While single-handing our IP 370 from Cabo San Lucas to San Diego starting in early February 2010, the boat was anchored in Turtle Bay for rest and refueling. Also anchored were seven or so cruising vessels as well as an array of Mexican shrimp boats and other vessels all being the normal traffic count passing through Turtle Bay. Turtle Bay is a half moon shaped bay situated in a north west by south east direction with the open part facing south and open to the Pacific. The prevailing wind is from the northwest and in this regard the northwest part of the bay provides excellent protection and the southeast part of the bay provides protection for winds from the south. While anchored in the north west part of the bay near the refueling dock about 100 yards or so from the beach, the wind veered around from the south at 16 knots or so with swells of about three feet with white caps rendering the anchorage somewhat uncomfortable so the bridle was installed. About 1:00 A.M. I was awakened by the wind and motion of the boat and after a very brief glance to the outside, full dress with foul weather gear was put on. A check with the gauge indicated wind of about 24 to 25 knots with a vicious, square swell of about five feet, both from the south and like boats tend to do, we were all anchored in a close little group all bouncing and plunging helter-skelter together. After dressing, the hatch boards were removed as well as the pedestal cover and while sitting in the cockpit was comfortably watching all of the action, 25 knots in a protected anchorage is usually no problem and in some cases can be the norm along this coast. The IP 370 tends to hull sail particularly if the two foresails are not furled super tight and in this case there was no exception as the combination of the wind and swell whipped the boat around to about 90 degrees to the anchor setting and the normal “tug” was not felt but only a slight “tug” and the bow of the boat continued around in the direction of the beach and then I realized that something was amiss. After going forward and after a bout of fumbling and jerking and glances at the looming lee shore, the bridle was removed and the chain was hauled in without our $679 CQR anchor. The connector connecting the chain and anchor had broken. The engine was then cranked and without a lot of “warming up”, the boat was motored out to a safe distance in front of the cluster of anchored boats in order to reach a decision as to what the next step would be. The secondary anchoring system consisted of 250’of nylon rode, 25’of chain and a 33lb Bruce anchor. I did not have the confidence in the secondary system as in the CQR and chain and was hesitant about deploying it since if it were also lost, there would be no third anchor set. So therefore, it was decided to transfer the Bruce to chain and after some milling around it was discovered that the shackle pins had frozen and so the Bruce remained on the nylon/chain. Then the last option was taken and I proceeded to the south end about 2 miles distant but by this time the winds had increased to 35kt gusts. On arrival I congratulated myself in making at least one correct decision in that the wind had decreased to 14 to 16 knots with no swell and so the anchor was set in about 20ft. The arrival was at about 3:00 A.M. and the condition continued for about an hour and half. Conditions were so pleasant that the writer sat in the cockpit and got about 30 minutes of sleep. Then at about 5:A.M. conditions changed, the frontal passage arrived with 40kts of wind from the west north west and heavy rain, also, the fathometer read now 13ft and slowly decreased to 10ft meaning an unseen but looming lee shore was again approaching. In essence, the secondary anchor was dragging. Now, the writer had two reasons to leave, so the anchor was hauled using the rope spindle mounted on top of the windlass and proceeded to the north end anchorage and by the time of arrival it was daylight, the wind was down, the swell was down, so the anchor was set with no further weather problems. Normally, the writer would have chain for both anchors but the windless would be not be useable for the port anchor on the bowsprit due to the way and position that it is mounted, directly behind the starboard anchor holder however, and as indicated above, the nylon rode was hauled in by the nylon rode spindle on top of the chain spindle. It would be a daunting task to stand on the end of the bowsprit and haul in 250’ of chain by hand.

The broken shackle as described above, was purchased from West Marine approximately five yeas ago and is advertised in West Marine’s 2009 catalog page 158 as an Anchor Rode Swivel SWL 3,900 lbs, price $51.99. Considering the strength and price the writer could be tempted to purchase this swivel again however, as the old adage goes, “fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me”.

Carson Howe S/V Marie