In a trip likely to be flush with first experiences, we can report one in the way we anchor at Princess Louisa Inlet. There are several moorage options in the inlet. The easiest is the public dock at the head of the bay. It is also the most expensive; put $20/night in the slot please. The next easiest is to tie up to a mooring ball: $10. These prices likely reflect their relative cost to maintain, although the funds are probably used for other things as well. The inlet is mostly deep (sheer cliffs into the water and beyond in many places), so the anchoring techniques reflect that reality.
At the head of the Inlet is a waterfall: Chatterbox Falls. For the purpose of the anchoring technique we used in the inlet any river outlet will do. Where the rest of the inlet is deep, the head of the bay has a band near the shore line that is relatively shallow, although it does get deep quickly by comparison to most anchorages. If you anchor in this shallow area close to shore and adjacent to the falls (or river outlet), the water outflow will keep the boat aligned perpendicular to the shore and will keep the boat away from the shore, even when the tide comes flooding in. The boat will fish around a little at times, but the motion isn’t noticeable. This was the first opportunity we had to practice the technique on this trip and it kept us pretty secure for our two night stay.
The other option commonly used in the deep anchorages of British Columbia and southeast Alaska is to drop the anchor close to shore and tie a line from the stern to a ring or a tree on shore. This technique keeps the boat from swinging and therefore allows more boats to be anchored in closer proximity. We used this option extensively in the Mediterranean (where it is referred to as Med mooring). Quijote has 600’ of 1/2” floating polypropylene line and a garden hose reel on board for this purpose.
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