If you're tight on room would you bother carrying a stern anchor to the San Juans and Gulf Islands? I've got a Fortress FX-16 and about 200 feet of rode that I replaced with a Mantus 25# and 330 ft of rode, I'm debating whether to bring it or not. If I was flush with extra space it would be a no brainer but what do you think with limited space, would it be useful?
Brian
Yes. I carry three anchors for the yacht and one dinghy anchor when I‘m fully loaded for cruising. Bow & stern anchoring is, regrettably, commonplace in Southern California, especially at the offshore islands. One reason is b/c much anchoring is done in open roadsteads, sometimes up close to the island to achieve the shallow water. The skippers wish the yacht to face the open sea, the direction of incoming swell. Otherwise, lacking wind pressure such as most nights, the yacht may lay beam to the seas and roll all night. The yacht can rock excessively even when facing the seas. Hence, “flopper stoppers.”
Also, when anchored in very tight coves, skippers wish to prevent the boat from swinging into rocks or shoals with wind changes. This could require bow & stern, plus a third anchor off a beam. In anchorages where there is not room for many yachts to swing together, each on a single hook, everyone will put down bow and stern anchors so the yachts can lie closer together, making space for new arrivals. If you are the new arrival, you’ll likely have to anchor bow & stern as well, or else move on. So, it’s best to have the second anchor aboard.
We encountered a related situation in King Harbor @ Redondo Beach once. Visiting for a weekend, there were NO slips available. The only way to remain the night was to anchor behind the sea wall, which was permitted. BUT—you were required to anchor bow & stern. Since we had two anchors aboard, it was not a problem. Our friends who had gone there a couple of weeks earlier faced the same situation. But lacking the second anchor, were forced to return to Long Beach, 12 n.mi., nearing nightfall, and of course miss out on their weekend. Now, there are bow-stern moorings there. Free to use.
The “regrettable“ part from above, however, is that skippers see many yachts so anchored and seem to get the notion that that is how they should anchor even when none of the above situations apply. They mimic it, but may or may not understand whether there is an actual need for it.
Nearly all of my exploration of BC and the San Juans has been as skipper of bareboat charters. The charter boats are usually not equipped with a second anchor. Their owners essentially do not so equip them. There may or may not be stern ties aboard to run ashore. I always ask that a spool be put aboard for me. I’ve used them in Princess Cove (Wallace Island), and in the Harmony Islands up Jervis Inlet toward Princess Louisa. (Very pretty place.) So, not that often.
I don’t really like doing it, and would much rather swing to a single hook with ample space around me!