Stop swinging while at anchor

Feb 26, 2004
22,984
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Chain goes over the bow roller. Two lines tied to deck cleats with rolling hitches or chain hooks to the chain.
 

Tom J

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Sep 30, 2008
2,319
Catalina 310 Quincy, MA
Hi, can you explain how you attach/secure the anchor rode/chain to the bridle? That connection point is critical and since I use a chain I am not sure how best to attach it to the bridle. I am also assuming the bridle should be long enough to allow the chain and bridge attachment point to be at water level.

Thanks
I use a shackle to attach the bridle to the chain. The bridle must have a loop hitch in the middle, so that it doesn't chafe in the shackle, or you could use two equal lengths of rope, preferably something stretchy, like 3-strand nylon. You can buy special hooks to grab the chain, instead of using a shackle, or use a simple grab hook, but I have tried them, and at some point, they have all fallen off the chain when the rode goes slack.
I find it easiest to attach the bridle and shackle to the chain on the foredeck and let the whole configuration out over the bow roller. Adjust the bridle so that the chain is hanging slack. You can experiment with the length and placement of the bridle. I used to secure each end of the bridle straight to a bow cleat, but lately I have run both sides of the bridle over the bow roller, and then to the bow cleats. This seems to cut down on swinging at anchor.
 
Dec 29, 2009
149
Hunter 380 Little Creek, Virginia Beach, VA
Swinging vs Sailing at anchor.

Seems like this thread may be confusing swinging at anchor and sailing at anchor. You should be swinging around your anchor as winds and tides change, especially if you are near other boats.

sailing at anchor describes a situation where a boat at anchor, while generally swings with wind and tide but also sails back and forth, literally tacking at the end of the anchor rode. Thisis caused by the wind and can put a lot of wear and tear on ground tackle and also may continuously work on the anchor making it less secure. To cure sailing, riding sails can be effective. You can also rig a bridle from your main rode to two points on your boat. The bridle can be set assymetrically either but using different attachment points, e.g., bow and midships cleats, or by making the two sides of different lenghts. The idea behind both solutions here is to cock the boat sideways in relation to the wind so it is always on the same point of sail.
Different strokes for different boats, you'll have to experiment a little to see what works for you.
 
Mar 18, 2013
13
Hunter 49 Caribbean
My Hunter 49 with its high freeboard Lots of canvas and shoal draft keel swings like a crazy drunk. My boat neighbors always had these WTF faces. For a winter project I sewed up the riding sail from Sailrite and deployed that on the topping lift with traveler centered. The results were absolutely great. swing is down to 20 degrees side to side.
Hi Brezzin,
I have same problem. Do you have picture? I need to do something. I am embarrassed !!
 
Dec 19, 2006
5,818
Hunter 36 Punta Gorda
Chain

Since adding 100' of chain and also the 2 line snupper as already mentioned
I don't sail at anchor like crazy any more.
The chain is really good holding power and the chain lays low and straight
down off the anchor roller to help less swing and the real reason for all the chain
is the holding power I now never drag my anchor.
Nick
 
Oct 25, 2011
576
Island Packet IP31 Lake St. Louis, Montreal
A variation on the bridle, mentioned in earlier posts, is to Secure one end of the bridle at the bow and the other end on a cleat at the stern. By taking up some tension on the stern line you can vary the angle of the boat to the wind which will stop much of the swinging about.

Cheers

Matt
 
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Mar 18, 2013
13
Hunter 49 Caribbean
My Hunter 49 with its high freeboard Lots of canvas and shoal draft keel swings like a crazy drunk. My boat neighbors always had these WTF faces. For a winter project I sewed up the riding sail from Sailrite and deployed that on the topping lift with traveler centered. The results were absolutely great. swing is down to 20 degrees side to side.
brezzin do you have a picture if your riding sail deployed?
 
Jan 22, 2008
319
Hunter 29.5 Gloucester, VA
We use an anchor riding sail we made from a kit from Sailright. Works pretty good. Reduces the swing a lot. If you pull your boom to one side or the other it helps it out a little more.
 
Jul 1, 2009
38
Hunter 38 Gore Bay
Swinging at Anchor

The problem is the windage on the mast and forestay infront of the centre of resistance of the hull.

See http://www.jordanseriesdrogue.com/D_14.htm

So try anchoring from the stern or add windage aft such as a riding sail.

Just wanted to say thanks for the link, the website was a fascinating read! I certainly understand a lot better what is happening with the forces on the boat that cause the swinging. Our Hunter 38 sails like crazy at anchor.

Btw, we also have a banner bay riding sail and it works wonders. This said, I think we will test anchoring from the stern just to see how it feels.
 
Mar 30, 2013
70
Hunter 356 Georgian Bay
I have found that my bridle works great for stopping the swinging at anchor. however the issue that I have is that the bridle lines on the port and starboard sides chafe my gel coat at the bow as the both swings to and fro in stronger conditions. I have tried letting it down below the waterline in the hopes that it would clear the hull only to find that it has taking my bottom paint off and more. Short of adding baggywrinkles is there anything I can do, I guess this is another good reason to use anchor sail instead.