chrisedwards
Well-Known Member
I use my kedge anchor to help dig in main anchor under sail. -Only if digging in using speed or mizzen is not possible.
Anchoring
- Thread starter Victoria Sponge
- Start date
charles_reed
Well-Known Member
How do you do that (though I haven't got a ketch)?
chrisedwards
Well-Known Member
Many ways depending on situation but can drop kedge first, pay out to anchoring position, drop main anchor and then winch in on kedge hard to ensure main has a grip. Pay out on main and retrieve kedge. Laborious I know but sailing is the game I like to play.
Jesy_par
New Member
There is a scary thread on newbie anchoring on the MB forum at the moment, where they seem to be engaged in a who-uses-the-most-chain bidding war. Last time I looked it was 7x depth but I expect it has gone up by now. Mind you, seeing the anchors MB manufacturers fit (stainless teaspoons) that may not be so daft.
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sailaboutvic
Well-Known Member
It would be interesting to know the area and the type of boat that's you are sailing .
Some how Charles I have a feeling it not in deep water unknown seas beds over crowed anchorage we have to deal with.
www.bluewatersailorcroatia.webs.com
Some how Charles I have a feeling it not in deep water unknown seas beds over crowed anchorage we have to deal with.
www.bluewatersailorcroatia.webs.com
KellysEye
Well-Known Member
>Ten times depth? Good grief. Bet you're a popular man in busy anchorages.
Long distance sailing the lowest on our list of places to anchor was a busy anchorage. If you have 25 to 30 knot trade winds then 10x times depth in 10 meters is a requirement and any other boats will be the same, also the wind direction is constant and there are no tides so no swinging.
Long distance sailing the lowest on our list of places to anchor was a busy anchorage. If you have 25 to 30 knot trade winds then 10x times depth in 10 meters is a requirement and any other boats will be the same, also the wind direction is constant and there are no tides so no swinging.
chrisedwards
Well-Known Member
Junk rig 30' ketch/Solent - mostly Newtown - so known sea-bed but crowded anchorage. The boat is rigged/set up for precise and immediate control under sail.
oldbilbo
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DannyB
Well-Known Member
I normally sail single handed, but I'd rather anchor than go into a strange marina, or pick up a mooring I don't know. I've always picked my spot carefully, well away from other boats, and the procedure is similar whether it's done under engine or sail.
First, I sail or motor over the spot I've picked, and keep a close eye on the depth, wind direction and tide running. If I'm happy I come back even more slowly, under engine, either head to wind or tide whichever is stronger, into neutral as I aproach my spot, walk forwards and lower the anchor to the seabed, by this time the boat is normally moving backwards slowly, so pay out 3 x depth of chain. Boat normally comes to a stop. Have a cup of tea and monitor the situation, if all is good then I lower another 2 x depth and give it a bit of reverse to check. Under sail it's much the same only I roll the headsail away on aproach, round up head to wind and throw off the mainsheet, as before, walk forwards and as the boat starts moving back, drop the anchor, once it's got a hold, drop the main and put the kettle on.
I have to admit, that unlike all the good members of the parrish on here, I never hoist an anchor ball, don't even possess one. I always have the anchor light on all night, but if another boat can't see my anchor chain, will they notice an anchor ball?
First, I sail or motor over the spot I've picked, and keep a close eye on the depth, wind direction and tide running. If I'm happy I come back even more slowly, under engine, either head to wind or tide whichever is stronger, into neutral as I aproach my spot, walk forwards and lower the anchor to the seabed, by this time the boat is normally moving backwards slowly, so pay out 3 x depth of chain. Boat normally comes to a stop. Have a cup of tea and monitor the situation, if all is good then I lower another 2 x depth and give it a bit of reverse to check. Under sail it's much the same only I roll the headsail away on aproach, round up head to wind and throw off the mainsheet, as before, walk forwards and as the boat starts moving back, drop the anchor, once it's got a hold, drop the main and put the kettle on.
I have to admit, that unlike all the good members of the parrish on here, I never hoist an anchor ball, don't even possess one. I always have the anchor light on all night, but if another boat can't see my anchor chain, will they notice an anchor ball?
sailaboutvic
Well-Known Member
Here one for the thread .
This morning we made our way in land up river krka , getting as far as we can just before the marina , the anchorages was over flowing so we decided to drop our hook and go stern too the bank tiring on to the rocks. Where some our yacht where,
Now on one side there a sunsail charter Cat then there a gap which at a guess I would say you could get another six Cats side by side then three more Sunsail yachts , we drop our anchor way out well down wind of the Cat closer to the yacht , co skipper goes off and do her bit while I do mine , anchor nicely set , dinghy over the side co skipper goes off to sort out shore lines , it at this time there shout from the cat some fifty metres on out starboard , he so far away I can just about hear over the wind and the music from his boat what he is saying , YOUR OVER MY CHAIN , the co skipper and I looked at each other and just starts to Laughs then carried on doing what we was doing while he carried on shouting , once all done I rowed over and asked him where he thought his anchor was his reply was under mine ok fine , at this point I wanted to drag him off the bow , but I thought better of it , so when are you plain to leave ? In an hour when my crew gets back , fine we will be on board and if there a problem which there not got to be I will sort it out . We got no time to mess around we will just pull your anchor out if you don't move , I have three other boats over there to look after MMMmm ( this must be the lead skipper ) .
