Correct stern-to anchoring techniques

armchairsailor

armchairsailor

Well-Known Member
Joined
17 Sep 2009
Messages
1,144
Location
back aground in Blighty
Visit site
I'm heading off into Desolation Sound next week, and I thought I'd better get my stern-to anchoring figured out since it will be my first time doing this. I'm running rope and chain on the bow, so I need to understand what catenary I need in particular (6:1 is my normal) if tying off onto the shore, and whether I'll be held under tension or what. My draft is 4' so I can get pretty close in.

Thanks in advance!
 
I think what your talking about , is what we call Med mooring out here .
We use all chain but the technique is the same .
We are 13 mts and we would normally drop the min of three boat length from where we would finish more if we can .
That's a min of 40 mts from the quay .
About 6 mts from the quay we would make sure our anchor holding given it a few extra RPM , before letting out the last bit of chain to end up where we want to be.
Doing this way , you don't end up at the quay and when tighten up find your anchor isn't holding .
Many time we seen people keep letting out scope until they reach the quay , moor up then tighten up to find all they doing is reel in the anchor , then having to go back out again .
 
In stern to mooring there’s no catenery involved. The chain will be tight, pulled that way by tension against the lines ashore, so you don’t need to work out how much rode to use as you do when you’re free anchoring. A Vic says, 3 boat lengths from where you aim to stop, drop the anchor and follow his advice of ensuring the anchor is set.
A point on this is that if the water is deep where you drop the anchor, it worth dropping say two thirds of the depth out before you line up and start reversing into shore. This will cut down the time for the anchor to get onto the bottom and make sure you’ve got enough scope out.
If you’re taking long lines ashore and not using a quay, then you need to move sharply with the dinghy and lines ready to go as you come into shore. Hold the boat against the anchor with the motor and take the upwind line ashore and make fast before the boat has chance to swing too much. Repeat with the downwind line. We use rope bags to do this so as to avoid any tangles in the lines: a bucket is an easy to source alternative.
 
Last edited:
Yes I should had said but you think common sense comes into it Duncan ,
but has many of us know out here , when do common sence come into it when it comes to anchoring , :) after all the stuff we seen.
don't just drop and started moving back , other wise you be half way back before your anchor hit the ground .
 
There is a description of the techniques used for taking lines ashore on my website at http://coxeng.co.uk/anchoring/taking-lines-ashore/. In a situation where we are in an open bay, rather than in a port, I would use a relatively elastic snubber to cope with any waves. Mine is 12 mm nylon rope. In port an elastic snubber can be a big nuisance, so I use a far stronger rope with a Wichard hook to unload the windlass but without any elasticity.
 
I think there is a difference between Med Mooring, Baltic Mooring and high latitude mooring (for one the weather will be more severe). You need to anticipate having upto 4 shore lines and 2 decent rodes - and be prepared to use the lot, depending on the 'geography and the weather. It will be unusual not to use shore lines. Shore lines need to be accessible on deck (for example Pelagic has 4 monster reels amidships).

You also need to consider the amount of tide.

There is an article here, the printed version has more detail.

https://www.sailmagazine.com/cruising/know-how-expanding-your-anchoring-repertoire

I don't get the pdfs

But a picture at the end which might give some idea of where to start. A number of companies (Boyuz - I think that's the spelling, of Ultra anchor fame make the Quickline reels of tape - but there are many variants). Pelagic uses things like hose reels, I have seen shorelines in laundry baskets, sail bags and things like a spinnaker turtle lashed to the lifelines. Spare (except that are not spare they are) essential additional anchors are also easily accessible. Don't, on any account, think 2 anchors are enough.

There is no one answer - every situation is different - Think Outside The Box - 4 anchors would be a good start (alloy would also be useful - they are easier to row out)

Jonathan

PS You do not sound like an Arm Chair Sailor to me!
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the tips. Desolation is pretty civilized despite the name. Cap’n Vancouver was in a foul mood when he got there and named it...

There’s a lot of tying up to rocks and trees as the anchorages are pretty cosy so I need to have it mapped out in my head so I don’t freak out the family. It’s been hard enough getting to this point.

