Epiphany Sailingvideo
Snagged a Lobster Pot while sailing to Dry Tortuga C&C 39
10 September 2023 · 1 min · 526 views · Dry Tortugas
What this video covers
Sailing overnight from the Florida Keys to Dry Tortugas, Mike's C&C 39 snagged two lobster pot lines on the rudder in light winds, slowing the boat to a dead stop at a couple of knots.0:55 The crew used a boat hook to pull the line up and cut what they could reach from the swim platform while underway, with the dinghy hanging off the stern.0:17 Enough line remained tangled between the rudder and hull that Mike avoided running the engine for the rest of the passage, anchoring outside the harbor at Dry Tortugas near Fort Jefferson rather than motoring in.0:24 Once anchored, he suited up with snorkel gear and a dive knife, but found the remaining line loose enough to untangle by hand and pull free without cutting.0:41 The Florida Keys' dense lobster and crab pot fields are a documented hazard for overnight passages in that area, particularly in light air when boat speed is low and the lines hang slack just below the surface.0:55
Boats in this video
More from Epiphany Sailing
From Epiphany Sailing — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analysed video.
The Sailing Directory Newsletter
One email with the fleet's best finds — the moments, boats, and stories worth your watch time. Enter your own address to get your own copy.