Time come for them to leave , more shout , WE ARE GOING ok we having lunch have a good trip .
orders given anchor up , rattle rattle rattle , one and a half boat length from the cat bow up comes the anchor
lunch in peace at last .
By the way the other Sunsail boats had about the same amount of scope .
By the way they where French . That not to say French are bad sailor as most that we met are very good
www.bluewatersailorcroatia.webs.com
This morning we made our way in land up river krka , getting as far as we can just before the marina , the anchorages was over flowing so we decided to drop our hook and go stern too the bank tiring on to the rocks. Where some our yacht where,
Now on one side there a sunsail charter Cat then there a gap which at a guess I would say you could get another six Cats side by side then three more Sunsail yachts , we drop our anchor way out well down wind of the Cat closer to the yacht , co skipper goes off and do her bit while I do mine , anchor nicely set , dinghy over the side co skipper goes off to sort out shore lines , it at this time there shout from the cat some fifty metres on out starboard , he so far away I can just about hear over the wind and the music from his boat what he is saying , YOUR OVER MY CHAIN , the co skipper and I looked at each other and just starts to Laughs then carried on doing what we was doing while he carried on shouting , once all done I rowed over and asked him where he thought his anchor was his reply was under mine ok fine , at this point I wanted to drag him off the bow , but I thought better of it , so when are you plain to leave ? In an hour when my crew gets back , fine we will be on board and if there a problem which there not got to be I will sort it out . We got no time to mess around we will just pull your anchor out if you don't move , I have three other boats over there to look after MMMmm ( this must be the lead skipper ) .
Time come for them to leave , more shout , WE ARE GOING ok we having lunch have a good trip .
orders given anchor up , rattle rattle rattle , one and a half boat length from the cat bow up comes the anchor
lunch in peace at last .
By the way the other Sunsail boats had about the same amount of scope .
By the way they where French . That not to say French are bad sailor as most that we met are very good
www.bluewatersailorcroatia.webs.com
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Allan
Well-Known Member
The best lesson about sailing I've had was up an inlet on Belle Ilse. I went into the inlet at high water with friends on another boat and we both dropped our anchors. We both decided to lay our kedges at low water, to stop us turning when the tide came back in. After placing the small CQR on the hard sand I pulled it along at various angles. It did not dig in! After lots of messing about I found that just gently rocking it from side to side easily dug the point in, even in the hardest packed sand I could find.
My worst disaster was at the anchorage off Minehead in the Bristol channel. Trying to get close in, I overshot the sand and dropped the anchor, at that time a Bruce, onto large stones. Not only would it not set but when I picked it up I had a rock wedged in the fluke. Luckily I had my son with me, as I don't think I could have sorted it alone.
These two incidents have influenced my method of laying the anchor. I now try to stop over the spot I want the anchor. I first let the anchor down and try to use it, still upright, to feel the bottom. You can easily feel the difference between weed, sand, mud or rocks. By the time I'm happy the bottom is suitable, the boat is normally just starting to drift back. I then allow the anchor to lay down and try to gently "jiggle" it about on the point. As the boat drops back I allow out enough rode, lock it off and, as said by others, put the kettle on. At some time later, if I have any worries as to how the anchor is laying I may restart the engine and give it a pull, to give me some extra confidence.
Allan
My worst disaster was at the anchorage off Minehead in the Bristol channel. Trying to get close in, I overshot the sand and dropped the anchor, at that time a Bruce, onto large stones. Not only would it not set but when I picked it up I had a rock wedged in the fluke. Luckily I had my son with me, as I don't think I could have sorted it alone.
These two incidents have influenced my method of laying the anchor. I now try to stop over the spot I want the anchor. I first let the anchor down and try to use it, still upright, to feel the bottom. You can easily feel the difference between weed, sand, mud or rocks. By the time I'm happy the bottom is suitable, the boat is normally just starting to drift back. I then allow the anchor to lay down and try to gently "jiggle" it about on the point. As the boat drops back I allow out enough rode, lock it off and, as said by others, put the kettle on. At some time later, if I have any worries as to how the anchor is laying I may restart the engine and give it a pull, to give me some extra confidence.
Allan
chrisedwards
Well-Known Member
Cor! How's that done? If you could bottle it, I'll buy some..... er, lots....
