Lost Anchor Bay (AKA Pilon Island)

Saturday August 17, 2013
45 01.942 N
74 38.664 W

We just lost our anchor and 200' of 3/8 chain. But we should be able to recover it all tomorrow.  The water is only 15' to 20' deep, the water is reasonably clear, the bottom is firm (I believe firm bottoms are best) and we have two full air tanks for the scuba gear. We also have a GPS track of the boats movements and should be able to move the boat back to where we dropped the anchor. How we managed this feat of seamanship is another story, but does not involve alcohol. Its too late to do anything tonight, except try and figure out an excuse.

We were the only boat...

This morning we were up early and underway by 8 AM. We had about 12 NM to the first lock, against the current, and needed to be at the lock by about 10 AM. The locks in the St. Lawrence are "real locks" built for "real ships". Recreational boats are a bit of a nuisance, so they nominate a couple of openings a day. We arrived exactly at 10 AM and we moored at the designated location. A big electronic notice board announced that there was a delay, and that the locks would not open until 1 PM. So we put on the kettle. Ten minutes later the giant gates open and we were hailed and told to get underway. I suspect this is a "French System". There were two locks and we were thru an hour later.

Quite a few ships

It was a perfect day - calm and warm. We needed to get some miles under our belt so we picked an anchorage 59 SM away and settled down for a long day. Tide hiker was managing 5.8 to 6 kts against the current.We are starting to see ships again. Apart from the locks and two lifting bridges, most of the day's cruising was "just river". Late in the day we started to get into islands and multiple channels. More interesting.

We arrived at the anchorage at about 6 PM and dropped the anchor and chain. All of it. I did not allow for the strong current (I was on the controls) and recognize that Tony was not familiar with the markings on the chain. (Tony was on deck.) The bitter end was secured in the locker with two lengths of 1/2 manila, but the boat was reversing too fast and the rope was just ripped out and off the end of the chain went. We were all a bit stunned.

Tide Hiker has a second anchor in place (A Danforth design - I have never used it) and we quickly dropped it and fortunately it held. After we got our breath we launched the dinghy and tried to find the the missing equipment using our bathysope (bucket with its bottom replaced with a piece of perspex) But the sun was too low, so no dice. After an hour or so we called it a day.

Tony barbecued chicken on the grill

Sunday August 18, 2013

On the hunt

We moved Tide Hiker back to where we lost the anchor (per the chart plotted) and re-anchored. Tony donned my "shorty" and diving gear. The current was very strong, so I ended up towing him behind the dinghy in a "search pattern". After maybe 30 minutes he spotted the chain, dived down and secured a line. We returned to Tide Hiker and celebrated with a cup of tea and a slice of jam roll cake.

Getting the chain and anchor back to Tide Hiker was basically grunt work, and all was settled by about 2 PM. It took us a couple of hours to clean up the boat and dinghy. By then the day was shot so we decided to stay another night.

We are about 10 miles from the USA border and we are picking up internet. Hallelujah!!!

Dinner

Hamburgers on the gill tonight, and maybe a movie.