LadyInBed
Well-Known Member
It's called 'Secret' because it doesn't give any Lat and Longs, so you have to hunt to find where he's talking about if you don't know the area!
Anchoring in Brittany
- Thread starter Leisure 27
- Start date
Leisure 27
Well-Known Member
[3889]
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IMHO, yes, or a Spade; much better use of weight than all that chain.
That said, you’ll have really kicked it off!!
All you need to do now, is ask if the SNCF in Brittany is as good as the RNLI and the forum will spontaneously self-destruct
I'm pretty sure there is unanimity that SNCF's trains do not perform as well at sea as the RNLI's lifeboats.
Leisure 27
Well-Known Member
Leisure 27
Well-Known Member
I did not think of that. Looks like I am staying with the plough. Site will not let me upload photo. Thanks
BobnLesley
Well-Known Member
We sailed/anchored pretty much all around Brittany, indeed all the way to Turkey on a 27' Vega with 50m of chain, no windlass and at times some wild'n'windy weather. We subsequently got a 70m chain (it was free) but quickly chopped 10m off to ease the 'weight forward' problem, the Vega's probably a better weight carrier than the Leisure, so I would concur with those who're advising against your trying to load 80m into the Leisure 27; maybe up it to fifty, though I probably wouldn't, unless it's due for renewal, as I too have never fancied a split link in my chain. We did have a 30m rope besides, but I don't recall our ever having to deploy it extend the main rode. Yes Brittany had some big tides, but they're only relevant at springs and the holding was generally very good there, so by reading the charts and carefully allowing for the tides, you'll find ample good anchorages in 2.5-4m at low water, which at high tide can be comfortably accomodated by your current set-up. Just so long as you're only visiting Brittanyand and not using a Brittany anchor at the end of it - I'm fairly easy on the anchor-choice question, but those things really are the work of the devil!
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Tomaret
Well-Known Member
Rocna provide a pattern for making a cardboard mock up to check that it will fit your bow roller. I used it to check before buying my new anchor.
http://rocna.cmpgroup.net/sites/default/files/pdf/rocna-33-pattern.pdf
Regards
Mark
oldmanofthehills
Well-Known Member
I have sold two of my ploughs at scrap price. I use a genuine bruce as day to day and keep my new generation stored forard for use in a blow or poor holding. A genuine bruce is about twice as good as a plough in most bottoms, and a new generation about twice as good as a bruce. Ditch the plough there are very few bottoms where it is usefully effective
Seven Spades
Well-Known Member
I have used 50m of chain attached to a Rocna and never needed more in that area. better to invest in a good anchor than 80 of heavy chain.
Motor_Sailor
Well-Known Member
I think that's why on the internet they have the useful acronym IMHO (in my humble opinion).
Evans Starzinger on his Van de Stadt 47, Hawk, having completed two circumnavigations and trips to both the Artic and Antarctic, thought the new generation anchors were no match for his Bruce, and that was his humble opinion.
In my humble opinion, I did 20,000 miles on one trip where we anchored over 400 nights, and we found a Plastimo copy of a CQR on a nylon warp and shortish length of chain, was highly satisfactory in all different types of bottom (except slurry), allowing us undisturbed sleep including riding out Hurricane Hugo. But I wouldn't except a Bruce as a gift.
I think there's more nuances to successful anchoring than your rather dogmatic statement of 'facts' would suggest.
oldmanofthehills
Well-Known Member
On a heavier boat with a heavy anchor ploughs seem to work, at least if they are genuine CQR or similar but tests show the non-articulated Delta generally more effective though both can bounce sideways on hard ground. Tests seem to show less effectiveness with lighter anchors on lighter boats. (The ratio of suited anchor weight to boat is much lower on small boats than on cargo ships for instance) Bruce or similar is used on oilrigs and I find them excellent for its weight in the mud or fine sand of the Bristol Channel. BC boat has poor manual winch and my strength is going so I dont want too much weight. Bruce not so good getting through kelp and uncertain in boulder fields and coarse shingle further down channel. Plough useless around here as it does what is says on tin and at low tide at Ferryside I observed and walked a 40m long ploughed furrow which was a bit alarming as next boat was only 50m away. My new generation goes through kelp very well, and catches on boulders. Heavy to hoist back when its "loaded" but I slept heavily in peace when I used it.
Its not just my humble opinion, its various magazine tests, which though they have difficult reproducibility all give similar conclusions backed by my observation on anchors for 26 to 31ft boats in highly tidal waters with up to 3kt currents. You can argue which new generation is best or whether the extra cost and difficulty of stowage is worth it but thats another matter.
Dockhead
Well-Known Member
"Enough chain" is one of those things which, when you need it, you may really really need it.
I spent almost a week riding out bad NE weather in a long steep-to bay, the Baie de Lampaul, on Ushant, in 20-odd metres of water, so close to 30 at high water. I was awfully, awfully glad to have had 100 metres of chain on board.
I spent almost a week riding out bad NE weather in a long steep-to bay, the Baie de Lampaul, on Ushant, in 20-odd metres of water, so close to 30 at high water. I was awfully, awfully glad to have had 100 metres of chain on board.
