Anchoring offshore - do we do it?

[Seagreen]

Alright. This was prompted by reading Swatchways and little ships, but it got me thinking.

How many of us already do, or would consider, anchoring offshore in suitable spots?

I'm a west coast cruiser, so I anchor in bays and off beaches and in river mouths quite happily for a night, but how many - I don't just mean those on the east coast- are happy to anchor in offshore waters behind banks or in areas not normally thought of as anchorages?

Yes, there's a big UK slant to the question, but world girdlers' input still very welcome.

 

[boguing]

I've kedged in Hurd Deep (North of Alderney - vv deep) during a Cowes/Dinard race. Needed all the rope on the boat. Over 6 Kts while hooked. Glad I was the driver. It looked to be quite hard work pulling it all up again.

 

[DanTribe]

Used to do it occasionally when we had a little slow boat and next to no engine [Stuart Turner].
Also before we had kids.
I guess being responsible for sprogs makes you feel less secure, and quicker boats with better engines lessens the need to do it.
It does have it's attractions though, as long as nobody spots you and sends the lifeboat to rescue you.
Dan

 

[bilbobaggins]

[ QUOTE ]
I've kedged in Hurd Deep

[/ QUOTE ]

Interesting.

It was used for many years as a dump for time-expired munitions - many thousands of tons of 'em.

That would be one hellof a way to DNF.....!

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[fishermantwo]

[ QUOTE ]
I've kedged in Hurd Deep (North of Alderney - vv deep) during a Cowes/Dinard race. Needed all the rope on the boat. Over 6 Kts while hooked. Glad I was the driver. It looked to be quite hard work pulling it all up again.

[/ QUOTE ]

I used to anchor my fishing vessel in similar conditions. To raise the anchor we used a buoy attached to a short rope with a large SS shackle. When it was time to leave, we attached this gismo to the anchor rope so the shackle slid over the anchor rope. Then drove the boat forward up current (around the buoy) or walked the gear aft and when the buoy was clear of the stern, hook it over a cleat. The anchor rope is of course still attached to the bow bollard. Then it was simply a matter of driving forward at full speed, the buoy would disappear underwater astern and shortly afterwards the whole shebang would come to the surface. The shackle on the buoy would slide over all the chain and end up on the shank of the anchor. Obviously you need a buoy that will support the weight of the chain and anchor.
Then it was simply a matter of pulling the boat out of gear and pulling the anchor rope back into its stowage or turn the boat and drive up along the anchor rope while your lacky pulls in the rope.

 

[shmoo]

Considered the Galloper for a rest stop on way to Oostend but swmbo vetoed it. Will do it one day when her back is turned.

 

[shmoo]

[ QUOTE ]

It does have it's attractions though, as long as nobody spots you and sends the lifeboat to rescue you.


[/ QUOTE ]
This happened to us a couple of years back. Anchored east and a bit north of Dungeness in a strong SW blow. Bit uncomfortable but safe to eat and rest. No sooner than we had dinner on the go than a lifeboat appeared. "are you planning to spend the night sir?" They had us move a bit further north, but I think that was only because they had gone to the trouble of coming out. Had the radio on the whole time, no-one called us first to ask if we were ok, and in fact we had told the CG we were there.

(edited for typo)

 

[Poignard]

As it happens I'm just reading a book you might like called "Down Channel" by RT MacMullen. He sailed all round UK waters in the 19th century [sometimes single-handed] and rarely went into port. He used to anchor in all sorts of places that nowadays are little used by small craft, eg The Park [east of Selsey Bill] and the Downs. In those days, before engines and marinas, anchoring in such places was perfectly normal. One thing he was troubled with was "longshoremen" coming out and trying to convince him he was in danger when he knew he wasn't, so that they could get on board and then claim salvage!

The book is a bit heavy going sometimes but it's interesting to read how things were done in Victorian times.

 

[Seagreen]

Thanks, I'll add that one to my winter reading list.

 

[Major Catastrophe]

[ QUOTE ]
I used to anchor my fishing vessel in similar conditions. To raise the anchor we used a buoy attached to a short rope with a large SS shackle. When it was time to leave, we attached this gismo to the anchor rope so the shackle slid over the anchor rope. Then drove the boat forward up current (around the buoy) or walked the gear aft and when the buoy was clear of the stern, hook it over a cleat. The anchor rope is of course still attached to the bow bollard. Then it was simply a matter of driving forward at full speed, the buoy would disappear underwater astern and shortly afterwards the whole shebang would come to the surface. The shackle on the buoy would slide over all the chain and end up on the shank of the anchor. Obviously you need a buoy that will support the weight of the chain and anchor.

[/ QUOTE ]

Known as an Alderney Ring over here. I use one.

 

[BurnitBlue]

I have done it many times. I thought it was a standard procedure called roadsteading. Eric Hiscock mentions it in one of his books as a prefered way to avoid a foul current or wind by anchoring off and wait for improvement rather than divert to a harbour.

