Logbook – St Mary’s 29 Jul 19 Drama in the Scillies

After a couple of days at Watermill Cove we decided with an approaching Easterly wind it would be better to move to Porth Cressa just to the South of Hugh town to hide from the increasing wind. The wind was to move East to North-Westerly over a couple of days and we would be exploiting the NW to run towards Ushant. Porth Cressa gave us the perfect spot to hide, restore and rest before the run South.

Unfortunately, the weather gods started to interfere and the wind was pushed more Southerly, leaving us in a growing swell. The few congregated yachts in Porth Cressa decided to move to St Mary’s until the wind changed.

The trip around the point was eventful and emotional. As we left the shelter of Porth Cressa a large swell hit us and threw Andy across the cockpit. She was fine but had a bruised wrist. I took the wheel and moved us around to St Mary’s where the wind was still strong but the swell much calmer.

All of the moorings were taken so we anchored to wait for the wind to change. As high tide approached, the Harbour Master advised that Porth Cressa remained lumpy and that as the wind changed to the North West, the anchor holding in St Marys wasn’t good. They advised North Tresco or St Helens Pool as suitable alternatives.

It was high tide, so the short motor up to the North would allow us to use the now flooded channels to a better anchorage. The winds and swell still made the trip difficult with Mother Nature affecting the manoeuvring of the boat. Once in St Helen’s Pool, we looked to anchor. It was clearly a popular bolt hole with several yachts already tucked away at what seemed safe distances. We attempted to anchor several times and eventually got good holding. 6m of water with nearly 35 m of chain out making it a bumpy but safe state for the night. We set an anchor watch and I held the deck, watching the wind change to the NE and then North as predicted. I also saw gusts up to 40kts which was not as predicted!

A little after 0200 in a particularly extended gust, the anchor dragged and we started to sail under bare poles downwind at 2 knots.

I quickly started the engine and turned back into wind attempting to reset the now trailing anchor. With between 2 and 6 meters of depth, the anchor should have reset but I suspect that dragging it through the pool several times in the attempt to reset had fouled it with weed. After it became clear that the anchor was not going to reset and with several other yachts also dragging and manoeuvring in the space and depth restricted pool, I decided that there was a significant danger to both life and boats.

SO I did what I thought I would never have to do and I called a MAYDAY!

The sequence of events are now are a little blurred.

I coordinated with the rescue centre to identify the location of the problem. Once in contact with the Coxwain of the St Mary’s lifeboat we guided them to the area of the difficulties. On arrival, it was a first come first served basis with the Lifeboat assisting with the re-anchoring of several yachts to see if they could be secured for the remainder of the storm. To assist us, the Lifeboat dropped off a crewman to act as my crew so that we could raise the anchor and reset again. Unfortunately, the anchor would not be raised and so I decided to buoy it and cut it loose and then be escorted back to St Mary’s to tie up alongside the wall.

The trip back remained challenging in the dark and stormy conditions through the channels of the Scillies but with the escorting Lifeboat the navigation, at least, was simple.

The lifeboat ground team took our lines and we tied up with an hour to go before the Harbour Master was to start. The boat was tidied while Andrea slept and nursed as sprain wrist.

For the rest of the day we moved to various locations to suit the tide and available space, tying up alongside the wall and the Scillonian Ferry from the mainland.

The Harbour Master’s team were terrific and later in the day we were able to hire them to recover the anchor. That left us the options of a mooring (several had now become available) or re-anchoring in Porth Cressa. We finally opted to stay alongside the wall and ensure the rest of the yacht was fine for the upcoming trip to France.

The next morning, we prepared the boat, stored and then set off for Ushant (Ile D’Ouesant).

It is difficult to think of what else we could have done.

1. Advised and known resilient anchorage
2. Anchor our, holding and significantly more amounts of chain out than normal
3. Anchor watch on deck.

In hindsight perhaps:

1. More chain out of the locker and on the floor?

2. An anchorage that has easier exits if such a situation occurred again.

3. Perhaps eased the pressure on the anchor with the engine during the gusts.

4. Perhaps moved as the wind moved to stay sheltered as best as possible.

To be sure I and several other yacht skipper believed we had secured correctly ( I think we had). I also think that even though I called for assistance, there where several other skippers who felt the benefit of the call and just didn’t make it for whatever reason.

Of note was that there was similar carnage in the St Mary’s moorings a boat broke loose and another was dis-masted.

Sometimes Mother Nature has other plans.

Thanks go to the St Mary’s lifeboat crew and support team as well as the St Mary’s Harbour Master’s team.

You have our gratitude and a healthy donation.