Anchoring offshore - do we do it?

[shmoo]

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


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Yes, quite. Thanks for calculation, but when was it you got to see in the cockpit locker?

I need to measure and count, but I might just about get away with all my fenders.

 

[Rob_Webb]

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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.

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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.

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Bugger that. Prefer to just get a bigger windlass!