The skies finally cleared and the hot summer sun beat down on the PNW. IT looks like we have a small flotilla! Lionel on Penguin out of North Vancouver will join La Baliene and Liberate on a stop over at Refuge Cove on West Redonda Island to provision and then on to Roscoe Bay for a 17:00 high tide entry and perhaps a couple of nights in the low tide land locked bay. The only thing that Liberate and I had to figure out was freeing the 45lb CQR from the ocean floors death grip!
First try. Let out a good length of additional chain and motor forward into deeper water to break the anchor free.....no joy!
Second attempt, a lasso made of chain was lowered around the primary anchor chain until it reached the anchor....a line was attached to the lasso and the made firm to the stern of Lionel's boat....Penguin motored away into deeper water placing the force close to the anchor hoping to dislodge it.....still no success.
Third attempt to free Liberate and not be condemned to a life in Desolation Sound....we are going to use the might and muscle of the 25 ton 48 foot Grand Banks LaBaliene to pluck Liberates CQR and anchor chain from the clutches of Neptune! She elegantly strolled in and the lasso line was passed from Penguin and made fast to her bow towering 18 feet above the water.....Norm skillfully maneuvered into the "right" position and brought the twin diesel engines to life.....The trip line tightened, Liberates bow sunk 4 inches into the sea....strange sounds of things straining appeared and the tenacious anchor and chain held firm.....the process repeated from two more angles....the anchor remained steadfast.....we are going to pay homage to King Neptune gifting a $900.00 anchor and 50 feet of chain.....
Fourth attempt....how to sever the high tensile anchor chain? "Norm, do you have bolt cutters? " No was the reply. "Lionel, do you have bolt cutters?" Negative! But I do have a hack saw blade! Has anyone ever seen the UK TV show Porridge? It's comedy about convicts in jail....
With a hacksaw blade in hand and 3 beers donated by Norm, Dolores Lionel, I watched Labaliene and Penguin motor out of the bay with a hopeful rendezvous later in the day in Roscoe bay.... An hour and twenty minutes later both sides of the chosen link were severed and Liberate floated free of Tenedos Bay with Neptune's ransom paid in full!
On to Roscoe!
The picture is of Liberate Stern Tied in Roscoe!