We sail beautiful Kentucky Lake. Last Friday we decided to spend the night in one of our favorite coves. It is protected from winds from the south by lots of trees. It's deep enough this time of the year that you can get back real far. Well, we get there and I drop the anchor . Didn't leave a lot of scope because I didn't expect a lot of wind. Well during the night the wind shifted from the south to the north with considerable strength. I got up during the night to check and everything looked ok. When we got up in the morning the boat had dragged the anchor at least 150 yards down the bay and we were only 20 ft from shore. Fortunately for me the water is plenty deep this time of year so there was really no problem. In retrospect, I think next time I will make sure that my bow is pointed toward the nonprotected part of the bay before I drop the anchor,when I drop the anchor make sure the danforth flukes are parallel to the boat,and lastly once the anchor hits and the scope is let out- back the boat up to set the flukes. Any other recommendations?? Paul H S/V Linda Belle 95 H26
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Get a drag alarm
A GPS or Loran with anchor drag alarm is useful for peace of mind. Also, just to make sure, set a clock alarm every four hours just to check things over. Its always the unexpected that gets you.
A GPS or Loran with anchor drag alarm is useful for peace of mind. Also, just to make sure, set a clock alarm every four hours just to check things over. Its always the unexpected that gets you.
Fore and Aft
If I understood your situation correctly, it would not have hurt to either set two anchors on a Y configuration; or, anchor fore and aft. In either case, always set your anchors properly, using your engine. Also, as I have seen many other boaters mistakenly do, remember: you toss unwanted guests over the side, not your anchor. A tangled mess on the bottom will not properly set. You should always get up at least once during the night to ensure your anchor(s) are not skipping across the bottom. A hand on the anchor line for a few seconds will answer that question. I'm sure you learned your lesson for a very cheap price. Welcome to the club.
If I understood your situation correctly, it would not have hurt to either set two anchors on a Y configuration; or, anchor fore and aft. In either case, always set your anchors properly, using your engine. Also, as I have seen many other boaters mistakenly do, remember: you toss unwanted guests over the side, not your anchor. A tangled mess on the bottom will not properly set. You should always get up at least once during the night to ensure your anchor(s) are not skipping across the bottom. A hand on the anchor line for a few seconds will answer that question. I'm sure you learned your lesson for a very cheap price. Welcome to the club.
I think two common problems when anchoring
are: A) not enough scope to create a horizontal pull on the anchor B) not setting the anchor by backing down hard I generally let out more scope than required, back down with full throttle til the anchor is set then shortne scope to what I feel is necessary for dept, forecast conditions, swing room etc.
are: A) not enough scope to create a horizontal pull on the anchor B) not setting the anchor by backing down hard I generally let out more scope than required, back down with full throttle til the anchor is set then shortne scope to what I feel is necessary for dept, forecast conditions, swing room etc.
anchoring hints
In addition to the other good advice so far, I have had the best luck with the danforth anchor by doing a couple of extra things. Slowly lower the anchor while going slowly astern. If you go astern too quickly before it sets, it can skip on the bottom. By going astern as you lower, it lets the anchor settle on the bottom in the proper order....anchor, chain, and rode. If you drop it straight down and then go astern, the chain and rode can get stuck in the flukes. You may get a false set that will later give way when the wind increases. After you have let out the (more than enough) line, power up the engine to deep set it. While doing this place a thumb and finger over the rode near the bow. If you feel a vibration, the anchor is skipping. If it feels more like a rod, it is set. Good luck.
In addition to the other good advice so far, I have had the best luck with the danforth anchor by doing a couple of extra things. Slowly lower the anchor while going slowly astern. If you go astern too quickly before it sets, it can skip on the bottom. By going astern as you lower, it lets the anchor settle on the bottom in the proper order....anchor, chain, and rode. If you drop it straight down and then go astern, the chain and rode can get stuck in the flukes. You may get a false set that will later give way when the wind increases. After you have let out the (more than enough) line, power up the engine to deep set it. While doing this place a thumb and finger over the rode near the bow. If you feel a vibration, the anchor is skipping. If it feels more like a rod, it is set. Good luck.