LadyInBed
Well-Known Member
But for what size boat? This thread is about a lightweight 27 footer.
oldmanofthehills
Well-Known Member
Sounds unpleasant, and from what I have heard not untypical of the Baie de Lapaul. We were able to anchor in 8m at normal anchorage further in, was there not enough swinging room to get to normal anchorage, or is the holding worse further in. (Thread drift as heading that way soon and want to avoid the dismal Baie du Stiff)
On the 27ft of the OP 100m is not practical so I guess 50m chain and 30 to 50 of warp
jimbaerselman
Well-Known Member
Many Brittany anchorages have up to 3kt tidal streams, reversing every 12 -13 hours. Add a tidal range of up to 10m to your draft, and you'll need at least 12m x 4 scope to ensure a shallow enough stress not to unseat the anchor to any degree if there's little wind shelter.
Then the wind/tide reverses . . .
The most reliable means of handling the risk of upset in these conditions is to use a tidal moor, a running moor, or a bahamian moor. These worked with the (very un-sophisticated) anchors used before saiboats were fitted with motors.
Surely one should bring twin anchor solutions into the discussion??
Then the wind/tide reverses . . .
The most reliable means of handling the risk of upset in these conditions is to use a tidal moor, a running moor, or a bahamian moor. These worked with the (very un-sophisticated) anchors used before saiboats were fitted with motors.
Surely one should bring twin anchor solutions into the discussion??
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LittleSister
Well-Known Member
But once you get a decent blow the weight isn't doing anything to help - the catenary becomes negligible. A nylon warp to extend your chain would be more useful in providing shock absorption in bad weather (IMHO), as well as giving you the extra length for depth of tide, and without a big increase in weight.
The only disadvantages of rope (to extend your chain) that spring to mind are
- additional swinging room needed,
- the need to add some anti-chafe where it passes through the fairlead or roller, and
- if you have no windlass, the difficulty of hauling a anchor warp that isn't unnecessarily thick for a smallish boat (which reduces the stretch benefit and is bulky to store).
The other dimension (literally!) to keeping the weight down is the thickness of the chain. There's no point in having chain stronger than your deck fittings or anchor holding potential.
rwoofer
Well-Known Member
Another one who had 50m chain + rope, but never needed more than the chain.
PhillM
Well-Known Member
I was going to stay out of this and I didn't want to hijack the OP's thread, but it is quite old now ...
So next year, off to Brittany. I plan to anchor from time to time and in SETTLED weather only. Marinas or visitors moorings at all other times. I have a copy CQR which seems solid but needs a re-galvanise or painting to stop surface rust. I dont anchor much. however, when I have Beauliu and Studland, the old chain/anchor has worked fine.
I have either 20 m of old and slightly rusty 8mm chain, or a brand new 10m of 8mm chain and 40m octiplait. No windlass.
Boat is Cheverton Caravel Mk2, wooden, 24 foot, 3 tons, long keel.
I would welcome any and all advice. Thanks
(Oh no, I've just asked an anchor question, may the forum forgive me).
So next year, off to Brittany. I plan to anchor from time to time and in SETTLED weather only. Marinas or visitors moorings at all other times. I have a copy CQR which seems solid but needs a re-galvanise or painting to stop surface rust. I dont anchor much. however, when I have Beauliu and Studland, the old chain/anchor has worked fine.
I have either 20 m of old and slightly rusty 8mm chain, or a brand new 10m of 8mm chain and 40m octiplait. No windlass.
Boat is Cheverton Caravel Mk2, wooden, 24 foot, 3 tons, long keel.
I would welcome any and all advice. Thanks
(Oh no, I've just asked an anchor question, may the forum forgive me).
zoidberg
Well-Known Member
Have you considered adding 'Legs'....? Seriously?
They'd be quite easy to add to your boat, economically, and would open up a long list of highly-suitable havens in North and South Brittany, where anchoring further out is 'crowded out' by locals' moorings. You have the time to get these together, and they'd pay for themselves in just a couple of nights.
Consider, for example, Rotheneuf just east of St Malo, and just NNE of St Jacut de la Mer...... Google Maps/Satellite view is your friend.....
Edit: Whatever else you don't do, do not forget your Breton courtesy ensign.
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[3889]
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Brittany is quite a big place. Where I have anchored includes the following,
Perros Guirec
L'Aber'wrach (Rapid shoaling from buoyed fairway)
L'aber Benoit behind Ile Guenioc in settled conditions
Camaret
Ushant, Lampaul and Porz An Dour
Morgat
Anse de Faunteun ( just East of Raz de Sein)
Ste Evette
Ile Glenans
Brigneau entrance (rock and weed; a bit dodgy)
Groix, Plage du Trec'h (wind often goes N at night)
South of Etel
Belle Ile, Ster Ouen ( Unforgiving schistotic rock for shore line, a piece of chain is a good idea)
N of Haliguen marina
E end of Houat (the charted "no anchoring" symbols are disregarded by one and all, beware of seabed cables.)
Portz Halai, north of Houat.
Treac'h Salus, SE of Houat.
Locmiquel, Ile aux Moines, Morbihan
The long beach E of La Crouesty.
E and W of Ile Dumet
River Vilaine, E of Arzal marina