Storm At Anchor In The Isles Of Scilly | Sailing Kittiwake – Ep. 2
Sailing 6 years ago 24,921 views
We got stuck in a storm at anchor! In this episode we complete our boat work and sail to the Isles of Scilly. We also endure a storm at anchor and call a Mayday Relay for another yacht, which was blown onto the rocks. Sorry for the lack of footage - we were busy keeping our boat safe and talking to the coastguard. We thought it was important, however, to share what we learned from this experience. Thanks for watching our sailing vlog; we hope you enjoyed it. We tried to keep it short and sweet, but if you’d like to know more about what happened in the Isles of Scilly, you can read our full account in this blog post: http://sailingkittiwake.com/sailing-isles-scilly-baptism-fire/. In the next episode, we’ll cross the English Channel at its widest point, from the Isles of Scilly to L’Aber Wrac’h (France). Don’t forget to subscribe to our channel to receive an alert when it's live. If you’d like to know more about the anchorages we visited in the Isles of Scilly, check out this post: http://sailingkittiwake.com/sailing-the-isles-of-scilly-anchorages/. ***SUPPORT US ON PATREON*** If you like our videos and would like to support our production, we're over at: https://www.patreon.com/sailingkittiwake ***OR BUY US A BEER*** http://sailingkittiwake.com/support-us/ ***OUR BLOG*** If you’d like to find out more about us or Kittiwake, check out our blog: http://sailingkittiwake.com/. In our Sail Cruising Tips section you’ll find some advice on how to set off cruising yourself, as well as ideas on how to make money along the way. Let us know if we can help! ***WE’RE ALSO ON*** - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sailingkittiwake/ - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sailingkittiwake/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/svkittiwake Follow us for live updates, plus extra videos and pictures. ***CAMERAS*** Canon EOS M GoPro Hero 4 Silver ***MUSIC*** gOtam Sen - A Little Bird Told Me - Provided by Jamendo Löhstana David - Elle Va - Provided by Jamendo Ground & Leaves - Dirty River - Provided by Jamendo
Also, even in quite moderate winds, it is very useful with two anchors laid out in a v-form formation when anchoring over night behind an island for instance, as it prevemts the boat from zig zaging from side to side against the wind during the night.
I'm amazed at how some sailors have just one (often too small or inadequate) anchor on a 30-40 ft boat). Hopefully they learned a lesson.
Cheers from Lee in South Wales, UK.
10. comment for Storm At Anchor In The Isles Of Scilly | Sailing Kittiwake – Ep. 2
We have a second anchor - a Danforth type - but we wouldn't have trusted it in 60mph winds. It is handy to have on board to anchor for a few hours or as a kedge anchor, which we can deploy from the dinghy.
We have published a short video about our anchoring gear (in the extra section) if you're interested. Thanks again!
Maybe you need to improve your weather forecasting? When you said we moved to the anchorage well sheltered from the SW, I thought Oh dear that looks open to the NW and, when lows pass by, the wind often veers to North of West. Hey ho! To paraphrase - what doesn't hurt you makes you stronger!
The guy didn't loose his foot because you called SAR. He lost his foot because of shotty seamanship of others.
You're bound by law to help vessels in distress and omitting that is rightfully punishable by law. You're not supposed to endanger yourself so the only choice is to call in the professionals. It's not up to you to decide whether the vessel is empty or not, you're supposed to call it in and report the circumstances to the best of your knowledge. Then they decide and if something goes wrong it's a tragedy for sure, as is any work accident.
So yeah, you did everything right, including having "oversized" ground tackle and not dragging across the anchorage. And including asking for a tow instead of crushing on the rocks.
20. comment for Storm At Anchor In The Isles Of Scilly | Sailing Kittiwake – Ep. 2
Ryan is also hoping to find some more practical work during the winter, doing boat maintenance work for other cruisers.
30. comment for Storm At Anchor In The Isles Of Scilly | Sailing Kittiwake – Ep. 2
Is " The Isles of Scilly " where the constituents who created the Ministry of Scilly Walks were from?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iV2ViNJFZC8
The link is for those who are NOT older than dirt ....as I am.
