how often do you anchor?

[Bosun Higgs]

Given the amount of heat and the number of posts generated by the Rocna saga, you would think that most of us spend a lot of the year at anchor. No doubt some do, but my guess is that most of us anchor but rarely and then only in settled weather. So lets have a poll and see

 

[sailorman]

Given the amount of heat and the number of posts generated by the Rocna saga, you would think that most of us spend a lot of the year at anchor. No doubt some do, but my guess is that most of us anchor but rarely and then only in settled weather. So lets have a poll and see

where's the poll
we do often anchor but its awfully muddy

 

[photodog]

As often as possible...

 

[prv]

Worth asking as a proportion of nights aboard rather than raw number? I anchor overnight far more often than I sleep on a mooring or marina, but the number of times I do any of them is probably less than many people.

Pete

 

[maby]

Very rarely thus far - we didn't have a windlass and pulling it up by hand nearly killed me! Will be more often this year - shiny new electric windlass!

 

[VicMallows]

Pretty well always. Only exceptions: when wife wants to go shopping at Newport, IOW; or the occasional club rally.

 

[swatchways]

Is there a never option? I have to confess I never anchor, it makes me nervous. I remember we used to anchor a lot when I was little, and it was never a problem, but somehow it's scarier when I have to set the anchor myself. I only really sail with newbie friends at the moment, so I feel like I need someone else that knows what they're doing around the first time I try anchoring. Maybe anchoring needs to be this year's target....

 

[VicMallows]

pulling it up by hand nearly killed me! Will be more often this year - shiny new electric windlass!

Suggest you practice techniques for freeing the anchor, or that shiny windlass might not last too long

 

[john_morris_uk]

We anchor nearly every time we use the boat. It's not always overnight but it often is!

I have written to Weymouth explainsong politely that I won't be paying £120 per night to anchor to watch the Olympics but that changes the subject perhaps?

 

[Bosun Higgs]

We anchor nearly every time we use the boat. It's not always overnight but it often is!

I have written to Weymouth explainsong politely that I won't be paying £120 per night to anchor to watch the Olympics but that changes the subject perhaps?

I'm not sure why you would want to watch anyway. I always reckon sailing is like sex - a participant sport not one to watch as a spectator.

 

[john_morris_uk]

Is there a never option? I have to confess I never anchor, it makes me nervous. I remember we used to anchor a lot when I was little, and it was never a problem, but somehow it's scarier when I have to set the anchor myself. I only really sail with newbie friends at the moment, so I feel like I need someone else that knows what they're doing around the first time I try anchoring. Maybe anchoring needs to be this year's target....

. Sounds like a bit of lack of self confidence? I prefer to be somewhere between your mental attitude and my friends who just comes to where he wants to anchor and throws over a pile of chain and his anchor and goes to the pub or goes to sleep with barely a glance at any transits etc. The fact that he very rarely if EVER drags or gets into trouble ought to give you some confidence that if you take a little care you will be fine! Try just stopping for lunch, then longer, then somewhere quiet overnight. In some places and situations your boat wouldnt move with just the chain resting on the bottom, let alone an anchor on the end of it.

 

[lustyd]

I'm not sure why you would want to watch anyway. I always reckon sailing is like sex - a participant sport not one to watch as a spectator.

A quick look at the internet shows that you are in the minority there too. Porn is about the biggest industry around and is the reason many of the technologies we now use were invented (video streaming, online payments etc etc).

 

[Danny]

I always reckon sailing is like sex ...

+1 - in both activities most of us like to think we're above average performers.

 

[wazza]

I must say when we first got into sailing, about 16 years ago, we had an unfortunate incident, not a nice experience at all and that stopped us from anchoring for quite some time...only harbours and bouys for us..
Then 6 years ago we bought our current boat and for some unknown reason started to anchor again... now we anchor 99% of the time. Our 3 week holiday in the summer is ONLY spent on anchor, its as good as the sailing

 

[ukmctc]

we live aboard and anchor as much as possible to cut costs.

 

[Bosun Higgs]

Got to say I'm a bit surprised by the results suggesting that the most common is around 30 nights per annum. Maybe those who never anchor simply havent filled in the poll.

But the results do raise queries about how people equip their boats to anchor that often. Water capacity for example - my boat is a decent modern mono ( Starlight 35) but only has 50 gals of water as indeed did its predecessor. Thats maybe 3 days endurance using the shower. And what about leccy if you are using the fridge 24/7 and not linked up to mains.

So how do you do it?? Or are you roughing it with tinned food and no showers?

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

Why does the number of voters represent 20% of the number of views?

Are we shy to admit we anchor very little?

 

[West Coast]

Got to say I'm a bit surprised by the results suggesting that the most common is around 30 nights per annum. Maybe those who never anchor simply havent filled in the poll.

But the results do raise queries about how people equip their boats to anchor that often. Water capacity for example - my boat is a decent modern mono ( Starlight 35) but only has 50 gals of water as indeed did its predecessor. Thats maybe 3 days endurance using the shower. And what about leccy if you are using the fridge 24/7 and not linked up to mains.

So how do you do it?? Or are you roughing it with tinned food and no showers?

Roughing it! With the same boat as you, managed a week cruise last year from Oban round the north of skye and back to Oban with the challenge of remote anchorages only, no stops at shops, power or water. Only anchorages, our own carried water and stores - great! fridge etc running, but smart charger on alternator solves that problem.

 

[swatchways]

. Sounds like a bit of lack of self confidence?
I prefer to be somewhere between your mental attitude and my friends who just comes to where he wants to anchor and throws over a pile of chain and his anchor and goes to the pub or goes to sleep with barely a glance at any transits etc. The fact that he very rarely if EVER drags or gets into trouble ought to give you some confidence that if you take a little care you will be fine! Try just stopping for lunch, then longer, then somewhere quiet overnight. In some places and situations your boat wouldnt move with just the chain resting on the bottom, let alone an anchor on the end of it.

Thanks for the encouraging post! I've spent plenty time at anchor, on other boats, and it never bothers me, but somehow being the responsible one is a different ball game! I think your idea of stopping for lunch is a very good one - I'll be trying it this season.

 

[maby]

Suggest you practice techniques for freeing the anchor, or that shiny windlass might not last too long

It was not that it was jammed - just heavy!