Not long after we had tied up and written the blog a really nasty swell started to enter the harbour and all the boats along our quay, but particularly the ones on stern anchors as opposed to buoys, started to surge forwards alarmingly, occasionally  slamming against the wooden planking covering the concrete. The boat next to us, which was quite a bit smaller, was especially badly affected, yawing from side to side as well as backwards and forwards. The young harbourmaster was doing his best to sort everyone out, helping by rowing out with extra warps and second anchors, but he couldn’t save the bow-mounted ladder on the next door boat, which was ripped off by an impact.

Plenty of action on the quay but hard to show the surging in a photo

Damage to the bow ladder

The harbour master helping to set more stern anchors

We realised our Fortress was dragging and had no other option but to set our main anchor from the stern, with the chain running along the side of the boat. The helpful harbourmaster rowed it out with Ted, in the little dinghy he had borrowed from Klaus on the next boat. The weight of our 3/8 chain made it hard work. but when it was set we lay a lot more comfortably. Klaus and the boat on his other side did their best, but both of them were reluctant to go below, staying on deck all night to deal with any further incidents. Some of the boats further down the harbour put stern lines across to the little island in the middle, making it a bit hazardous for any late arrivals, who could have sailed straight into them, so the harbourmaster put a light on the them and, in any case, no one was coming in by then. All the excitement meant dinner was rather late and we didn’t get to bed until after midnight.

Nights like that are not welcome but they do show the cruising community at its best. As usual when help is needed it is given generously.

The boat next door but one – not prepared to leave the foredeck even for supper