 

[shmoo]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I've kedged in Hurd Deep (North of Alderney - vv deep) during a Cowes/Dinard race. Needed all the rope on the boat. Over 6 Kts while hooked. Glad I was the driver. It looked to be quite hard work pulling it all up again.

[/ QUOTE ]

I used to anchor my fishing vessel in similar conditions. To raise the anchor we used a buoy attached to a short rope with a large SS shackle. When it was time to leave, we attached this gismo to the anchor rope so the shackle slid over the anchor rope. Then drove the boat forward up current (around the buoy) or walked the gear aft and when the buoy was clear of the stern, hook it over a cleat. The anchor rope is of course still attached to the bow bollard. Then it was simply a matter of driving forward at full speed, the buoy would disappear underwater astern and shortly afterwards the whole shebang would come to the surface. The shackle on the buoy would slide over all the chain and end up on the shank of the anchor. Obviously you need a buoy that will support the weight of the chain and anchor.
Then it was simply a matter of pulling the boat out of gear and pulling the anchor rope back into its stowage or turn the boat and drive up along the anchor rope while your lacky pulls in the rope.

[/ QUOTE ]

Great. How big a buoy do I need for anchor about 17kg and 25m of 10mm chain and 50m (sometimes 100m) 25mm plaited rope?

Anyone know?

 

[Major Catastrophe]

[ QUOTE ]


Great. How big a buoy do I need for anchor about 17kg and 25m of 10mm chain and 50m (sometimes 100m) 25mm plaited rope?

Anyone know?

[/ QUOTE ]

This may help.

And this

Or this

You need to borrow an appropriate buoy, put your anchor and chain into a royal mail bag, or similar, and check the buoy can hold the weight in seawater.

 

[Poignard]

[ QUOTE ]
From the Anka-Yanka website " Your boat must be capable of making a headway of 6-8 knots against the wind or tide "

[/ QUOTE ]

That lets me out then!

 

[Major Catastrophe]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
From the Anka-Yanka website " Your boat must be capable of making a headway of 6-8 knots against the wind or tide "

[/ QUOTE ]

That lets me out then!

[/ QUOTE ]

And Seagreen as well, as he drives a Gaff yawl, ex cornish oyster dredger built 1860, unless he has fitted twin Cats to it. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Sailfree]

I think the answer may depend on age/experience and when you first went sailing.

I only starter 10 yr ago and with a 36' boat. We only ever did passages between Marinas with anchoring limited to lunch stops. It was not until 6 years later on a 3 month honeymoon cruise South that SWMBO asked the simple question when anchored off a beach at Benodet - why don't we stay here? We ended up anchored for 3 days only going into the Marina for water and supplies.

After that we anchored off many places and thoroughly enjoyed it except Santander where we were anchored off the sea front and the wind got up to a F8 throughout the night.

I suspect if you started in smaller boats and went ditch crawling a lot anchoring is no big deal but I suspect many like me started Marina hopping and it then has to become a learned pleasure.

 

[Twister_Ken]

If you discount kedging while racing, the remotest places I've ever anchored are hardly remote at all. Once east of Dungeness. Once tucked up under Portland Bill, to the east. Both times, waiting for a tide.

 

[Danny Jo]

[ QUOTE ]
Great. How big a buoy do I need for anchor about 17kg and 25m of 10mm chain and 50m (sometimes 100m) 25mm plaited rope?

[/ QUOTE ] Anchor 17 kg, chain 60 kg, total steel 77kg in air or 62kg in seawater. Guessing max weight of plaited rope in seawater 3kg, giving a requirement for a total lift of 65kg. Anka Yanka advises doubling that, which seems good advice, so you want a buoy that will displace 130kg, plus its own weight, of seawater. A spherical buoy of 80 cm diameter has a volume of 134 litres so will displace just over 137 kg of seawater.

You might have trouble getting that in your already crowded cockpit locker.

I take no responsibility for the accuracy of my calculations - and I've been wrong before!

 

[fishermantwo]

[ QUOTE ]


Great. How big a buoy do I need for anchor about 17kg and 25m of 10mm chain and 50m (sometimes 100m) 25mm plaited rope?

Anyone know?

[/ QUOTE ]

My fishing boat is 40 foot long, maximum speed is 7 knots. Gardner 6lw with plenty of torque. I use a large SS loop on the end of a piece of 20 mm poly rope about 6 feet long which has one 18 inch fishing float with 4, 12 inch bubbles as well. This combination fits easily in a locker. Hard plastic bubbles are better as this contraption on some occasions may slide down the full depth of the anchor rode if you are hooked up good.

 

[Seagreen]

[ QUOTE ]

And Seagreen as well, as he drives a Gaff yawl, ex cornish oyster dredger built 1860, unless he has fitted twin Cats to it.

[/ QUOTE ]

20hp Beta, with a Brunton Autoprop. Got it up to about 7 knots before the repitch. Waiting till next year before I try it next.

BTW, does anyone use an old Irish sea trick of attaching the chain to the tripping eye of an anchor and mousing the chain to the stock using twine, or latterly, cable ties? This makes it a lot easier to trip, allegedly. Is this true?