Anchor by the stern to avoid veering around in a blow!

[silver-fox]

,,,,,,,but do you have the courage?(I haven't tried it yet)

I had thought of using a riding sail or maybe some sort of drogue but what are your thoughts on this proposition from the inventor of the Jordan Series drogue?

He claims that we would be more stable and safer anchored by the stern not the bow - but read on as he puts it far better than I could

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

Genius or folly?

What say you?

 

[craigsmith]

You will increase windage, might not help veering as much as you imagine depending on the boat, and again depending on the boat could be dangerous with regard to swamping. Anchors/moorings hold boats static and snatch them up against waves, not moving with the water under control courtesy of a drogue.
Otherwise...

 

[graham42]

silver fox

steve,

we moored by the stern in Trapani on a BroadBlue 385 after Peppi from a Spanish motor yacht came over and suggested we try it. at the time it was very hot and the need for cooling air was paramount. we took a line to both sterns and we just moved with the wind, plus the boat became liveable.
did notice other boats anchoring by the bows, monohulls! and they danced all over the place.
its much easier to moor from the stern than bows as often it is closer to engine controls plus you can see the bouy your trying to pickup.
from the jordan article it suggests there is a lower wind speed within a 6ft zone above the water level. this might explain why weather forcasts have wind speeds at 2metres.
what say you?

 

[charles_reed]

I've done it a couple of times, not in a real blow as the stern kedge is only a 5kg Danforth.
Boat is more stable, but the flaw in Jordan's theory, is the boat rudder which tends to try to go from lock-to-lock.
But then he's an aircraft designer.

 

[JamesFrance]

We used to spend a lot of time at anchor during mistrals and I have always used a second anchor from the stern in strong winds so as to avoid sheering about. That way the main anchor just digs in better and doesn't get snatched out.

We now have a nasty modern stern shape which would keep us awake all night if we anchored by the stern, so I won't be trying it.

 

[noelex]

I have anchored by the stern several times in my old yacht to keep the sun out of the cockpit, or for a nicer view, rather than any concerns about the anchor.
You very quickly get sick of every new boat that arrives at the anchorage wanting to know "what's wrong"
One bonus, they anchor much further away from the "weird boat".

 

[ChrisE]

I've done it a couple of times, not in a real blow as the stern kedge is only a 5kg Danforth.
Boat is more stable, but the flaw in Jordan's theory, is the boat rudder which tends to try to go from lock-to-lock.
But then he's an aircraft designer.

Erm, that's why you lock the tiller/wheel central as per Jordan's instructions?

 

[guernseyman]

Just one peripheral comment - when discussing the merits of stem vs. stern in any context it is just as well to be aware that the vagaries of many fonts make it difficult, if not impossible to tell stem from stern, and stern from stem.

 

[binch]

stern anchor

Aboard Hosanna, we had a 200kg stream (stern) anchor which was self stowing and which we used a lot in gales because the ship lay docile. No sheering about.
HOWEVER, not advisable in a tideway in case the wind drops in the night and you end up with 15mm chain cable round your screw. It only happened once. There are some lessons you really pay attention to.

 

[charles_reed]

Erm, that's why you lock the tiller/wheel central as per Jordan's instructions?

Yes and it still kicks around - suggest you try and see for yourself.

You certainly can't "lock" a tiller - you can lash it, and watch the stress on the lines. Far worse than when it's lashed, anchored bows-to

 

[ChrisE]

Yes and it still kicks around - suggest you try and see for yourself.

You certainly can't "lock" a tiller - you can lash it, and watch the stress on the lines. Far worse than when it's lashed, anchored bows-to

I've done it on our Rival38 which has wheel steering. I just engage the Monitor mechanism which effectively locks the wheel.

I can't say that I'm a fan of reverse anchoring if for no other reason than the wind blows into rather than away from the cockpit and even in the tropics I prefer a quiet cockpit.

 

[Swagman]

Why go through the hassle?

If you've a boat that hunts around at anchor simply hang a single drogue off the anchor chain at a point where it always remains at or below surface level, and the problem will be eased.
It was suggested to us (actual suggestion was a bucket) a few years back in Turkey for a high freeboard fin keeled yacht we had then. Have to say I was sceptical but you would not believe how effective it is until you try it yourself.
I am not sure I would want have our past wide transom facing any slop (too noisy) but I definately would not try to ride out a 60 knot Meltemi when stern anchored, or indeed with a riding sail.
But have done so with our simple Plastimo drogue on the anchor chain.
Cheers
JOHN

 

[ChrisE]

I am not sure I would want have our past wide transom facing any slop (too noisy) but I definately would not try to ride out a 60 knot Meltemi when stern anchored, or indeed with a riding sail.
But have done so with our simple Plastimo drogue on the anchor chain.
Cheers
JOHN

Sounds a bit like a plan.

However, I'm not sure that I'd dismiss the riding sail so quickly. In Norway, almost all of the smaller (<40') fishing boats sport them. They are a double sail permanently mounted from a mizzen with a pair of spars holding the sails apart. They ride some serious blows up there with them.

If I can find it I'll post the design of such a sail arrangement. Someone from this parish has used them to effect in F10+ in anchorages in The Faroes.

Edit
Here's the link