PhilipH
Well-Known Member
Just completed the Trans Pacific to NZ. Here's our anchoring advice based on some hard-earned lessons in French Polynesia and Tonga:
1. Our boat is an OVNI 395 (c.42') at c. 11 tonnes
2. You will be anchoring in depths of 25+ metres unless you don't go anywhere
3. Our 25kg Delta was not good enough twice and we have now bought a 33kg Manson
4 Our kedge is a Fortress FX37 - be prepared to use the main halyard to assist breaking out if wind is on the beam
5. We have 80 metres of 10mm chain for the bower - OK if you can add anchorplait in deep anchorages ( we have 120 metres of 18mm with a spliced eye and thimble).
5. You will need the kedge e.g. Galapagos to keep you head to the swell, Hiva Oa where you check in to The Marquesas (very busy harbour); Ua Pou (small harbour and limited anchoring space).
6. Get a copy of the graphs in Nigel Calder's 'Boatowner's Practical and Technical Cruising Handbook' that shows Depth and Windspeed scales and the scope ratio required - forget 5:1 in 25 metres.
7. We have never used our Fisherman.
8. When you get to French Polynesia get a couple of small plastic buoys (they are on the beaches as flotsam) and use these to buoy your anchor chain when anchoring in coral.
9. Your anchor chain will get wrapped around coral heads (bommies) in the Tuamotus - be very patient and slow going to and fro, a bit of jiggling, a bit of oomph forward occasionally and your chain and anchor are likely to come up, but have some scuba gear so if necessary you can dive and free everything.
10. Put Lanaocote on your anchor shackle pin AND mouse it.
Hope this helps
You will have a ball
1. Our boat is an OVNI 395 (c.42') at c. 11 tonnes
2. You will be anchoring in depths of 25+ metres unless you don't go anywhere
3. Our 25kg Delta was not good enough twice and we have now bought a 33kg Manson
4 Our kedge is a Fortress FX37 - be prepared to use the main halyard to assist breaking out if wind is on the beam
5. We have 80 metres of 10mm chain for the bower - OK if you can add anchorplait in deep anchorages ( we have 120 metres of 18mm with a spliced eye and thimble).
5. You will need the kedge e.g. Galapagos to keep you head to the swell, Hiva Oa where you check in to The Marquesas (very busy harbour); Ua Pou (small harbour and limited anchoring space).
6. Get a copy of the graphs in Nigel Calder's 'Boatowner's Practical and Technical Cruising Handbook' that shows Depth and Windspeed scales and the scope ratio required - forget 5:1 in 25 metres.
7. We have never used our Fisherman.
8. When you get to French Polynesia get a couple of small plastic buoys (they are on the beaches as flotsam) and use these to buoy your anchor chain when anchoring in coral.
9. Your anchor chain will get wrapped around coral heads (bommies) in the Tuamotus - be very patient and slow going to and fro, a bit of jiggling, a bit of oomph forward occasionally and your chain and anchor are likely to come up, but have some scuba gear so if necessary you can dive and free everything.
10. Put Lanaocote on your anchor shackle pin AND mouse it.
Hope this helps
You will have a ball
