How to anchor using a CQR, and recover it, under sail.

[Kukri]

Mine still the shackle, and although I read Cruising Under Sail many years ago I don't remember that particular passage, but seeing as I use that technique, I guess
the passage lodged in my memory. I do the same if the Anchorage is open enough to sail off the anchor. I redesigned my bow rollers to be big enough to take the anchor shackle to, including a built in chain lock as discussed elsewhere in Hiscock.

On my “to do” list. Must take a good look at yours

 

[Refueler]

To restow my anchor chain .... needs two people because of the Naval Pipe as above .. links twisting ....

Chain coming out is not usually a problem - but going back in is. I've tried the 'traffic cone' idea .. tried all sorts but at end of day if its myself on own - its feed some .. pull back ... feed next ... pull back ... feed etc.
If you get down below and try - the links twist as they lift of deck to the pipe ... I even tried a half section of drain pipe to align the chain to enter ...

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Typical!

One way to protect the deck is to use a shallow plastic tray ( supermarkets, vegetables aisle ).

As for , that is to me the equivalent of having a car but refusing to learn how to change a flat tyre. That too is 'a bit of a handful' but also an essential competence.

I know perfectly well HOW to change a flat tyre, but a rather iffy back means that I don't try to do it; I have no wish to spend weeks in considerable pain if I set it off, with an off-chance of permanent, disabling damage. Further, modern tyres mean that the need to do so is rare - the last time it arose was my own fault (hit the kerb while driving in Canada) but the time before that was about ten years ago, and my current car doesn't have a spare tyre!

Similarly, I COULD anchor under sail, and given the need would do it, but choose not to because of the risk to myself and others that would be involved in doing so. What is easy with a crew is not so easy single-handed, especially foredeck operations! My engine is reliable, and I take care to keep it so. For the record, what I would do is range chain ready to go and remove the pin holding the anchor (it remains in place without it). I would then furl the jib, and sail up wind/tide to the position I intended to drop the anchor, spilling wind from the mainsail to keep the speed low. I would luff up a few boat lengths short of my mark, and fix the tiller centrally (I would use the tiller-pilot). I would then go to the foredeck and when the boat lost way through the water would drop the anchor as it gained sternway. I would then wait for the strain to come on the chain, and check that the anchor was holding by checking the alignment of landmarks onshore. I would NEVER do that in proximity to other boats, except in an emergency, as I cannot be in two places at once, so if something happened such as a fluke in the wind causing her to pay off, I couldn't correct it immediately.

 

[pyrojames]

On my “to do” list. Must take a good look at yours

I should be back on the east coast late Sept/early Oct.

 

[capnsensible]

Interestingly, sailing on and off an anchor is taught on Day Skipper practical courses. So I got to do it a gazillion times.

But I bet few of my students ever went on and practised it much afterwards.......