I have a 2005 H41. We sail in the Pacific NW and anchor frequently. The H41 tends to sail or yaw all over the place on the hook or on a buoy. My theory is that the mast is so far forward on this boat and with a small portion of the furling main exposed that it blows off in one direction then in the lulls, the weight of the tackle pulls it back the other way and off it goes. We've actually sailed over a state park buoy with the wind behind us and the current on the nose. Anyone have a similar experience? I'm contemplating a riding sail. I've had numerous boats and sailed the NW for 30 years but none have had such bad manners at anchor.
H41 Sails at Anchor
- Thread starter mlcraddock
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It's a known trait of the newer Hunters. There is plenty of info in the archives and help for even those that have no backstay.
Found the archives....scrolled thru 5800 threads so far and haven't found anything. I'll keep looking.
Try this thread
http://forums.hunter.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=123242&highlight=anchor
Patrik
http://forums.hunter.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=123242&highlight=anchor
Patrik
I read that old thread and other than setting another anchor it didn't have much in it. There of course are lots of times (most times) that you can not set a second anchor, and of course this doesn't help when mooring.
Lets hear more stories on whether owners have used a raidings ail; whether it helped and how much, and what type of riding sail they used.
Lets hear more stories on whether owners have used a raidings ail; whether it helped and how much, and what type of riding sail they used.
Its hard work but I used the search facility at the very top of this page - the one in the blue header - and typed riding sail anchor and selected "All words" and "Title Author and Message" (default settings anyway).
I got 155 responses all of which looked relevant and several of which were the same thread so it was only necessary to open each one once.
Much has been written on this topic which is why there is so much comment.
I got 155 responses all of which looked relevant and several of which were the same thread so it was only necessary to open each one once.
Much has been written on this topic which is why there is so much comment.
Try the FinDelta from Banner Bay. My 2008 38 sailed like a banshee on anchor. Sometimes in circles. Disoncerting when every boat in the anchorage is going one way and you are 180 degrees opposite.
Got a Findelta and it settled down dramatically. Sail works without a back stay.
Got a Findelta and it settled down dramatically. Sail works without a back stay.
I have experienced this sailing against the anchor onboard chartered Beneteau 44s in the Caribbean. I always felt it a result of the action of the wind on the hull. The wind is trying to throw the bow around, but the bow is prevented from being blown away by the anchor rode so there you go gaining on the anchor until the anchpr pulls the bow across the eye of the wind and takes the boat across to the other side for a similar trip. I noticed other boats there flying a "diaper" (about 4-5 ft. right triangle sail) that was run up the boom lift line and tied off forward to the boom or mast to hold it tight and fully spread. This seemed to help prevent this sailing by holding the stern back straight.
This will explain what you are dealing with:
http://www.jordanseriesdrogue.com/D_14.htm
Basically, a modern sailboat design like a Hunter has a high cabin top for maximum headroom, a mast pushed far forward, and usually one or two furling sails on the bow. The result is that most of your windage is forward of your center of mass, and your boat is basically like an arrow being thrown backward - it will always want to turn around and put the feathers in back. So you're sort of asking the question "how can I shoot an arrow backward and not have it keep trying to turn around in flight."
The only real fix is to anchor by the stern. You can improve the situation with a large (huge) riding sail (which will introduce its own problems if the winds really come up), or an easier approach may be to bend a line to your anchor rode, let out ten feet or so, and then take the line to a midship cleat and take some tension on it to cock the boat to the wind, forcing it to one side of the arc it wants to sail on at anchor. The only cure though is to anchor by the stern. Well, that, or take down your headsails, move your mast six feet aft, and cut down your cabin top. That might work. That and the riding sail.
http://www.jordanseriesdrogue.com/D_14.htm
Basically, a modern sailboat design like a Hunter has a high cabin top for maximum headroom, a mast pushed far forward, and usually one or two furling sails on the bow. The result is that most of your windage is forward of your center of mass, and your boat is basically like an arrow being thrown backward - it will always want to turn around and put the feathers in back. So you're sort of asking the question "how can I shoot an arrow backward and not have it keep trying to turn around in flight."
The only real fix is to anchor by the stern. You can improve the situation with a large (huge) riding sail (which will introduce its own problems if the winds really come up), or an easier approach may be to bend a line to your anchor rode, let out ten feet or so, and then take the line to a midship cleat and take some tension on it to cock the boat to the wind, forcing it to one side of the arc it wants to sail on at anchor. The only cure though is to anchor by the stern. Well, that, or take down your headsails, move your mast six feet aft, and cut down your cabin top. That might work. That and the riding sail.
Wow!!! What an excellent article. Thanks! I really liked the arrow analogy. I can understand it after reading through that. So is there any reason why I cannot just drop the anchor off the stern? Hypothetical.... if I dropped and set the anchor from the bow and walked it back to the stern. Tie if off to a harness rigged between the two stern cleats so it centers.... would that work? What happens if the rode gets tangled up with the rudder? I usually use a killet when I anchor. Would that become a problem? So many questions.......
Try a sentinel!
I've had success with our 380 using a sentinel (kellet) to lower the angle from the bow to the anchor. The high bow on these hulls contributes to the tendency of these vessels to sail at anchor. I use a 15 pound mushroom anchor attached to a bronze snap shackle. The shackle snaps around the anchor rode and a light piece of line tied to the shackle and cleated on deck controls how far the sentinal slides down the rode. Ideally the sentinel is below the keel but not dragging on the bottom when the rode is straight down.
When the bow starts to swing, it first must lift the sentinel to straighten the rode. This shock absorber effect really dampens the swing. A second benefit is that in light air or current-against-wind situations, the sentinel will keep the anchor rode going straight down from the bow. This keeps the rode from leading aft of the bow and perhaps wrapping the keel.
A sentinel costs less than a riding sail and simple to rig with equipment you may already own.
I've had success with our 380 using a sentinel (kellet) to lower the angle from the bow to the anchor. The high bow on these hulls contributes to the tendency of these vessels to sail at anchor. I use a 15 pound mushroom anchor attached to a bronze snap shackle. The shackle snaps around the anchor rode and a light piece of line tied to the shackle and cleated on deck controls how far the sentinal slides down the rode. Ideally the sentinel is below the keel but not dragging on the bottom when the rode is straight down.
When the bow starts to swing, it first must lift the sentinel to straighten the rode. This shock absorber effect really dampens the swing. A second benefit is that in light air or current-against-wind situations, the sentinel will keep the anchor rode going straight down from the bow. This keeps the rode from leading aft of the bow and perhaps wrapping the keel.
A sentinel costs less than a riding sail and simple to rig with equipment you may already own.
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