Watching others anchor, usually from afar. 05/24/15

We all like to people watch, or most of us do. And one of the joys of not being last in an anchorage is to watch others anchor. Okay, everyone who's a newbie gets a buy because we all had to start at the beginning. Never-the-less, it's still fun to watch. 

And then there's Ernie. When the middle aged couple, just the two them on a 54 ft cat were making their fourth failing attempt at hooking a mooring ball, he couldn't help but go over in the dinghy to assist. We were anchored nearby and the dinghy was ready to go. 

Man on the helm, woman on the bow doing the muscle work. Hmmm.

She has the bridle, she doesn't have it, he over-runs it (likely can't see it cause he's so high up and she gave no signal). Ernie's on his way. Then I see it about the same time Ernie rounds the big cat-- she's in the water. Omg. Did she drop the boat hook and dive in to fetch it? Did she not let go and get pulled off her boat? We'll never know. Ernie got to her. But she insisted in swimming back to the cat. How the helmsman could see her to not run over her Is a miracle. (I'm a firm believer in miracles). 

Rest of story: when she's back at the bow, Ernie hands her each separate half of the bridle to cleat to their boat and he's done his good deed. 

Hopefully the couple found it easier each time they moor or dock or anchor wherever their travels take them. Practice  truly does make better.