A Swell Xmas

A big swell arrived for Xmas, and I had to move to a safer anchorage. I realized this when I found myself looking up at the ocean while securing Audrey on deck. Sweet Jesus! We are outta here! 

It’s a tricky thing, hauling anchor while the wind and ocean push you toward shore. I don’t recommend it. The engine started (praise god; there had been trouble a few days before) and I quickly went through the departure checklist. I also tried to remember to breathe, as I was trembling all over. These were big waves crashing too close for comfort. And the tide was dropping, which meant the break was moving closer.

Once everything was prepped, I timed the lull. Would it be enough to pull up the anchor before the next big set? Luckily, it was lengthy, but it did mean rolling through more scary swell. I throttled forward each time, keeping Habibi perpendicular, though still leashed. 

Now! Go! I locked the wheel and sprinted forward to activate the electric windlass button at the bow that winches the chain, but before the anchor reached its nest – we still had 25 feet to go out of 125 — the chain tangled and I could not work it loose. The lull was almost over – shit! 

Turns out I can haul a 45-pound anchor by hand. Now it’s only dangling ten feet down, definitely above the seabed. We were loose, but turning abeam the swell. 

I locked the chain so it wouldn’t drop down again (hands shaking, c’mon!) and ran back to the helm. Unlocked the wheel, thumbed her into gear, and accelerated. Not too fast, because I wasn’t positive the hanging anchor was absolutely free (the water was murky), but it was, we were moving forward, and soon I passed others who had moved farther from shore earlier. 

Yes. The two boats closest to the beach had moved the day before, while four others (including me) did not. I didn’t think it was that bad until the wall of water scared the bejeezus out of me. Perspective is everything.

When I was calmer (and in the middle of the bay), I retrieved a hammer, knocked the chain loose, fed it into the locker below, then rearranged it so the electric windlass could haul it up again. Hello, anchor, nice to see you! Backwards? Good enough for now.

It took hours to recover. The new anchorage is closer to the marina, and full of boats from all over. A woman on a catamaran waved while I was circling for a good spot. But to my surprise, I feel comfortable in the crowd, and even join the morning check-in via VHF.

I didn’t want to leave that old, familiar, scary anchorage (relationship, job). But I’m sure glad I did. I’m looking forward to meeting more capitanas.