Today was another frustrating day, but not only due to various landlubber matters, but also because we were on "numpty parade" again. This time, however, we endured the rudeness of the kulprits.
For example, with the winds picking up, the yacht to our port side, that was already too close to begin with, dragged towards us. When Elaine went on deck to ascertain the situation, the cruiser wanted to know if there was a problem. After indicating that, given how close the yacht was to Paw Paw, there was indeed a problem, this was simply ignored. Then they dragged again. This time to within a boat length of us and just ignored it, again. That's when Roy went out and asked the cruiser whether or not he was simply planning on staying where he was or going to move. After a lot of grumbling and seeing Elaine taking a few photographs, they moved.
Another cruiser grumbled and past a few sarcastic remarks about the amount of chain we had out, only to drag a short while later after short scoping and had to lift his anchor, which was now precariously close to our chain. Fortunately they didn't trip us in the process.
As if that wasn't enough for one day, we now have a yacht, anchored to our port side, that is so close we swing past his bow with barely a boat length between us. This bright spark decided to anchor on top of us when we had a southerly wind and, now that the wind direction has changed, their anchor chain runs directly under Paw Paw, so they can't move. The day of numpties ended with a yacht that was about to take the same spot that the first yacht had just vacated a few minutes earlier. It's fair to say that Elaine was reaching the end if her tether by this point, but showed them to a better spot instead.
Add to that the myriad of yachts participating in the ICA rally that eventually set off for Vanuatu by mid-afternoon and the mayhem that followed, as yachts at anchor raced each other to the vacant mooring balls, and it was, indeed, another fun day in the anchorage - Not!
In fact, we couldn't help but draw parallels to our experience in North Sound, BVIs the day before New Year's Eve in 2013 when Elaine spent three hours directing and assisting a charter fleet to get safely anchored for the night. Those "credit card sailors" at least had an excuse for their incompetence. What excuse do these seasoned sailors have, other than being inconsiderate to their fellow cruisers!
In between all this merriment, Elaine completed her strengthening exercises and continued her sewing activities, while Roy assisted with the reviewing and signing of all the title company documents, updated all our window devices, completed our route plan to Port Vila, Vanuatu and cooked up a storm in the kitchen for dinner.
We did, of course, get to wave Blue Summit (Kate and Steve) off and wish them and the rest of the ICA fleet fair winds and following seas.
