Dropping an anchor and chain whilst making way

Sound like a somewhat too lively way of my favorite anchor set. This only works if you've got a reasonable bow overhang.

Boat moving gently, 1-1/2 kts. Pay out the anchor and rode at a goodly rate so it doesn't scar the topsides. When say 1.5 times the depth of water has been veered, snub it. Anchor digs in and the boat spins round. Veer as much rode as you like and then make a cup of tea/swig beer/sip gin etc.

Much easier than trying to reverse in a cross wind/cross tide situation.
 
SAPurdie said:
I did it with about 40m of chain in about 50m of confined water when my water inlet blocked: Being windlassless I was almost unable to recover the chain...

My anchor chains are always secured through the bow roller so no hull damage likely if deliberately deployed. However, in heavy weather, I have had the hook washed off the deck complete with the bucket containing rode & chain (yes it had all been tied down), and it passed over the guardrail. The change in boat motion was not discernible so it may have been there a little while before it was spotted. No damage ensued but it was a mare to recover.

I have anchored a quarter tonner many times by lobbing the anchor off to the side while still making way. It results in something of a handbrake turn and does help to set the anchor in light wind when no engine is available to to so the modern way.
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Apologies for upsetting the OP, but someone has to say this:-

Were you the "Good King".

Runs for cover :rolleyes:

Sorry OP
 
I've seen it done a few times as a standard anchoring technique , particularly by Italian boats but by motoring along at 5 knots towards their planned anchor spot then letting the chain out using the windlass rather than letting it free so they either overshoot and try again or often come to a grinding halt with chain taut all along their hull side and full weight on the windless. Then motor is switched off and the boat swIngs round to face the wind. Half the crew dive in for a swim whilst the other half panic at how close some other boat is and shout at that boat to move their anchor.
 
cagey said:
Neeves said:
20m of chain, 15m of water - you simply don't know what is down there - the anchor might catch something immovable, tree, rock, wreck - you will stop dead, you might damage the bow roller. You will suffer a moment of panic, your wife will never forgive you. There is no catenary effect, or so little as to be irrelevant. The anchor might simply slide through the mud (and if you are silly enough not to lash of the anchor - maybe you will not notice). So what might happen - everything or nothing.

Jonathan[/QUOTE

Mr Neeve I know you have an anal fascination with all things with anchor in the subject but you obviously haven’t read the question or any of my subsequent answers. I am after an answer to the question of how an anchor and chain behave when lowered whilst a yacht is making way I am not after a lesson in seamanship in this instance. If you don’t know the answer, then please don’t interfere with my pursuit of knowledge. Some of the answers and anecdotes have been fascinating, whereas yours and one other have been an abysmal waste of time.
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Well I reckon Jonathan has nailed the answer perfectly. The fact that you seem to be unable to recognise this simple fact suggests to me that you have as much experience of sailing as I have of brain surgery. ;)

Richard
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An important factor is 'how much spare power?'.

Having tried (for various good reasons, for I do know better) how hard it is to tow that much rope through water in a dinghy with 4hp, it's definitely going to use significant power. I reckon that the drag of an anchor and more vertical chain is at least twice that of a semi-floating rope.

If prior to dropping you've just managed to squeeze up to 5Kts in 6Kts True wind then I reckon that the drag will be enough to slow you down to the kind of speed where the anchor might well touch in your 20 in 15 case.
 
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