Anchor Watches

[chas]

There has been a bit on the forum lately about the contrast between the noisy marina and the peaceful anchorage. I agree but my only reservation is that I do not sleep as well at anchor - normally waking up every hour or so with a compulsion to check that I am still where I thought I was.

Do iI worry too much or are others similarly concerned?

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[MADFISH]

I do agree but don't loose sleep over it apart from at the swing of the tide. I usually make a point of being awake for that.

I think it depends where you anchor. For example, deep inside Newtown Creek on a calm night, no worries. Anchored outside same place, I am not so happy no matter what the weather!!

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[StephenSails]

I think as long as you have enough chain and the right anchor you should check when the tides is changing or if the conditions change but normally you should be ok.

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[vyv_cox]

am still where I thought I was

Several years ago a club barbecue was held at Abermenai, south end of the Menai Strait. This is a popular anchorage that is beset by tidal flow whose direction changes variously as the banks to the north cover and uncover. 50 metres to the south east the tide flows strongly in and out of the Strait through Abermenai Narrows, at perhaps 4 knots maximum.

On the day following the barbecue, one club boat had dragged to the opposite side of the Narrows at Fort Belan. Another found herself anchored on the seaward side of the Mussel Bank buoy, a distance of more than a mile.

Interestingly, both were on mixed chain/rope warp!

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[Twister_Ken]

I too get the anchor jitters.

If I'm sleeping on an anchor, I usually wake several times in the night. I also get the kedge out of the locker and ready to go before turning in, just in case!

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[Mirelle]

Depends where I am.

In an offshore anchorage, I will cat nap.

In shelter, if there is any doubt, I will set the alarm for an hour before the turn of the tide. If not in any doubt, I will attempt to sleep soundly, but SWMBO, if aboard, will certainly wake me if she is in the slightest doubt!

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[Jacket]

I'm gald someone makes an odd check. I tend to wake up an hour before the tide changes, and go back to sleep an hour after, but have noticed that I often seem to be the only boat doing this. Once in the past I've had to wake up a boat to tell them they were dragging towards the shore after the tide changed.

If its a strong wind against tide situation, I'll catnap till the tide changes, as having a rope warp I find that the boat often sails forward and wraps the warp around the keel.

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[DanTribe]

"If I'm sleeping on an anchor, I usually wake several times in the night"
I'm not surprised! Try putting the anchor over the side and sleep on a bunk.
Dan

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[Davy_S]

Good one! that made me larf that did. I have found the best way to get a good sleep is to put a small alarm clock near SWMBO ear set for turn of tide . Tell her she is now a valued crew member and it is part of the learning curve. I am sure she will appreciate this.

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[Violetta]

Decades of regular anchoring

and almost no experience of dragging, even in gales etc., have given me a lot of confidence. I would have less if we didn't use a good, heavy anchor and plenty of good, heavy chain. I don't like warp in our tidal conditions. We have both, but the only time we seriously dragged was when using the warp. Now we only use it in very shallow or very choppy water, where the shock absorption is helpful.

If I'm concerned I sometimes use the old trick of balancing a saucepan or similar somewhere, attached to the leadline, which is lowered to the bottom with a bit of slack. At the turn of the tide, or if the boat moves significantly after she has swung and settled, down clatters the saucepan.........It's suprisingly effective sometimes and a damn nuisance at others. I like it in fog, when I can't get my bearings. I believe some GPS sets have some kind of anchor alarm, but ours doesn't.

On the whole, though, tucked up some sheltered creek with the anchor buried in good east coast glaur, I sleep like a log. What's glaur? Why, it's nothing but drookit stoor. (Jimi, Claymore et. al. will comprehend)

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[Mirelle]

Re: Decades of regular anchoring

I have not had a lot of luck with the slack lead line and saucepan trick. It seems that it is only good for the hours when she has really settled - and it can be infuriating in a strong tide, which whips the leadline out from under! Slack leadline through porthole or skylight and round sleeper's wrist is a quieter variation!

A boat with a bowsprit, and hence a bobstay, can be set up with a sheer to keep the chain off the taut bobstay until slack water, when graunching noises will ensue...

I agree , big anchor, heavy chain = deep sleep!

Could I make a plea for people NOT to use an infinite length of chain, or warp, in the typical crowded anchorage of the British Isles today? 3 x depth at HW is plenty, and keeps the swinging circle sensible.

I have dragged when I have idiotically dropped the anchor at one edge of a hole and pulled it into the hole, and in pipeweed. <P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by Mirelle on 28/08/2003 17:32 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[charles_reed]

I anchor, usually on all chain, about 150 nights a year and am most impressed by those who are able to affirm they never drag.

I set the anchor alarm on the GPS - I've found that 0.01NM (20x) is a sure recipe for constant beeping, but in most cases set at 0.02 when it goes off is really a drag or stream-change situation.

If I'm in any tidal stream or >F4 wind I'll always put out two anchors (the kedge is on 20m chain and 60m warp) at 180 for stream change and 45 for wind.

I do agree that with boisterous weather I sleep lightly, but probably the most important factor is knowlege of the nature of the bottom.

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[Jacket]

<If I'm in any tidal stream or >F4 wind I'll always put out two anchors>

Either you've got an anchor windlass or more stamina and patience than me!



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[Twister_Ken]

Where can I buy an Anchor watch? Does it sound an alarm every hour?

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[billmacfarlane]

It depends on where I am and what the weather is like. If I'm in Studland I sleep like a top as the holding is excellent in hard sand and I've ridden a gale out there. In a new anchorage I'll be up a couple of times during the night just to check and I'll try to get a weather forecast before I turn in.

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[hylas]

I have again to apologize as once more I will have a completely different answer to this question..
Fortunately for me, I sleep quite well at anchor. I said fortunately as a liveabord, I sleep more than 150 nights every year, attached to my anchor.. and I can't imagine weaking up several time each night..

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[Mirelle]

Very few Anchors know how to tell the time; they are more likely to bury their heads in the sand.

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[Rowana]

If you ever visit the small fishing village of Johnshaven on the east coast of Scotland, you will find that the Anchor is nearer the water than the Ship . . . .

Figure that one out !

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[ponapay]

That\'s eay they are both pubs. nm

.

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[Rowana]

Correct !. nm

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