They seem to have a system where there is an Honorary HM, a HM, an assistant HM, etc. I was anchored next to Cha Cha for several weeks when the skipper was on her. Next to her was a wooden sloop that had a French flag flying. A nearby cat started dragging onto him, so I went over. Like an idiot, I told him he should call the HM, who probably would move the boat. The HM comes over, he’s about 90 and yells to the Frenchman to move his boat. The Frenchman says that it is not he who is dragging, but the cat. The HM yells out, “I am the Harbormaster! I order you to move your boat! And I’m coming back in an hour to check your holding tank. You better not be shitting in the water.” Now this is in the middle of trying to push a 45 ft. cat off a nice wood boat, 35 mph wind and all that. HM leaves and the cat is pushed off, drifts away and rehooks further down the anchorage.

I introduce myself, and the owner asks if I want some rum. We sit down and I apologize for suggesting we call the HM. By the way, I ask him, do you have a holding tank? He says, no, I shit in the water.