600 NM Trip and......... Danforths suck Saga Continues..

[Divecoz]

THEY ARE BRINGING A 32' FROM GRENADA TO ST. CROIX.. 3 UNPROVEN SAILORS AND A 65 Y.O. POWERBOATER..
My Brother the 65 Y.O. is one of the best divers any of you will ever meet ( should you be so honored )
with an aptitude to design and build and fix anything with nothing...( lots of people talk crap this guys does it ALL !!! )


Good morning. We got into Bequia yesterday. It was our worst day of sailing stormy raining on us 10' seas at one point, we healed over touching the toe rails!!! sh~t!!! eventually got uncomfortable but managed to keep" both ends "closed! We recorded (Ded and i dove down yo be sure the flukes of the danforth were dug in, there is 30' of chain on it) Brian and i took the dingy to shore, Alex realized the boat was dragging the anchor so Ded and her moved to another spot. We came back to the boat got "cleaned up" went to shore for a very good dinner. The harbor is open to the sea on the west side mountains on all other sides, wind blowing from the east, hard, so we deployed the plow anchor also. Went to bed at 8:30 to be woke up be siren horns @ 3am, the wind was now a full gale , with big waves, and we, were close to the protection of the high mountains, a boat behind us was dragging anchor and headed for another boat and that boat was trying to alert them. It ended well, we checked our position by lights on shore and felt we were holding, and tried to get some sleep. In the AM Ded and I dove to check the anchor, the plow had plowed A 10 to 12' ditch and had dug itself in so deep all you could see was the chain, the POS fortress was just laying worthlessly on top of the sand!We all have grown to trust the Areyto, she can take more than we can. Today is another windy day, we hope to push off early tomorrow. It is tight with 4 on board, but not bad two would be perfect. Brian is the lead sailor, Alex knows almost as much, Ded picked up allot from reading, Ded and Brian are unaffected by any seasickness, lucky bastards. At every anchorage small row boats come out to greet us and try to sell us rum, bananas,banana bread, fresh beggetts and bread, fruits, ore dispose of our trash for us (for pay of course) we bought a "hand" of bananas from one ans 12 fresh local oysters, the smallest ones you ever saw, he had to borrow a knife from us to shuck them, but the grilled up very tasty. Yesterday was the first day we didn't catch a black fin tuna for dinner, tho we tried the seas were so high, at one point we did an unplanned 360 quick spin, the boat forgave us but the two fishing lines were wrapper around the rudder till we got to our anchorage and could dive in and undo. Gonna go, talk soon,

[Gazmn]

Am glad brother & crew are fine

It was good reading wish there was more. Guess it's to be continued...

[Divecoz]

Gazmn:
All......... I have received so far, are two Text messages??? Yerp and one was just two senteces long.. None of us have heard much so far..!!! WTH is with that??
My Niece Alex is a published Author and I will assume, at some point she will submit something to someone? I expect no less than, a lengthy letter all about the trip once they return to St Croix..
10 foot seas to my brother are.... 10 feet above the surface.. He is quiet an experience Power Boater.. ( he has a Shamrock with twin 315 supercharged(?) Yanmar's) He has made Hundreds of trips 30 to 80 miles off shore he is an avid spear fisherman and has been diving since the mid 70's .. Has taken his boat from Port Charlotte around to Marathon once and made a few trips, down to The Dry Tortuga's etc. I was no less than surprised to read his issue with the Danforth.. I am waiting to hear and understand better about what he is calling The Plow..

[Russ]

This is a case where different anchors work in different bottoms. Danforths don't always work well in sand. CQR plows do. A sailor expecting different anchoring conditions will have more than one type of anchor onboard.

Hope you hear more from the crew soon.

[DaveB]

