Anchoring idiots..

[abe]

Last year 15-20 sailboats were stern/bow anchored.

in Santa Cruz Islands (Alberts anchorage) when two 50ft stink pots arrived and decided to set there anchors in the middle of the group 2:1 scope. When the winds picked up and they dragged their anchors they took 3 stern anchors including mine and 2 bow anchors on two boats that were sitting close to the shore. They help reset our anchors using their dingys but they made the same mistake again. Finally, they were wise they picked up their anchors and left for deeper waters.It is incredible to see people in million dollar boats with all they great gadgets, bow thrusters....and they do not know how to set an anchor.abe

 

[A.C.]

I agree..

"I assume it had another 4' from the water line to the deck, right? If so, that's 7x14, not 7x10.So if you pulled into a 4:1 off the equation you had, you actually were at a 2.8:1 and that is just rediculous."I agree you always need to take bow height into account but I'd be happy just to get more people to even consider water depth when setting scope. In particular the guy below who sailed into setting his anchor and did not "back wind" the sail to set the anchor. He did have 40' of chain, which is good, but way to little scope for any type of wind over 15 knots. I think a lot of people get very lucky anchoring in benign conditions and then feel over confident. Up here in Maine when it blows over 20 it's almost a guarantee that a couple of boats will drag. Usually these boats have proper ground tackle but lack the skills necessary in order to burry the anchor in the mud and keep it there..Like I said in my post about the guy on the Sea Ray he had no markings on his rode so I had to set it by eye. I know from experience over the years (from using marked rodes) what 7:1 vs 4:1 looks like in terms of rode angle in relation to the water...