Anchors away

david_e

david_e

Well-Known Member
Joined
1 Oct 2001
Messages
2,188
www.touraine.blogspot.com
After much deliberation, left my 14kg Danforth anchor, together with 20m of chain, on the pontoon for a race recently and it made quite a difference upwind - we flew!
It is normally stowed in the bow locker so I might start to think about taking the tender and outboard out of the cockpit locker next time:-))

However to be fully compliant on my First 31.7 I need an anchor and some warp. Those in the know have suggested a Kedge(?) anchor stowed midships, but what is it one of these, is it a grapelling hook type and how light could I get away with, 8kg or even 6kg?

The amusing side to this is that 'those in the know' are even more cheesed off that they couldn't get past when I had the anchor and chain on board!

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instead of your plans, why dont you consider having a fortress anchor with 5m of chain and the rest rope - light weight, but able to hold you if something goes wrong.

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Thanks, I thought that that was the idea of of the Kedge, just enough to hold if needed when out racing, but reverting to the normal one when cruising. Trying to find out what the Kedge is specifically.

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Kedges

A kedge is a general term for a second anchor, the main one being the bower.

In racing terms, a kedge is whatever anchor is sufficient to hold you against the tide when there is too little wind to let you sail through it. On a 12 ton boat we used to use about a 15lb Danforth with 10 metres of chain and then warp. It wouldn't have kept us off a lee shore in a gale but in the benign conditions when a racing boat kedges, it was fine, and fast to get up when the breeze did fill in or the tide changed.

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A kedge anchor is a traditional anchor with two flukes and a cross bar at the top that is folded along the length of the anchor when not in use. To use, the cross bar is slid into position and pinned at right angles to the flukes.
Not a great description, but thats it, they are quite awkward to handle and I wouldn't want one on my yacht !

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Re: Err, no

Then again, I suppose you're correct, kedge is more to do with what one uses the anchor for.

The Victory carried 7 anchors of various sizes for different uses; these were:

One (1) Best Bower: This served as one of the two main anchors used for holding the ship in deep water. Being the heaviest and strongest, it was always rigged on the starboard (right hand) side of the ship because of prevailing winds found within the northern hemisphere.
Weight 4 tons. 9 cwt. 1 qtr. 14 lbs. (4.54 tonnes).

One (1) Bower: Serving the same purpose as the Best Bower, but not as strong, this anchor was always rigged on the larboard (port) side of the ship.
Weight 4 tons. 8 cwt. 2 qtrs. 22 lbs. (4.51 tonnes).

Two (2) Sheet Anchors: These served as spares for the two bower anchors. Each was rigged on one side of the ship.
Weight of each, 4 tons 4 cwt. 3 qtrs, 12 lbs. (4.31 tonnes).

One (1) Stream Anchor: This was a lightweight anchor used for anchoring the ship in low tide stream and shallow water. It could also be used for warping the ship (see below).
Weight 1 tons. 1 cwt. 3 qtrs. 7 lbs. (1.10 tonnes).

Two (2) Kedge Anchors: One large and one small, these very lightweight anchors were used to keep a ship steady and clear of her bower anchor when riding at anchor in harbour. These were also used used to 'kedge', or warp the ship:

Kedging, or warping, means to haul the ship along by bringing in the cable by use of the capstan. The kedge anchor was then again taken out in the ships launch and re-laid and the operation repeated. This was generally done in confined waters or when there was no wind.


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Concise Oxford

kedge, 1. v.i. move ship by means of a hawser attached to a small anchor, (of ship) move thus 2. v.t. move (ship) thus 3. n. (-anchor) small anchor for this purpose.

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Re: Concise Oxford

Then again, I suppose you're correct, kedge is more to do with what one uses the anchor for.

The Victory carried 7 anchors of various sizes for different uses; these were:

One (1) Best Bower: This served as one of the two main anchors used for holding the ship in deep water. Being the heaviest and strongest, it was always rigged on the starboard (right hand) side of the ship because of prevailing winds found within the northern hemisphere.
Weight 4 tons. 9 cwt. 1 qtr. 14 lbs. (4.54 tonnes).

One (1) Bower: Serving the same purpose as the Best Bower, but not as strong, this anchor was always rigged on the larboard (port) side of the ship.
Weight 4 tons. 8 cwt. 2 qtrs. 22 lbs. (4.51 tonnes).

Two (2) Sheet Anchors: These served as spares for the two bower anchors. Each was rigged on one side of the ship.
Weight of each, 4 tons 4 cwt. 3 qtrs, 12 lbs. (4.31 tonnes).

One (1) Stream Anchor: This was a lightweight anchor used for anchoring the ship in low tide stream and shallow water. It could also be used for warping the ship (see below).
Weight 1 tons. 1 cwt. 3 qtrs. 7 lbs. (1.10 tonnes).

Two (2) Kedge Anchors: One large and one small, these very lightweight anchors were used to keep a ship steady and clear of her bower anchor when riding at anchor in harbour. These were also used used to 'kedge', or warp the ship:

Kedging, or warping, means to haul the ship along by bringing in the cable by use of the capstan. The kedge anchor was then again taken out in the ships launch and re-laid and the operation repeated. This was generally done in confined waters or when there was no wind.




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I have a Foblight (google it) anchor for just such purposes. It is based on the design of seaplane anchors (which obviously have to be light). Mine weighs 6kg and holds well on sand and mud. It takes to pieces and stores in a nice padded bag. Super bit of kit and much nicer than the Fortress.

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I thought it was specified in the rules? so that all boats carry the same weight in the same place, it certainly was on the last boats I raced. They dont care what type as long its the same weight...or if the boat is not a one design, then when the boat is measured the anchor stays wherever it is then, and at the same weight with or without chain....otherwise...its cheating?

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Re: Guardian

Where are they sold? Have had a quote from FOB and at £158 plus £69 for a weighted line not the cheapest for perhaps hardly any use?

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