The only other sailing YT channel I watch on a regular basis is Gone With The Wynns.
Wow what a difference. While I like the couple on the Wynns channel I think I will enjoy yours
just as much if not more.
Their cat is like a well kept used Lexus while yours seems to be like a 30 year old Ford Transit van that
never left the hometown very much. Please don't be offended as I drive a 1990 Plymouth Grand Voyager Mini Van.
Yes it is a clunker but it is paid for and it gets me to my Dr. Appointments at the VA and to the food store.
I need little more at this time in my life.
It was sad to learn the Coast Guardsman lost his foot during the attempted boat rescue. You should not blame yourself.
You called in a vessel in distress, it was your duty I think in that situation.
It seems to me you acted responsibly in being sure to dig in your heavy anchor and not leave your vessel in high winds.
I look forward to seeing more of your adventures.
I am a former member of the U.S. Coast Guard, the service responsible for maritime safety in U.S. waters. During my time in service I was a direct participant in approximately 1000 search and rescue operations. Most of the time I was on shore answering calls for assistance and coordinating search and rescue operations between multiple Coast Guard stations, boats and aircraft but I also went out on the boats as deck crew. The scenario that you experienced and recounted in the Scilly Isles was typical of the urgent rescue work that I participated in.
The two of you conducted yourselves brilliantly coping with this difficult, dynamic and dangerous situation especially considering your somewhat limited experience. You kept your wits about you, kept up with the changing conditions, knew your boat and the limitations of the actions that you could take, took effective action to prevent a collision and provided real assistance to those in distress. Nobody could have expected or asked for anything more from you.
There is a point in the video where you seem to blame yourselves for the injury to the lifeboat crewman. You should not, the two of you are in no way to blame for for that accident. The crewman was injured because he (or she) or a crew-mate made a mistake that put that crewman in a position that they should never have been in. Your decision to call for assistance did not cause the injury. You had no control over the actions of the Coast Guard. They are the trained professionals, they decided, based on their orders, experience and capabilities, to come to the scene and to move the lifeboat into a dangerous situation. You merely communicated the situation to them as you should have. Never hesitate to call when you or others are in need of assistance.
Through your cautious, thoughtful and educated approach to seamanship the two of you are well on your way to becoming expert sailors and are a credit to your maritime community. Bravo!
Word of warning, if you get to $1,000/video I stop giving and find some other new vlogger to help out. :-)
It sounds like you did everything right and the guilt isn't yours.
I hope the others understand the grief they caused.
Thanks for sharing, I will never forget your example.
Warren
s/y Legend
In terms of mayday relay vs pan pan, a mayday is to be used when there is an imminent danger to a vessel or person. A pan pan would be if there is no immediate danger to a vessel or person. In the situation we were involved in, a mayday was therefore appropriate and as we were doing it for another vessel, we used a mayday relay.
Fair winds to SY Legend!
50. comment for Storm At Anchor In The Isles Of Scilly | Sailing Kittiwake – Ep. 2
-johnny
The considered safe option when bad weather is ever likely or forecast for the Scillies, is to leave the Islands altogether and run for a sheltered anchorage off mainland Cornwall. Failing that find somewhere between the islands (dependent upon weather) say to New Grimsby Sound between Tesco and Bryher (but its not good in SSE/NNW) So when the wind direction changes you can gain some shelter. The Scilly Isles offer beautiful cruising grounds, but that beauty comes at a price and is much loved by French skippers. You did well to keep your boat safe. Were you eventually able to recover your anchor? - Evano
It is a stunning place when the sun's out though!
We did retrieve our anchor a couple of days later without any trouble, thanks.
When cruising there is often the situation where as another vessel anchors within "your comfort zone". Then there is the fact that you do not want to seem like an uptight safety nanny and ask them to move. However, your gut feeling is often right, and you are protecting your vessel and home. Thus having a polite, if firm, conversation with the other vessel is not only appropriate, it is proper. If that fails, you have the ultimate option to move to a safer location.
Carry on, I'm enjoying the adventure!
We've become a bit more firm about other people anchoring near us since. It was difficult in this situation because of the language barrier and lack of space in the anchorage (the only spot protected from the forecasted winds in the archipelago).