and Mexico. The binoculars showed a dinghy and a paddleboard attached. I assumed someone was aboard and either asleep or oblivious and contacted @MarkofSeaLife to ask if he thought it likely someone was aboard. The boat was a bit too far for me head out alone in those seas and wind, as I wouldn't be able to easily return. After trying to get assistance via VHF on ch. 16 and not getting any volunteers I took another look and could discern that someone was now moving on deck. The problem solved itself.
Then came some constant 30 knots and that brought some excitement to the anchorage. The boat in front of was no longer 200 feet ahead but much closer. As I doubted I was dragging upwind, I shouted and waved at the 4 people on deck. Despite them looking around at the conditions, they hadn't noticed that they were dragging. They were getting their engine started and going forward to lift the chain as they dragged past where I'd been, only seconds before. I'd started my engine and with full throttle managed to get myself and my chain out of their way.
By now one Jeanneau had drifted far out. Two people called on VHF 16 to warn about a drifting boat, but when I hailed them seconds later asking if they would assist me in retrieving said vessel they were silent. I wasn't going out alone in those conditions, and that drifting boat had a ways to go before hitting land.
Another announcement came on VHF16 looking for additional help, so I volunteered and soon Peter, Tom and myself were dinghying to the now distant boat. We got aboard and the boat was locked up tight and the main breaker was off as the engine had no power. I thought about just forcing a hatch handle to get in when I looked at the sliding companionway hatch locking assembly. With a screwdriver I undid 2 screws and within 15 seconds we were inside the boat. Main breaker on, windlass breaker on. I got the engine fired up and drove forward while Peter and Tom got the chain up. There wasn't much of it - under 100 feet in total with no rope rode.
Back in Deshaies we tried to anchor in about 20 feet of water close in, while the winds were howling, with no luck. So we ended up using a big mooring ball. I don't know whose it is, and must admit that I don't care.
There's still nobody aboard today - so had nobody assisted yesterday, that boat might have become lost!
During the course of the morning the winds started picking up and funneling through the hills. Because the airmass is stable, the winds didn't separate and create the usual backwinding, but stayed laminar and that catabatic effect strengthened. For a while we had constant 20+ knots coming through and that started the fun and games. One empty boat dragged into a cruiser and it took some effort to untangle the anchors. I took a look topsides and saw a boat drifting away towards Montserrat and Mexico. The binoculars showed a dinghy and a paddleboard attached. I assumed someone was aboard and either asleep or oblivious and contacted @MarkofSeaLife to ask if he thought it likely someone was aboard. The boat was a bit too far for me head out alone in those seas and wind, as I wouldn't be able to easily return. After trying to get assistance via VHF on ch. 16 and not getting any volunteers I took another look and could discern that someone was now moving on deck. The problem solved itself.
Then came some constant 30 knots and that brought some excitement to the anchorage. The boat in front of was no longer 200 feet ahead but much closer. As I doubted I was dragging upwind, I shouted and waved at the 4 people on deck. Despite them looking around at the conditions, they hadn't noticed that they were dragging. They were getting their engine started and going forward to lift the chain as they dragged past where I'd been, only seconds before. I'd started my engine and with full throttle managed to get myself and my chain out of their way.
By now one Jeanneau had drifted far out. Two people called on VHF 16 to warn about a drifting boat, but when I hailed them seconds later asking if they would assist me in retrieving said vessel they were silent. I wasn't going out alone in those conditions, and that drifting boat had a ways to go before hitting land.
Another announcement came on VHF16 looking for additional help, so I volunteered and soon Peter, Tom and myself were dinghying to the now distant boat. We got aboard and the boat was locked up tight and the main breaker was off as the engine had no power. I thought about just forcing a hatch handle to get in when I looked at the sliding companionway hatch locking assembly. With a screwdriver I undid 2 screws and within 15 seconds we were inside the boat. Main breaker on, windlass breaker on. I got the engine fired up and drove forward while Peter and Tom got the chain up. There wasn't much of it - under 100 feet in total with no rope rode.
Back in Deshaies we tried to anchor in about 20 feet of water close in, while the winds were howling, with no luck. So we ended up using a big mooring ball. I don't know whose it is, and must admit that I don't care.
There's still nobody aboard today - so had nobody assisted yesterday, that boat might have become lost!
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