Divecoz,
I Sailed all the Leeward and Windward Islands including St.Croix and Granada for 3 years back in 1982 on my 35 ft.Alberg.
I had 5 anchors with two 35 lb CQRs on bow rollers with 300 ft. Of 3/8 BBB chain and others were a Danforth, Northhill and a Navy anchor. We only used the CQR in that whole area and relied on the chain to grip the bottom as most areas there is solid bed of coral rock below 6 inches of sand so you relied on both chain and anchor.
We always had a snub line to chain for shock control.(Chain actually acts as a snub line as it lays flat on ground and when a heavy gust hits it gradually lifts up)
We also never draged even in a 60 knot winds in St Martin. Key is chain in those areas.(always dive down in cristal clear waters in the Carribean to make sure anchor is set, tradewinds are constant 12-16 knots out of the east)
Here in SW Florida I have 30 ft. of 1/4 coil proof chain and last weekend we anchored in a cove across from the power plant on the OC waterway and draged with the danforth (first time draging) we re anchored and draged again, Teresa had a very hard time pulling the anchor as it was all very soft mud. No good for a danforth and a CQR or Claw would be much better.
If you hear from them tell them to use all chain, even the Danforth will hold if you give it a 7 to 1 scope with all chain in a heavy blow. (normally use a 3-1 scope with all chain)
Dave

Gazmn:
All......... I have received so far, are two Text messages??? Yerp and one was just two senteces long.. None of us have heard much so far..!!! WTH is with that??
My Niece Alex is a published Author and I will assume, at some point she will submit something to someone? I expect no less than, a lengthy letter all about the trip once they return to St Croix..
10 foot seas to my brother are.... 10 feet above the surface.. He is quiet an experience Power Boater.. ( he has a Shamrock with twin 315 supercharged(?) Yanmar's) He has made Hundreds of trips 30 to 80 miles off shore he is an avid spear fisherman and has been diving since the mid 70's .. Has taken his boat from Port Charlotte around to Marathon once and made a few trips, down to The Dry Tortuga's etc. I was no less than surprised to read his issue with the Danforth.. I am waiting to hear and understand better about what he is calling The Plow..

[uanhanlouee]

Was that a real Danforth (R) or one of those popular cheap knock-offs that wont hold a dinghy? A Fortress is not a Danforth! It's a light aluminum toy..

I use a 5# real danforth and it grabs first time all the time. I had a knock off but gave it away. So far it has held at up to 35 mph wind strenght with gusts to 40.

I also have an 8# Danforth for stays over a day. Sucker cost me 150 bucks.

[DaveB]

I have a Fortress 11 and a 8 lb danforth and a 14 lb type danforth. The Latter is the one that draged. It had almost same dimensions as the Fortress except shorter arm much heavy arm and fit perfect in anchor locker.
Never draged with this anchor and I am sure the fortress would have draged to. There was a condition that I couldn't find the cause as I had 30 ft. chain and a scope of 5-1 than reset at 7-1 and that soft mud just draged in 15 knots of wind. It was a fluke as we never drag except this one place.
I might add we did relocate ancorage just East of Railroad bridge (1/4 mile and instant hook, was very hard retriving anchor in morning)
Diffrent strokes for diffrent Folks.
We could have droped another anchor but better to go to a more secured holding ground.(slip sliding away is not my cup of tea for a good night cap)
It also could be you are correct in these other look alike anchors. I know the 8 lb danforth easy handled 40 knots of wind. But thats good holding ground.

Dave

Was that a real Danforth (R) or one of those popular cheap knock-offs that wont hold a dinghy? A Fortress is not a Danforth! It's a light aluminum toy..

I use a 5# real danforth and it grabs first time all the time. I had a knock off but gave it away. So far it has held at up to 35 mph wind strenght with gusts to 40.

I also have an 8# Danforth for stays over a day. Sucker cost me 150 bucks.

[mastreb]

I use a Fortress 11 with a 7lb. grapnel sent down the rode as a kellet. The kellet keeps the entire chain laying on the bottom, which dramatically increases the resistance to dragging, but they pull right up unlike a heavy anchor. Can't use them with an automatic winch because you have to take them off the rode when you're paying in. I'm not sure why they're not more popular.

[Divecoz]

I am not hearing much from these folks.. a Text every couple days.. at best....
Don has a 12,000 lb Shamrock and seems to know his anchors.. ( ?) That said he called one a plow and called it as he saw it.. I will get the total scoop once he is back in Florida.. As I see it, that could be a couple weeks more.. No doubt he will hang out at The Daughters House on St Croix for a few days?
I have a claw a fortress and a danforth.. I know Danforths hold REAL Good on steel structure at a 150 feet!!
Hahahaha because that is where I FOUND mine.. Some fisherman left it and about 150' of 1/2" line behind ..
I am happy to hear they are doing well.. Its quiet the Adventure for 3 Novice sailors and a Power boater..
DaveB.. My brother runs all chain on his Shamrock and I figure that's one suggestion he will be making for this boat as well..
I like you run 30 feet of chain and the one time I dragged I think it was more my lack of experience than any failing on the anchors end..
Like any physical Endevour there is always a learnning Curve...
DaveB... How about the last leg? 120 Miles between the last island and St Croix? Any Issues? Concerns Hints Bits of Wisdom? Is That a Transit / Shipping Lane????

