Strangers in the Night
02 December 2021
by Connie Hill
Leaving Isla Isabella in the afternoon means we will anchor around 7:00 p.m. Sundown is 5:30. Oh boy! A night anchor!
Night anchoring can be tricky business, but I really do love it. We see the most glorious sunsets. Then it gets dark, and we navigate by radar, our electronic chart, and a keen eye… always checking for boats and lights.
Our approach into San Blas was calm and peaceful. We successfully dodged 25 or so fishing boats peppered throughout the path to San Blas. Fisherman in one panga (small boat) started flashing their lights wildly at us. Yea, yea we see you… no worries!
Suddenly, Steve claims he feels the boat slowing down. “I think we snagged a net or something”. The rest of us were not convinced. We were still moving well through the water and Steve must be tired from all those night watches.
At last, we reached our anchor spot… everyone looking forward to a cocktail. Anne looks over the side of the boat and says, “Steve- you better see this!” Sure enough, we did snag a fishing net. A huge one- at least 150 feet circumference. Try as we might, there was no untangling this fishing net wrapped around our rudder. Feeling bad because this net must be owned by some local fisherman, we cut it loose. Finally, the net freed- and floated away.
Close to midnight that night, we were awakened by men yelling and bright spotlights shining through the boat’s windows. I don’t know any swear words in Spanish – but I am sure we were being reprimanded big time! The net owners! And they were mad!
Ever so gracious… Anne apologizes to the men as they work to gather up the net into their little panga. After 20 minutes or so… they motored off. I could still hear them swearing!
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