HAPPIER HOOKERS

Alvah Simon makes some good points in his article on anchoring (“The Happy Hooker,” February 2017), but I would add two tips that are rarely mentioned. First, when in a situation where the wind and the swells are not coming from the same direction (like our last time at Foxy’s on Jost van Dyke), you can be in for a very rocky-rolly night. The Fix is to put a line through an anchor chain link with a stop knot, let the chain out another 10 feet or so, and then bring the line in on the jib-sheet winch until the boat is pointing into the swells. THe second situation is when you are anchored and it’s blowing 40 knots plus (like our unanticipated experience at Cap d’antibes in France, with the closest shore downwind consisting of the coast of Libya), with your boat tacking back and forth widely on the chain. Start the engine, put it in gear at an rpm that will take some strain off your ground tackle but not let you ride up on it. Then engage the autopilot. The boat will stay head to wind. And then don’t worry about running out of electricity or hot water during your stay. You’ll want to keep an eye on any wind shifts, of course, and adjust as needed.

Ben Riggs Newport, Rhode Island