Anchoring off Dover for fishing

[Nigelhargreaves]

I have recently moved to the marina in Dover from moorings on the Medway. Anchoring along the coast from Dover for fishing I find the water much deeper than I have fished in before and am anchoring in 20 to 30 metres - previously used to less than 20m.In addition the tide runs at a much greater rate.
I currently have an anchor with 30 metres chain and 70 metres rope so at these depths much of that is out. In using the anchor windlass I'm finding it difficult to retrieve the rope as the teeth on the windlass seem to 'chew' the rope causing some damage and when the chain appears it can be difficult as sometimes the rope has moved across as I'm using the smooth windlass to retrieve.
My boat is a Beneteau Antares 10.80 - 11 metres.
Could anybody advise whether I should increase the amount of chain as perhaps the extra weight will be offset by easier retrieval or perhaps just some tips from those more used to deeper anchoring as to how to make life a little easier please.

 

[KellysEye]

>I'm finding it difficult to retrieve the rope as the teeth on the windlass seem to 'chew' the rope causing some damage and when the chain appears it can be difficult as sometimes the rope has moved across as I'm using the smooth windlass to retrieve.

Rope should be retrieved on the winch barrel above the gyspy keeping it tight then switch to the gypsy for chain, or am I missing something?

 

[knuterikt]

Rope should be retrieved on the winch barrel above the gyspy keeping it tight then switch to the gypsy for chain, or am I missing something?

Depends on the type of winch.
Mine have a gypsy (chain wheel) designed to take rope and chain.

 

[rotrax]

You might want to try the Alderney Ring method used by most charter skippers.

This uses a float to lift the anchor making it easy to retrieve. Many are retrieved by hand.

 

[vyv_cox]

Carrying 100 metres of chain would do nothing for the trim of the boat or its sailing performance. Hauling that length of chain regularly might well be too much for many smaller windlasses. I think you need to ascertain whether the current windlass is designed to haul rope spliced to chain through the windlass. In some cases there is a sprung arm that presses the rope into the jaws of the gypsy - in your case this may be worn. I would retain the same proportion of chain to rope in your circumstances but check that the rope size you have matches the gypsy.