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| We asked readers to send 48° NORTH their funniest, sorriest, most pathetic, but true, anchoring stories for a chance to win a complete anchoring package from LEWMAR which includes:  A Pro Series 1000 windlass, 22 lb. Delta anchor, chain and rope rode - a $2000-$2500 value, depending on size of boat. PLUS: YACHT MASTERS, will provide FREE a basic installation at their facility! A retail value up to $1500. PLUS: Three honorable mentions will receive LEWMAR winch handles, PLUS: five more will receive "A Cruising Guide to Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands" by Migael Scherer.
Even with these fantastic prizes, we never expected the great number of stories we received. It's terrific to see we touched on something that everyone certainly relates to, but it's also made us a little leery of every anchoring near anyone ever again. 
The majority of the stories were harrowing anchoring experiences, usually on a lee shore in the middle of the night, with half naked people running around, pushing off, pulling in, with chaotic organization. Many times the situations were the fault of unexpected weather and many times it was the fault of a miscalculation by the skipper, but in the end, all were fine and no boats lost. On the lighter side, we had people reveal some embarrassing, but humorous episodes. Our winners were selected on writing and events and represent a cross section of interactions between people and their anchors.
Due to the length of the stories, we can't run them all at once, but look for more to turn up in later issues of 48° North. GRAND PRIZE: Philip R. Levine Lewmar Handles: John Foster Fanning, Bill Sassaman, Barbara Molin Cruising Books: Dave Kennedy, David W. Montgomery, Norm Coyer, Borek Busta, Kevin Midkiff THE WINNING STORIES
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