I've been single handing a couple of months now, and while I'd prefer to be at the helm, most of the time its not that big a deal to be up at the bow retrieving the anchor chain and managing this issue by hand. Every 15' or so I grab a handful of chain and relocate it in the locker.
However yesterday I was anchored behind Tavanier and it was blowing over 20kts as I was retrieving the anchor, and 3' seas. I had run jack lines, was tethered in, and it was quite an issue. Too much wind to just use the weight of the chain to pull the boat forward, which meant I had to run the engine with the boat in gear at abound 1,200 rpm to avoid towing the boat with the windlass.
On top of that, immediately the anchor was free I started moving downwind rapidly, with other boats behind me.
I may try and design some sort of insert that forces the chain to lay one side or another. I need to find a solution to this.
Was a heck of a ride from Tavanier up to Angelfish Creek in 3-5' seas and 20kts gusty! Today I could barely keep the spinnaker full lol