Just a quick answer Old Bilbo - aware of thread drift and of sounding fanatical but a junk rig allows for immediate lowering of sail - any amount and can heave up any amount like an accelerator - on any point of sailing with perfect balance. - great for anchoring. Two masts give precise control - when rudder is not effective enough. Many more reasons all easy to bottle.
oldbilbo
...
I've watched and listened to some really 'xpert junkrig guys over the years. Roger Taylor's latest effort being a fine example. Well impressed! Would follow suit if starting from scratch or had my existing stick 'liberated', but this 'bear of little brain' would find all those strings and things a tad overwhelming.
I'm a firm believer in 'The Simple Sailor'. :encouragement:
I'm a firm believer in 'The Simple Sailor'. :encouragement:
sailaboutvic
Well-Known Member
Question
I have a question to the guys who drop there anchor and do nothing and go off to have a cup of tea , what do you think the anchor is doing why you are having you 15 min break ? I just a very novice at all time so your answers are very interesting .
www.bluewatersailorcroatia.webs.com
I have a question to the guys who drop there anchor and do nothing and go off to have a cup of tea , what do you think the anchor is doing why you are having you 15 min break ? I just a very novice at all time so your answers are very interesting .
www.bluewatersailorcroatia.webs.com
RobbieW
Well-Known Member
Hi Vic
Having read the comments I think the theory is that the weight of the anchor starts to dig the point in if its left for a bit. I was going to try it over the next few days, my anchor has a damn great weight in the point so you never know it might work! Enjoying reading about your travels in Croatia, say hi to your co-skipper
Cheers ... Robbie
Daydream believer
Well-Known Member
If i stuck 2 fingers up at my wife i would get a slap round the face . Not sure what would happen with one finger - dare not try
& yes i always give her final say
Daydream believer
Well-Known Member
If i am sailing i would never drop the hook while sailing down wind. First reason being the line round the keel & second being a possible crash gybe. I prefer to luff up & then drop the hook. Of course it depends on wind & tide direction & i may have already dropped the main
Personally i do not see the point of motoring in reverse etc as i prefer to see if the anchor will self dig in so i just watch progress down tide for a while
If it does hold ok i know that when the tide turns i should be ok when it has to re secure itself
However i sail on the east coast & mud holds quite well
If there is a blow i like to slide a weight down the line as i use chain & rope for mooring
I nearly always use a tripping line. Partly so i can pass it back to cockpit winch to raise the hook & partly because i do not want to end up buying another anchor
If long distance cruising i do take an additional anchor which has 40 m of chain but it is heavy so try to leave at home
The best form of anchoring - in my book- is to motor up to the pontoon, step ashore tie fore & aft. Pack up the gear & stroll ashore for a beer or just sit & chat to the people on nearby boats. Beats all the anchoring fuss hands down
Personally i do not see the point of motoring in reverse etc as i prefer to see if the anchor will self dig in so i just watch progress down tide for a while
If it does hold ok i know that when the tide turns i should be ok when it has to re secure itself
However i sail on the east coast & mud holds quite well
If there is a blow i like to slide a weight down the line as i use chain & rope for mooring
I nearly always use a tripping line. Partly so i can pass it back to cockpit winch to raise the hook & partly because i do not want to end up buying another anchor
If long distance cruising i do take an additional anchor which has 40 m of chain but it is heavy so try to leave at home
The best form of anchoring - in my book- is to motor up to the pontoon, step ashore tie fore & aft. Pack up the gear & stroll ashore for a beer or just sit & chat to the people on nearby boats. Beats all the anchoring fuss hands down
Storyline
Well-Known Member
Always attempt to spend as little as possible on overnighting when cruising. Quite often pull in to Tobermory for stores and cheekily go alongside a pontoon and then hare around the high street getting all the necessities. Sometimes throw a few quid in the honesty box at the top of the gangway but virtually always then bu**er off across to Drumbuie. The days of mad nights in the Mishnish are gone sadly.
And anyway, all the fuss of getting fenders & warps out vs. switching on the relay and then pressing 'Down' on the windlass remote.
And, zero stress thinking about what the wind will be doing in the morning and how to get off the pontoon.
alahol2
Well-Known Member
I suspect that, depending on the wind/current, the chain slowly straightens and brings gentle pressure on the anchor. Because the anchor gets gentle pressure it has chance to bury its nose and start the process of burying. I can only speak from my experience but the technique seems to give a higher success rate than immediately going astern under engine. Going astern too quickly seems to encourage the anchor to 'skate' across the bottom. My experience is with the CQR and, more recently, Delta anchors.
Storyline
Well-Known Member
Yes, you must be right judging by the behaviour of most boats we come across (a lot are charters). They just dump the chain, do not apply reverse and yet you very rarely see anyone dragging.