You might need more rode than you think
Being new to sailing, I am an avid reader of sailing periodicals. Surprisingly, a high percentage of the issues have articles about anchoring, which means there is no single technique that works all the time. One highly researched article, starting with the observation that experienced sailors use as much as 13:1 in shallow water, wondered why, when conventional wisdom suggests 7:1 is enough. A computer model plus some testing suggested a new formula: 100' + 3xdepth. Hence, in 10' of water, you would use 130' (13:1), and in 25' of water, you would use 175' of rode (7:1). The model also asserted the more chain the better for holding power. If you were far back in a cove you were probably in fairly shallow water, but, with swing room issues limited your rode. This combination reduces the holding power of your anchor considerably. If your swing room is limited, you still need the appropriate length of rode, but must use a two anchor system. The pundits would never want a second anchor off the stern because the bow couldn't swing around into the wind. The resulting wave action against the stern can be noisey and uncomfortable. However, I, personally, believe that, in a well protected cove, the wave action is limited and, being an easy solution, not so bad. Besides, if there is enough wave action to wake you up, that's probably good. It's another way for you to find out things have changed! Using techniques already sited for setting your anchor well, plus the appropriate amound of chain and rode, you'll likely not have similar problems again. Good luck.
Being new to sailing, I am an avid reader of sailing periodicals. Surprisingly, a high percentage of the issues have articles about anchoring, which means there is no single technique that works all the time. One highly researched article, starting with the observation that experienced sailors use as much as 13:1 in shallow water, wondered why, when conventional wisdom suggests 7:1 is enough. A computer model plus some testing suggested a new formula: 100' + 3xdepth. Hence, in 10' of water, you would use 130' (13:1), and in 25' of water, you would use 175' of rode (7:1). The model also asserted the more chain the better for holding power. If you were far back in a cove you were probably in fairly shallow water, but, with swing room issues limited your rode. This combination reduces the holding power of your anchor considerably. If your swing room is limited, you still need the appropriate length of rode, but must use a two anchor system. The pundits would never want a second anchor off the stern because the bow couldn't swing around into the wind. The resulting wave action against the stern can be noisey and uncomfortable. However, I, personally, believe that, in a well protected cove, the wave action is limited and, being an easy solution, not so bad. Besides, if there is enough wave action to wake you up, that's probably good. It's another way for you to find out things have changed! Using techniques already sited for setting your anchor well, plus the appropriate amound of chain and rode, you'll likely not have similar problems again. Good luck.
I disagree
I don't like the formula of 100' + 3xdepth. If you anchor in 50' of water that only gives you a 5:1 ration. That changes the angle of the pull and that's the important part of the length. Sure, more rode will give more stretch, so the formula works for shallow water, but I wouldn't use that formula for deep water. As I've found out the hard way, it's always good to have two anchors out. I only have one and I've had my rode wrapped around my keel in the middle of the night when a storm came in. Very bad situation to be in. I had my anchor set right (Danforth) which was evident in the two hours it took to get it up, and the keel held against all the pressure from 50kts of wind, but I will never anchor again without two anchors. I will try a Y off the bow first, then a bow and stern anchor. I think the Y approach will be hard to do single handed though.
I don't like the formula of 100' + 3xdepth. If you anchor in 50' of water that only gives you a 5:1 ration. That changes the angle of the pull and that's the important part of the length. Sure, more rode will give more stretch, so the formula works for shallow water, but I wouldn't use that formula for deep water. As I've found out the hard way, it's always good to have two anchors out. I only have one and I've had my rode wrapped around my keel in the middle of the night when a storm came in. Very bad situation to be in. I had my anchor set right (Danforth) which was evident in the two hours it took to get it up, and the keel held against all the pressure from 50kts of wind, but I will never anchor again without two anchors. I will try a Y off the bow first, then a bow and stern anchor. I think the Y approach will be hard to do single handed though.
Franklin, we used two anchors since the '70s
We had rope rode. Took the boat to Trinidad for 10 years and back. Now we went to all chain. Unbelievable! It is SOOOO much easier!
We had rope rode. Took the boat to Trinidad for 10 years and back. Now we went to all chain. Unbelievable! It is SOOOO much easier!
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