Automatic anchoring

I was the new owner of a bilgekeeled Westerly Konsort and was looking forward to being able to take the ground for the first time without the support of a harbour wall. I had enjoyed an overnight passage from Swansea to the Isles of Scilly in company with three other yachts. The two fin-keeled boats went to St Mary's and the other twin-keeler and I sailed to New Grimsby Sound, arriving in the late afternoon after a long overnight passage.

We found the anchorage. I intended to move later to take the ground in Green Bay, so only laid enough schain for the then falling tide. The other skipper called with an invitation to dinner. I eventually returned on board and went below for a short rest before moving on the next rising tide to Green Bay. The dinner and 24-hour passage took their toll.

I awoke to bright sunlight and a feeling of being aground. As the tide had risen during my sleep, my Konsort had lifted her skirts and sailed near an expensive catamaran and amazingly passed over some nasty rocks, ending up on the beach and taking the ground gently during the night. I looked out of the companionway to see a man and his dog walking past the stern. Even the anchor had reset itself.

Fortunately no damage was done, and once the tide was in, I hurried off to anchor properly somewhere else.