Addendum to Posting for Monday 12.03.2007

As the crew of the Maggie B we often are not privileged to proofread the daily updates prior to their posting. As such we are often as surprised as anyone else to learn what happened in the past 24 hours, or at least what the Captain seems to remember happening. Though I am happy to report that everything in updates for December 3rd appears to have happened in reality, it calls for an addendum. The ‘we had trouble’ with the anchor falls woefully short in describing what the crew lists as in the top ten dumbest ideas of all time.

The anchoring process did begin well with the crew working as a well oiled machine; lowering the Reep, setting up and dropping the anchor, playing out the shore lines, and looking ever so good doing it. It was not until Alden and Curtis were fighting a stiff breeze in the Reep to get a shore line set up that the anchor began dragging (’The Italians,’ authors of our cruising guide, gave the spot a ‘fair’ rating, one needs to realize that ‘fair’ falls well below ‘good’ ‘very good’ and ‘excellent’) Returning to the Maggie B, new options were discussed with us settling on rowing the anchor ashore to the rocky peninsula as a bow line. (Alden’s note: I am loath to admit myself an early proponent of this plan, but I would soon pay for this folly.) Positioning Reep under the anchor while trying not to get dragged under the bow, as the Maggie B needed to keep some forward momentum into the wind, we were only able to lower it between the two forward seats and not in the stern (bad idea number 2). To call rowing the Reep into the wind, laden with an anchor, and dragging heavy chain a challenge would be a small understatement, especially as the anchor’s position meant that the chain continuously wrapped itself around Curtis’ oar. With the help of good sailorly cursing and muscle tearing strokes we got close enough to shore to begin shipping oars only to have a gust push away the Maggie B, pulling the chain, pop out Curtis’ oar, and spin the Reep. Starting over Alden and Curtis again made for the shore, pretending not to hear the Captain’s gentle suggesting that the anchor be brought back. Again within striking distance, and refusing to fall off again, Alden hopped out into water putting the future of his progeny in doubt. Throwing out their backs, the (incredibly handsome and strong) shore party dragged the anchor as far as possible before wedging the tip under the biggest bolder and covering the rest with all the nearby stones. Too tired or modest to cheer they returned to the now safely secured Maggie B, grudgingly allowing themselves to be replaced for the next two (easy) shorelines.

So yes, ‘we had trouble’ with anchoring that night.