Anchor Etiquette

[DAKA]

I usually put down 4 X depth of chain.

I check my depth and let the chain out as marked with colour cable ties.


As the tide rises I return to my boat and pay out a little more.


Is this the right way or should I calculate the highest tide and pay out 4x high tide ?

Or just let the whole lot go ?

We all need to be the same or carnage is created as the tide turns.



The reason I ask is that at the weekend a Yacht with 24 x depth of chain swung into me and had the audacity to give me a black look /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

 

[Dyflin]

I think 4x depth is being a bit stingy to start with...

 

[oceanfroggie]

I usually put out a minimum of 7x HW depth, and often a lot more. Normally I leave it alone and let her swing. Folk setting their anchors at HW should make allowance for the extra few meters swing at LW. It's more about cop and common sense than 'Etiquette'

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

How do you know the yacht had 24 x depth of chain? Anyway seems a mite excessive to me. Was there a hurricane forecast?
IMHO, anchoring etiqutte depends on who got there first. If said yottie got to the anchorage before you, lobbed 24 x depth of chain over the side and was swinging peacefully until you came along, then IMHO it's up to you to ensure you don't drop your hook within his swinging arc. On the other hand, the opposite also applies if you got there first
Personally I would calculate the amount of chain I needed on the basis of the max ht of tide whatever time I got to the anchorage because I'd probably forget to let more out or take it in later

 

[SnaxMuppet]

I would let out all you are going to need when you first set the anchor.

Doing it your way will mean that as the tide rises you have progressively less and less rode out as a fraction of your depth.

For example... if you are in 3m when you set the anchor then by your rule of 4 x depth you would initially let out 12m. Now the tide rises to 5m by your rule of 4 x depth you should have 20m out but you only have 12m. Your x4 is now reduced to just x1.6!!! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Not good.

Even if you let it out at regular intervals then the same principle applies - as soon as the tide rises by any amount your x4 is now less than x4.

I would also ask whether x4 is enough anyway? On my Dayskipper course the recommendation was as a minimum x4 for all chain and x6 for chain and warp. It was stressed that these were really minimums and so if there is anything of a sea/tide/wind (which there nearly always is) or if the holding is not 100% then you will want to consider more. Personally I use x3 for a lunch/fishing stop and x5 as my personal minimum or more likely x6 or x7 as conditions dictate for overnight. If I think I need more than x7 then perhaps I shouldn't be anchoring... if I have the choice!!!

 

[DAKA]

We arrived at LW, I put 4X down + a bit for an hour of water Arni(usually back after an hour for more cold beer/bubbly).

About to leave when tide turned, I waited and it became apparent we were too close so I moved.

I was amazed at the size of swing the Yacht made, he had been there overnight ?? and had a massive amount of chain down.

Very few anchorages have unlimited space and it seams unreasonable that anyone should put down 100 m of chain in 2 m and not expect problems when the tide changes.

 

[SnaxMuppet]

[ QUOTE ]
Very few anchorages have unlimited space and it seams unreasonable that anyone should put down 100 m of chain in 2 m and not expect problems when the tide changes.

[/ QUOTE ]

Now that IS excessive!!!

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Antisocial I agree but having got there first, I suppose he felt it was his perogative to put out as much chain as he felt necessary and maybe he planned to stay a few days, I dunno

 

[DAKA]

Yes I agree, I stuffed up /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

In future I will allow for the idiot factor.

I expect others to be a considerate as I , and I would take up chain in a busy area and put more down overnight when the beach bums had left.

I live and learn, I have been surprised at the amount of 'spare' chain others are deploying.

No harm done as I did wait for the tide turn and he gave me a thumbs up after I had moved which was nice to see /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[JohnRob]

In congested anchorages where many boats arrive and are left for the day - Sark for example - 3, 5 or 6 times hw depth is not unreasonable in settled conditions. Anything more does seem anti-social as it'll almost inevitably mean a coming together(yachts and mobos do swing diffeerntly to tide and wind, and you do get funny effects of downdrafts off the cliffs playing against the tide - I've seen mine 180 degs to another, once). And when you arrive, its unlikely you can tell how much they've got out because its probably only the weight of chain that its swinging around.

All that chain out must increase the liklihood of someone laying theirs across it.

In unsettled conditions, strikes me you should assume they've got more out, and allow for that swinging arc over the whole tide.

And in those conditions, I'd be heading for the comfort of a cozy marina somewhere!

ItS

 

[duncan]

3 years ago Col ourselves and 2 other forum boats had the same in Newton Creek - this time we arrived second and looked to anchor in an available slot. Yacht had similar out and shouted across the 40m (uptide!) that their anchor was over where we were planning to drop. Bluntly we couldn't believe it (but they were right!). Suggested they might like to shorten up and sit like everyone else but they declined so we did our best, sat with everyone else and they joined us about 2 hours later.........

with hindsight we should have gone over and anchored right next to where they were sitting 'cos they weren't going to get there again once they moved at all.

conditions F0 - F1 actual and forecast.