Tom’s Heroic Moment

After mooring for a night at the Bitter End, we shift to anchor instead. Since internet is free at Saba Rock, it’s not really worth the $30 / night just to have internet connectivity. We are in good company as mostly charter boats moor, while only cruisers anchor. We are staying an extra night for The Bitter End Yacht Club beer can dingy race is scheduled for the following afternoon. An hour before the beer can starts JT wants to do some practice runs. As Tom preps the dingy, he notices that one of the boats who is trying to anchor has managed to catch the anchor line of the boat next to us. It’s a modest 30ft sloop with no one aboard. Finally, it appears that the boat that is dragging the anchor line has dropped it.  The little monohull floats beam to the wind and seems to be drifting. Sure enough, a few seconds later it passes the point where it should have settle onto its anchor, and we realize in horror that it is adrift. Some 10 to 15 anchored boats lie in its path out to the channel, so Tom immediately jumps into the zodiac to give chase, while I radio for assistance. Fortunately, another cruiser in front of us leaps into action and after a tense few minutes he and Tom secure the drifting boat to a private mooring.  Later, the perpetrators of this very foolish mistake come by to thank Tom and relate the steps they’ve taken to put things right. The kids are so impressed that their dad near single-handedly rescued the boat. After order has been restored, we use the adventure as an excellent teaching moment about marine emergencies, keeping calm, taking action and owning one’s mistakes.