Problems heading into the wind at anchor

[nmbsailorgirl]

This past June, we chartered a Moorings Beneteau 37.2 in the BVI and really enjoyed it - enough we are considering one - except for one major issue. We really had a tough time keeping her head into the wind while at anchor. Other boats (mostly Cats) were calm while any little gust of wind would head us 45 degrees off in one direction and then 45 degrees off in the other. We were overall faced and anchored in the right direction.

Now, I fully admit, we were new together as crew, and my crewmate was completely new to sailing, and my previous experience did not involve a lot of anchoring.

However, the issue also happened when connected to the mooring ball.

So, is this a particular issue with the Beneteau Oceanis 37.2 or did we newbs really do something wrong?

Thanks for any help you can give us!

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

Very Common Indeed .....................

So, is this a particular issue with the Beneteau Oceanis 37.2 or did we newbs really do something wrong?

................................ on a great many sail boats.

This just happens to be the latest article discussed here. A search of "riding sails" under the search menu will give you enough reading material from here until next summer.

http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=1051678&highlight=How to stop swing on mooring

Welcome to the site.

 

[Tejas]

Here is a link on using an anchor riding sail.

http://www.sailrite.com/Using-an-Anchor-Riding-Sail-Instructions

 

[JK_Boston_Catalina310]

This is common on many modern boats. The issue has to do with the large amount of freeboard that gives them the interior volume. We have it on our Catalina 310. You do get used to it.

The only real answer is what has been given, you get or make a anchor sail.

Fair winds,

Jesse

 

[nmbsailorgirl]

Thank you!

Extremely helpful! Thank you all who responded so quickly! The links you sent describe the problem exactly. I had searched but was not searching for the right terms.

I will read through them in detail tonight!

~~~Lisa

 

[gleason99]

I have a 37 and have not experienced this issue, lock the wheel down and make sure the rudder is centered

 

[Cwoody]

If you were on a Moorings Beneteau then you had a stack-pack sail cover. Although convenient, they also will add to the boats tendency to ride on anchor. We removed our stack pack and replaced with a lazyjack system and a sail cover. Definitely reduced the ride at anchor and increased performance under sail. Think it looks better too!

One other thing. What kind of bridle were you using to hook up to mooring balls?

Cheers CW

 

[Stu Jackson]

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f74/anchor-spring-lines-653.html

 

[nmbsailorgirl]

bridle for mooring balls

One other thing. What kind of bridle were you using to hook up to mooring balls?

The first evening we used just one line tied to the mooring ball line. When that was disastrous, we watched how others were hooking up and put the line in a v-formation off the bow to the mooring line. That made us feel better about being tied up, but did nothing for the roll. One thing to note - in most cases, we did not really have a strong current that was causing the roll (I don't think). We did look at the windage of the cockpit and sail cover, so its good to know that worked!

 

[Gunni]

Is the concern swinging at anchor, or rolling at anchor? Swinging at anchor in the tradewinds is kinda a fact of life, unless you set a bahamian anchor config. Especially when you are in a smallish boat for the conditions - a 37' boat is small by tradewind standards and I would expect it to sail about on anchor.

As crowded as most of the anchorages in the BVI are, you need to swing with the group. And if you are on a mooring, the swing is factored in and you need to stay with the group's swing. Don't set a stern or second anchor, someone is likely to swing across your rode and ruin your sleep

Picking the right anchorage in the Carib is a big deal, if you choose unwisely you may find yourself rolling all night, which is very uncomfortable. But swinging at anchor is part of the experience. If you don't like that experience, next time charter a +45' boat.

 

[nmbsailorgirl]

Is the concern swinging at anchor, or rolling at anchor?

Hmm, I guess it would help for me to know the right terminology! Sorry! At anchor or on a mooring, the boat would go 45 degrees to the wind on each side even though other boats were calmly pointed into the wind.

The pointing back and forth in itself wasn't really the comfort issue as if the waves were calm, we'd never notice. But even in a calm anchorage, it would cause uncomfortable pitching and rolling.

If other boats were also oscillating back and forth, then we would have just chalked it up to wind vs current, but other boats were rock steady pointed to the wind with just minor shifting. We were wildly shifting back and forth. Since it was just us, I assumed we had not learned the secret!

Of course, most of the other boats were catamarans or bigger heavier monohulls, although we watched similar boats to us lay calm.

 

[s/v HyLyte]

Hmm, I guess it would help for me to know the right terminology! Sorry! At anchor or on a mooring, the boat would go 45 degrees to the wind on each side even though other boats were calmly pointed into the wind.

The pointing back and forth in itself wasn't really the comfort issue as if the waves were calm, we'd never notice. But even in a calm anchorage, it would cause uncomfortable pitching and rolling.

If other boats were also oscillating back and forth, then we would have just chalked it up to wind vs current, but other boats were rock steady pointed to the wind with just minor shifting. We were wildly shifting back and forth. Since it was just us, I assumed we had not learned the secret!

Of course, most of the other boats were catamarans or bigger heavier monohulls, although we watched similar boats to us lay calm.

What you are describing is "Sailing on the Anchor" and arises because the windage forward of the center of lateral resistance of the yacht is greater than that aft, commonly caused by a furled headsail. The best fix is the use of a Riding Sail. A small sail set free flying between the masthead and transom that keeps the yacht oriented into the wind. Riding sails are not very costly and can be very effective. Google "Banner Bay Marine" and take a look at the FinDelta riding sail.

FWIW...

 

[nmbsailorgirl]

FWIW...

All the advise is worth tons! Thank you!

 

[Joe2954]

I built the smaller anchor riding sail kit from sailrite for my 343. I could never quite figure out how to set it up on twin backstays. I used it setup on one backstay with the leach tied back to the mast.
It didn't seem to be big enough for the high freeboards of Beneteau so I have the larger kit waiting to be sewn up.
I have since seen a suggestion to attach it to the topping lift and pull the boom to one side.
We often anchor where the current is strong enough to swing the stern around into the wind unless the wind is up.

 

[Tom J]

I built the smaller anchor riding sail kit from sailrite for my 343. I could never quite figure out how to set it up on twin backstays. I used it setup on one backstay with the leach tied back to the mast.
It didn't seem to be big enough for the high freeboards of Beneteau so I have the larger kit waiting to be sewn up.
I have since seen a suggestion to attach it to the topping lift and pull the boom to one side.
We often anchor where the current is strong enough to swing the stern around into the wind unless the wind is up.

I usually swing the boom to one side, and attach the main halyard to the head of the riding sail, and run the clew lines to two cable cleats on the twin backstays. The tack line is run down to the gooseneck area, and adjusted to keep the sail level. One technique that seems to work well is to keep the tack line loose enough that the tack can move off center and catch the wind more quickly, pulling the stern back to center.