Behind The Blog - Handsignals

Not that 42ft is all that far, but it is when the wind is blowing and you’re trying to communicate from one end of the boat to the other while anchoring. Thus we’ve come up with some fairly effective hand signals.

There’s forward (arm bent at elbow and pointed up), neutral (arm straight) and reverse (arm bent and elbow and pointed down), as well as a sign for faster (arm up and circling) and slower (arm down and circling). These are all pretty straight forward. Pat stands on the bow and manages the raising and lowering of the anchor while I steer and shift gears in accordance with the signals. If only it were that simple...

two fingers pointed under two glaring eyes (Pat’s) = stop talking to the kids and focus on me

one finger pointed up(Jo’s) = I am focused on you... it’s called multi-tasking

one arm doing anything (Drew’s or Jake’s or Emily’s) = sure, it looks like a signal, but don’t fall for it... wait for the “captain” to give the real order

signal repeated over and over again with vigor(Pat) = I said "(insert command here)"

two shoulders shrugged in frustration (Jo’s) = yeah, I’m doing that, but it’s not working!!!

The kids seem to prefer verbal signals... much like the ferries that frequent Cape Cod waters use horns to convey their messages.

Ferries:
1 blast = just to let you know, I’m leaving the dock now
2 blasts = you’re in my path; you might want to move
5 blasts = just so you know, I’m going to hit you

The kids have developed a set of similarly escalating signals to help alert Pat to potential threats....

dad, look out = there’s lobster pots on your (left/right)

Dad, dad, come here = I've got a crab, bring the net!

DAD, DAD, I need you! = Can you get the hook out of this fish before it bleeds all over the boat?!!

And my personal favorite...
DAD, DAD, COME HERE NOW = the anchor is up! don’t let mom drive the boat!

I like to join them on this one; it helps break the silence after all those hand signals!


Our favorite “extreme anchoring” observations:

The couple from NJ who were trying to anchor in Cuttyhunk and proceeded to teach everyone within a 1/2-mile radius a few new curse words. She apparently pushed the wrong button on their auto-everything power boat and dropped all their anchor chain in the space of about 3 seconds. About 30 seconds after he hauled it all back in, they left the area... bet is was a long and loud ride home!

The pampered pair from the Grand Caymans who anchored near us in Nantucket. While he and their crew circled a few times to find just the right spot to anchor their mega yacht, she was busy on the upper sundeck working out on a stair stepper!