To Anchor

My dad built a 19 foot cabin cruiser that we spent weeks on each summer. We loved to go up to the San Juan and Canadian Gulf Islands and anchor in the little bays there. Dad taught us how to anchor. You see, there is a lot to anchoring a boat. You have to know what is under the keel - rocks are best. If you're over sand, it is easier to drag anchor. You have to "set" the anchor by backing the boat until the anchor holds. You have to know what the tide is going to do because if you don't leave enough line, the tide will come in and either pull up the anchor or pull down the boat. Once we awoke to thump-thumps when another boat slipped anchor. That boat had to reset their anchor in the dark. Also, you have to know how much scope you will have at low tide so you won't swing into another boat or the shore. Well anchored boats swing at anchor all the time, in a beautiful ballet as the wind changes evening and morning. Having done all that you go to sleep.

When darkness hides His lovely face
I rest on His unchanging grace
In every hight and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the vale
On Christ the solid Rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand
(The Solid Rock by Edward Mote)