I was definitely an armchair sailor up until 2 years ago due to a 20 year hiatus but at the moment my boat is my digs through the week, much to SWMBOs chagrin. I suspect in my youth I may have crossed paths with Vyv, as an ankle biter venturer in the Menai Straits.

Now I’m staring down the barrel of a singlehanded crossing of the Georgia Strait to pick up the family. Excited yes, but shitting it too.
 
Ah - Desolation Sound, fabulous cruising area. Don't miss Princess Louisa Inlet while you are there. :)

The reason for stern-to anchorage is different between Desolation Sound compared with the Med, and the technique is therefore a little different.

Many anchorages in Desolation Straight (and Discovery Islands, Blackfish Sound, Broughton Archipelego) are quite deep and steep-sloped. The aim when anchoring is to ensure that your anchor is pulling UP the slope so that any forces on it (particularly tidal currents) cannot dislodge it and if anything will tend to bury it further. The important thing is not to anchor in a position where the anchor might slide down the shelf into deep water. So - drop the anchor in say 10-20m - use the engine to reverse towards the shore and up the slope to set it in firmly, laying out the usual 3x depth (on chain) is adequate, then take your stern line ashore to hold the yacht from swinging. This line does not need to be overly taut.

Winds in this area are generally light in summer, and no waves in recognised anchorages, so it is not necessary, in fact positively undesirable, to lay out multiple anchors or shore lines.

Obvious I know but some places have ferocious tidal currents and they do not make for good anchorages! Here and there are pontoons laid to help in popular but otherwise difficult spots (e.g. Port Neville). There are also of course, muddy creeks where conventional anchoring technique is good, but some of these can get overcrowded in summer.

Incidentally, Anne Vipond & William Kelly "Best Anchorages of the Inside Passage" is a very useful guide for anchorages in this area, with some good tips on technique.
 
Last edited:
The above is EXACTLY what I was going to say.

I sailed out of Whidby Island some years ago. The shoreline in many places is very steep. I met a guy who would drop a shrimp net down to catch his supper. he used a motor winch and a very long line.

The tidal stream under the bridges on Desolation sound make the structures vibrate at full blast!
 
rotrax said:
The above is EXACTLY what I was going to say.

I sailed out of Whidby Island some years ago. The shoreline in many places is very steep. I met a guy who would drop a shrimp net down to catch his supper. he used a motor winch and a very long line.

The tidal stream under the bridges on Desolation sound make the structures vibrate at full blast!
Click to expand...
 
Well, we managed it several times. I’m fact, it became my wife’s favourite anchoring method. Probably something to do with fishing up a spare Bruce off the bottom of Secret Cove when we weren’t using the technique.
It worked particularly well since we only have 4’ of draft so could afford to get in nice and snug to the shore, and as others have said, it proved invaluable in crowded anchorages.
Thanks to all for your advice.
 
Neeves said:
I think there is a difference between Med Mooring, Baltic Mooring and high latitude mooring (for one the weather will be more severe). You need to anticipate having upto 4 shore lines and 2 decent rodes - and be prepared to use the lot, depending on the 'geography and the weather. It will be unusual not to use shore lines. Shore lines need to be accessible on deck (for example Pelagic has 4 monster reels amidships).

You also need to consider the amount of tide.

There is an article here, the printed version has more detail.

https://www.sailmagazine.com/cruising/know-how-expanding-your-anchoring-repertoire

I don't get the pdfs

But a picture at the end which might give some idea of where to start. A number of companies (Boyuz - I think that's the spelling, of Ultra anchor fame make the Quickline reels of tape - but there are many variants). Pelagic uses things like hose reels, I have seen shorelines in laundry baskets, sail bags and things like a spinnaker turtle lashed to the lifelines. Spare (except that are not spare they are) essential additional anchors are also easily accessible. Don't, on any account, think 2 anchors are enough.

There is no one answer - every situation is different - Think Outside The Box - 4 anchors would be a good start (alloy would also be useful - they are easier to row out)

Jonathan

PS You do not sound like an Arm Chair Sailor to me!
Click to expand...

One drawback of the anchor reels is that you can't put a few turns around a winch if you want to get the line well tight.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top