Sailing while on Anchor

[shemandr]

And yes, DanoDano, the 356 is a Huntasaurus.
I would actually prefer to be rafted with another boat, in a calm anchorage, to dampen the swinging then to go it alone. When the boat fetches up it jerks the rode and its hard to sleep if that's going on all night.
I've used ChuckBear's approach with success but the line did rub off some blue bottom paint and worse yet stained its storage locker.
I'm interested in a bridle but when I started measuring my boat I realized the bow cleats are 4' back from the bow. I couldn't imagine how any bridle wouldn't chafe the fiberglass. I'll look at the diagrams more carefully.

 

[Chuckbear]

I've used ChuckBear's approach with success but the line did rub off some blue bottom paint and worse yet stained its storage locker.

Not sure how you managed that since the line would have to be in the water. If it is in the water then there is no wind and if there is no wind you are not sailing at anchor so would not need the extra line. We have used this approach dozens of time for various reasons and the line has never been under the boat, even in reversing currents. Chuck

 

[Stu Jackson]

What Chuck describes is a "bridle" and I learned about it from a Lyn & Larry Pardey book. I do it, but run the aft end to a jib sheet winch for easier adjustments.

 

[Chuckbear]

What Chuck describes is a "bridle" and I learned about it from a Lyn & Larry Pardey book. I do it, but run the aft end to a jib sheet winch for easier adjustments.

We actually use the primary winches also so we can adjust the lines. I just wanted to make the explanation simple. Thanks Stu. Chuck

 

[David in Sandusky]

A problem with a second anchor from the stern

Here is a quote from our 2007 cruise blog about anchoring north of Camelot Island in the 1,000 Islands:

"I had put the second anchor over the stern to hold us steady in shifting breezes. Despite having only 60 feet of chain and line in 30 feet of water, it worked very well. Our first sign that all was not as we thought came as we tried to raise the anchor on Saturday morning. Although I could move it, it was very heavy. There was thirty foot of chain, but that still seemed too little to account for having to use the cockpit winch to bring up the line. Once the chain was up, I could only bring in about 6 feet at a time with my best efforts and good rests between pulls.

"Finally we got the anchor near the surface, and saw the problem. Dragging a plow over the bottom on a short scope had set the anchor in the crotch of a sizeable tree! With the water-logged tree hanging from the anchor about 3 feet below the surface, we stopped to think. How would we ever get out of this snag? Would we have to just leave the anchor? Then David remembered the tipping hole at the top of the anchor. We made a line fast to this key feature, and sure enough, as we took a strain on it, the anchor tilted out of the crotch, and the snag dropped off, and disappeared into the water below us. After a rest to recover, we finished a normal departure from the anchor and motored out of the Fleet Island Group."

So we found that dragging the anchor slowed our swinging, but dragging the bottom without adequate scope to set and hold, we caught something!

While Lady Lillie does sail around her anchor, we have slept through gale force winds while she was doing so. The shock absorbing capabilites of a 7X scope include the chain segment, the catenary, and a good length of nylon rode. I think it just serves to set the anchor better, and we have never found evidence to the contrary while hauling the anchor after a big blow.

 

[Allan Frey]

Reminds me of a time I anchored in a Caribbean island harbor. When I tried to bring up the anchor with a winch it was almost impossible. When it got it near the surface I saw that it had snagged an anchor from a 17th or 18th century ship; the old anchor was about 10 feet in size. Using another winch and rolling hitches, I was able to get rid of it.

It would have been a nice trophy.

Allan

 

[Rich Stidger]

I have a 2005 Hunter 41 that, while at anchor would swing 90 degrees. I purchased a riding sail from Banner Marine. Banner said it would cut the swing by 20 degrees and it did, from 90 to 70.

Which riding sail did you buy? Was it the one that has two panels that tie to both port and stbd, or was it a single flat sail?

A friend bought the single flat sail a couple years ago and although it did help it wasn't "The" solution. I'm thinking that the Vee-shaped twin riding sail would work much better.

 

[zeehag]

one of my neighbors uses a sabot sail affixed to his backstay, but you havent one.........have you tried using a bridle off the bow to your anchor?? or add a snubber to the anchor rode to forma bridle?? i noticed my fin keel, spade rudder sloop does much better when secured with a bridle system.