[Divecoz]

The Saga Continues::::: I feel for having such limited sailing experience / almost NONE! I feel they are doing fabulously! 4 People on a 32' sailboat.. and my brother is 65 y.o... the other three are late 30's early 40's(?)

We made it to St. Lucia last night, had an overheating problem with the Yanmar, so we turned around and went to an anchorage we had passed earlier. The crossing was the longest one and the most uncomfortable, I was ready to hop a plane home and Alex wasn't far behind me,( Both Get sea sick) but not just because of the trip at sea but issues with Ded. He drives a boat like Lara drives a car. He was constantly bouncing between 30 and 60 degrees, tried to tell him to pick out a cloud and head for it, he would for a short time and then revert, so I hinted to Pick Out A XXXXing cloud!!!!! AND HEAD FOR IT!!!!
The seas were bad for the direction we wanted to go and the wind strong and not in the best direction either. We FINALLY, SAW our island, just a few hours ahead, but getting to it was the problem, so we cranked up the Yanmar and were motor sailing when both of the lures got hit by Mahi Mahi, we didn't shut down the motor fast enough, I was trying to get control of my fish, Alex hit the wrong lever on her rod and the reel got a horrific free spin. Then back lash and the line snapped, mean time my 4' big bull was leaping 4 & 5' into the air trying to shake the lure, and finally broke off. So we have no fish and have lost our best two lures. We have looked for new lures to no avail. Brian and I went ashore to find wifi, and water for the boat. We used 60 of the 90 gallons, and we found a laundry TOO! My shorts are trashed, I have washed some things but they dry in the salt air. Alex is doing laundry on the boat, Brian and I are splitting the cost of One load of laundry, so it will ONLY cost us $8 EACH! Believe me well worth it. He is charging batteries for the lap top while I E-mail you and have a Pina Colata....no spell check!
Don

[robbarnes1965]

I agree. It sounds like they are doing well.

I just got back last night from sailing 9 days in the BVI's and have no problem believing that laundry would cost $8. That said, I also found that we used very minimal clothing (a few bathing suits and rash guards or shirts). Tell your brother this trick: I did do a wash by putting some water in a bucket with some lemon Joy and storing it in the anchor locker while we sailed all day. It sloshed around plenty to get out sweat and salt. Almost as good as an electric washing machine. A quick rinse after with a fresh water in the bucket and we were good to go. DO NOT use salt water to wash however as it will take gallons of fresh to rinse. Works even better if you can get a hold of a bucket with a lid....

Rob

[Divecoz]

Hi Rob... Yes washing in salt would be a disaster... They, it appear are washing in fresh and hanging on rigging to dry.. That's where they get the salt mist / air.. $16 for 1 load of laundry I guess I am just spoiled with the prices on Cozumel ...

[DaveB]

If they are going to St. Croix than I would recommend them to take a dirrect route to St. Croix from St. Lucia. They will have the tradewinds aft of starboard beam. Nice comfort trip. If they have 200 lb test monofilement and a 60 lb 6 ft. leader.(lore use a crome head, red eyes and yellow feathers for Maui,yellow tuna,Horse eye jacks etc.)Trail that behind for fishing and use winch to haul in the fish. I had a 6x12 inch plywood with a channel in top and bottom to coil the line in.
No shipping channels back than doing that route.
Dave

DaveB... How about the last leg? 120 Miles between the last island and St Croix? Any Issues? Concerns Hints Bits of Wisdom? Is That a Transit / Shipping Lane????[/quote]

[Divecoz]

Dave I think what they have pulled off so far is NOTHING SHORT of Amazing! I Have meet no less than a few people who have sold their boats and quit sailing having done less... I do not believe that sailing across 400 MILES of open ocean is sound advice..The weather hasnt been Idyllic... Thats for sure..

If they are going to St. Croix than I would recommend them to take a dirrect route to St. Croix from St. Lucia. They will have the tradewinds aft of starboard beam. Nice comfort trip. No shipping channels back than doing that route.
Dave

[Catigale]

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