Squall on a Lee Shore - Sailing SV Freelance Ep. 38

Weather apps and forecasts are very good. However, they sometimes don't get it right, sometimes don't agree, and sometimes we misinterpret them. We were anchored at Presque Isle Bay, Stockton Island, expecting a Lake Superior squall to briefly cause some minor discomfort for Vicki and I. Instead, I would up doing a serious anchor watch for 90 minutes in gale force winds with a lee shore behind us. It all went well. We did not drag. The wind peaked at 45.5 knots. If you are curious, our ground tackle was a 44 Delta anchor and 110 ft. of 5/16 chain. The scope was 7 to 1. It held just as it should, but in the strongest parts of the squall, I engaged the engine at idle to reduce the strain on the anchor chain. That also gave me some steerage, so I could keep Freelance's bow directly into the waves. That made for an easier ride.