Anchoring Again.

[hlb]

A sailing boat underway is often more confortable than one at anchor in the same conditions.

More than once this season we arrived at our anchorage to find it more swelly than expected, and then left after sunset to sail somewhere else. In each case, it was more confortable, and every one (except the poor guy on watch) got a good nights sleep.

I would guess a planing motorboat underway in choppy conditions is unconfortable and noisy.

Nope a fast Mobo can still go slow, about 8 to 10 knots does it if really bad. The boat sits down and hugs the water. It's about picking the right speed. Some times 13/14 knots is better. Theres been times I've gone down to three or four knots, but only for a hundred yards or so. It's mostly the time for making soup. Hence the new carpets.

 

[AndieMac]

I would still rather overnight at anchor in a 35ft yacht than a 45ft mobo in any sea state other than calm - I don't think this is an unrealistic generalisation; maybe others can comment.

The yachts certainly have the weight down low, but when they start to swing, the round bilges don't offer much resistance in beam on conditions such as run around headlands and approach the boat at between 45 to 90 deg. but the motion is longer and slower than the planing mobo with hard chines.
The quick beam roll of the mobo in similar conditions is hard work, and ususally the perfect excuse for me to up anchor for more sedate waters.

The sailing cats suffer the similar motion of the mobos in a beam roll at anchor as we found out recently. In fact you get two rolls for each beam-on wave, even berthed in the midship bridgedeck cabin of a 43 footer, the snappy roll nearly through me out of the bunk on many occasions one particular night.

 

[blueglass]

I do, no qualms at all.

However it's a completely different issue in most of the UK from the Med -but I may be presumptuous regarding your nights. I realise that you know this very well from your times Wales!

Yes the Med can chop up, fast and high, but generally the dangerous wind direction is known and can be covered. We (the whole family) have spent a lot of wonderful nights at anchor around Greece and Turkey, and would just love similar conditions here - they are rare.

I would still rather overnight at anchor in a 35ft yacht than a 45ft mobo in any sea state other than calm - I don't think this is an unrealistic generalisation; maybe others can comment.

Yes, OK - I was in the med this season, but was happy at anchor in the UK whenever and wherever it was possible. My general point is that you just have to overcome the (understandable) fear of going to bed with just a lump of iron and chain between you and eternity. You just need to be in the right anchorage at the right time and anchored securely - its not difficult. Unless you build up confidence in your technique you are really really missing out.
I remember a night in Lulworth Cove where we had spent a blissful afternoon at anchor with about 10 boats, mostly yachts in fact. Come sunset they all left for marinas except us and a guy in a fairey swordsman. Speaking to some of them as they left I asked why they were leaving. It was because they had heard it could get "dodgy". I pointed to the flat calm sea and the forecast of nil wind, but they couldn't hack it. We had a great night ashore followed by a peaceful night and a breathtaking place to wake up to in the morning. The only thing that stopped the others was the morbid fear thing I mentioned earlier.

The occasional night when you get it a bit wrong and things get a bit rolly is a small price to pay.
As regards the yacht v mobo discussion I can't really comment as I have never anchored a sailing boat. All I do kow is that a Mobo is not per say the hugely uncomfortable experience you describe