Anchor setting technique

[jfm]

I see what you mean but with enough rode you would be fine to let the prevailing condition do the work for you. It’s tempting to give it a good tug but far better to let it work it’s way in over time. It does not seem to drag during the setting process as long as the chain is deployed at at least 5:1

+1

 

[MapisM]

Great pic

Positively +1.
Noelex, just curious: did that ended in an octopus salad, by chance?
As much as it looks almost like a lovely pet in that pic, I'm not sure I would have resisted the temptation...

 

[noelex]

Positively +1.
Noelex, just curious: did that ended in an octopus salad, by chance?
As much as it looks almost like a lovely pet in that pic, I'm not sure I would have resisted the temptation...

Diving on anchors I see a lot of octopuses. I have come to admire them. From their behavior it is obvious they have a reasonable amount of intelligence. They are also very brave and curious. When I first dive on anchors they are usually found hiding under the fluke, but after a few dives they usually come out, perhaps out of curiosity, perhaps to show me who is boss.

They usually have a collection of shells, often a couple of full ones that are presumably snacks for later. For a bit of fun I sometimes (temporarily) pinch one of their shells. Given half a chance they extend one of their surprisingly long tentacles to reclaim their property.

Anyway, I cannot bring myself to kill them so he/she lived.

A couple of other photos. This tiny octopus was clinging to the rollbar of our Mantus anchor. He did an amazing job of matching his colour and texture to the galvanised finish:

This guy was hiding in a hole when first seen. He did not appreciate my shell pinching game. So he puffed himself up and came out of his hiding place to discourage me from taking any more of his precious shells. Given our relative size difference they are brave creatures.

 

[MapisM]

Anyway, I cannot bring myself to kill them

Remarkable attitude. TBH, I don't think that an octopus salad ordered in a restaurant makes a lot of difference to the animal involved (unless you're vegetarian, of course!), but remarkable nonetheless...

Oh, and some other nice pics indeed, thanks for sharing them! :encouragement:

 

[vas]

Noelex,

shall I suggest that 1+1 makes two:

your experience in anchoring is remarkable (your analyses and posts in I think cruiser's forum were the ones that persuaded me to buy a Mantus)
your underwater photos are brilliant.

So,

How about putting these two together and write a nice book that most sailors would like to have onboard (or will help their friends in the quest for a suitable boaty present!) with both theory as well as lots of well edited pics? Something like "anchors in(and) their natural habitat"
Not saying it's going to pay off the cost of the new yacht, but I think it's definitely worth it!

cheers

V