I always have trouble coming up with appropriate post titles. Next time, can I ask you?

It isn't often realized just what a vital safety device a towed dinghy is in situations like this. Even in Maine's high and thus fast falling, tides, I've jumped in the dinghy, hooked the anchor over the transom, rowed it out, and been back on the boat fast enough to pull off with the anchor rode led to a jib halyard winch before the tide fell enough to stick fast. You really have to jump though when working against a 12 foot tide.

If this doesn't work, put a block on the anchor line and run it up the mast with a halyard. Winching the anchor line will then heel the boat powerfully, reducing the draft as you drag the boat off.

--
Roger Long

On Mon, 20 Nov 2006 14:23:25 GMT, "Roger Long"
wrote:

If this doesn't work, put a block on the anchor line and run it up the mast with a halyard. Winching the anchor line will then heel the boat powerfully, reducing the draft as you drag the boat off.

Snatch block on the anchor line, taken up with a halyard.

Just when you think you've seen all of the clever tricks on a
sailboat, along comes another one.

Good one Roger.

It also sets you up well for if you don't manage to get off. Drying out completely can be very serious for some boat as they won't float off again without flooding through cockpit lockers. If you don't get off, put a little bit of heel on the boat away from the direction the anchor is set and take up on the halyard so the boat settles with some tension on the anchor rode holding her up. This will be a precarious position since having the anchor pull out could let the boat fall over but it may be better than having her flood when the tide comes back in. If the anchor does come out it should drag slowly enough that there won't be a crash. You would still want to move around very carefully, if at all, untill the tide comes back in.

--
Roger Long

"Wayne.B" wrote in message ...
On Mon, 20 Nov 2006 14:23:25 GMT, "Roger Long"
wrote:

If this doesn't work, put a block on the anchor line and run it up the mast with a halyard. Winching the anchor line will then heel the boat powerfully, reducing the draft as you drag the boat off.

Snatch block on the anchor line, taken up with a halyard.

Just when you think you've seen all of the clever tricks on a
sailboat, along comes another one.

Good one Roger.