anchoring any tips?

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silverdawn

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I sail single handed 24ft long keel boat never done any single handed anchoring, it would be short stay ie in river roach/crouch i have an auto helm which would help while going forward to drop the anchor.,i would welcome any tips and your own methods.
 
One more tip/reminder: with the engine in 'astern', most yachts come stern-to-wind, (or close to it). By adjusting revs, the yacht can be held in this attitude, 'hanging on the prop', and going nowhere through the water (but moving over the ground with any stream of course).
It is prudent to lash the helm amidships, so that if the wind lulls while you are on the foredeck and the yacht makes sternway, it does not start going round in circles!
This dodge can be useful for preparing to lay, and after weighing, the anchor.
 
Re holding the rudder amidships, I agree.

When sailing singlehanded you sometimes need to leave the helm for a 1/2 minute to place a rope or whatver.

I have two elasticated ropes (6mm diam) which I have tied to the pushput and are looped onto the tiller. Both are tight enough to hold the tiller in the mid position, and loose enough to be able to make a hard turn with the tiller ie to push the tiller rogh over.

Not a long term nor reliable method of keeping the boat on a straight heading, but enough to hold the tiller midships for 20 to 30 seconds.

Re anchoring abd any other manouver whilst single handed, just plan exactly what to do, and take your time.
 
In the previous thread, someone suggested dropping the anchor plus a whole load of chain on the bottom before returning to the cockpit and putting the engine in reverse.

I would not be happy with the heap of chain in case it overlies the anchor. Lower the anchor till it hits bottom plus a metre or more so the anchor stock is lying flat, put the engine in slow reverse, pay out cable as the boat moves back till there's enough, tie it off so the engine digs the anchor in, then when all is steady kill the engine.
 
I respectfully suggest that as you must not have way on when dropping the anchor (except in very strong currents), an autohelm won't help at all.

You should be able to lay out the gear on deck, motor up to your chosen spot, bring the boat to a halt, then wander forward and drop the hook. Return to the cockpit, have a cup of tea while the anchor sets and the rode lays itself out before giving it a tug in astern to make sure it's properly set.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I had a similar question a few weeks ago.

[/ QUOTE ]
And a very useful thread it was too (for a singlehander who hasn't yet plucked up the courage to anchor!)

How did you get on?
 
I prepare the foredeck well in advance - some or all of chain out plus anchor ready to drop.

When I have decided where to drop it I stop the engine and helm until the way has all but gone and go up to the foredeck, and drop when the boat has just started falling back.

If you pay out as the boat drops back you will leave a nice straight chain.

When some of the chain is out (depending on depth) I go back to the helm and with sensible use of power dig the anchor in. If dragging then get the anchor up at this stage and start again.

Drop the rest of the chain out as she pays out - little more astern -check for drag and get the beer out (or whatever0.

Leaving - pull it all up and leave! I leave slowly under autohlem (once clear of boats) to clear the foredeck, swill off the mud and secure the anchor on chocks.

Try it first in an area with loads of swinging room so you know how far you will travel between getting the anchor off the floor, and getting back to the cockpit, as this is probably the most risk part.
 
it is not anchoring single handed that is the prob lem, but getting the chain washed and stowed and anch secure before leaving that needs careful planing, indeed that leads to careful thought on selection of the anchourage it self.

that said , I have personally enjoyed many x 10s of single handed overnight anchorages & slept like the proverbial log.


Interestingly I also put my auto P on as i find it keeps her drifting straight as the last momentum is lost, if space is slightly critical, without a need to return to the w house and make corrections. I am sure the same will help you.

go for it, havent been in the roach since I was 12, but have fond memories of pagelsham creek


my most recent single handed anch

warmond.JPG


at warmond NL
 
another is to have the chain flaked down the deck ..... after checking chart etc. for expected depth and applying your scope factor .... 3x, 5x etc. You drag out that amount of chain and as said - flake down on deck.
If the chain is laid down the side decks and each layer on top is slightly shorter than previous - it should run reasonably well as engine is put astern. Having it down the side deck puts a bit of resistance in it to running out .... so that it doesn't just plop on top of itself in a heap. At interval if you want - its easy enough to snub the chain by holding a bight so that it doesn't run out - then let it go. Once all chain is out ... harden it up with a good kick astern.
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I had a similar question a few weeks ago.

[/ QUOTE ]
And a very useful thread it was too (for a singlehander who hasn't yet plucked up the courage to anchor!)

How did you get on?

[/ QUOTE ]
Still to get out there and try it..... didn't actually get out there afterall - other things to fix first. Got another week booked off (Aug b/hol) so I am definitely going away then, and hopefully I will get the outboard all hunky dory (see other thread) by then.

Thanks for asking though.
 
During my boat angling skippering period I had to anchor anything up to 3 times a day and although I had 8-11 anglers aboard effectively I was single handed because to ask them to get involved normally meant trouble /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Anchoring is a piece of pi*s in the following conditions.
1. No wind - some tide.
2. No wind - no tide.
3. Wind & tide together.

However the above very rarely happens and what we get is wind over tide - wind at as near 90 degs to tide.

What I found the best method for successfully anchoring first time was
1. Prepare the anchor and warp first (very important).
2. Bring the boat to a stand still where you want to drop the anchor.
3. When still and just as her head wants to fall off - let go the anchor.
4. Pay out the warp as she drops off and let go what you think is 3x depth.
5. Then wrap the warp around the cleat and "snatch" the warp by holding it momentarily on the cleat and releasing it.
6. This serves to straighten the chain and slowly "dig" the anchor in.
7. Once the anchor digs in you will know because the ships head will come round v.quickly - at this point you can let out enough scope to cope with expected conditions.

It always worked for me - however I would say that I was always anchoring in open water so recovering the tackle was never a problem, I had plenty of time.

Peter.
 
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