November YM anchor test - Delta

[alahol2]

I thought the test was a load of nonsense since the CQR was obviously designed for mud & in that respect I have found it superb.If you are balmy enough to use it on another type of bottom rather than getting one that is specifically designed for that sort of bottom what do you expect!
I swear by mine & it once saved my life while anchored in Priory Bay.Admittedly it was hooked over a piece of rope

Priory Bay IS sand. You should have used one of your other anchors.

 

[Ubergeekian]

I find the most successful technique is to stop, start lowering the anchor, let out 5:1 scope, then have a cup of tea while wind and/or tide lays out the chain and digs the anchor in before putting the engines in reverse to check it has set properly. Most anchors will fail to set if a load is put on them before they have a chance to dig in.

My favoured technique is to go in full belt downwind under sail (what are these "engines" of which people speak?) drop the CQR anchor with 3x current depth of chain and let it bring the boat up short, simultaneously digging in the anchor and bringing the boat head-to-wind. Whip down the sails and the whole thing is over in thirty seconds.

Then, of course, let out more chain if necessary - wind, tidal rise etc etc.

 

[KristiferColumbus]

Does that mean that you carry a wide selection of anchors and deploy the right one for the conditions? Or do you only anchor in mud if you just carry a CQR? Do you always dive to check out the nature of the bottom before you anchor in case it is of a type that your anchor does not like?

Surely your main anchor must be able to perform acceptably in a variety of bottoms with a bias towards the ones more common in your area of operation.

I do anchor mainly in mud & have found out from experience that it skids across the bottom in a sand/weedy conditions so am very vigilant.......I just thought it was unfair to test in outside it's normal element.Were the others tested in mud?

 

[Poignard]

Makes me wonder: how did people set their anchors before engines were invented?

 

[KristiferColumbus]

Priory Bay IS sand. You should have used one of your other anchors.

I was inexperienced then & would'nt anchor there now in those sort of conditions with any sort of anchor not even chained directly to the bottom!

 

[KristiferColumbus]

Makes me wonder: how did people set their anchors before engines were invented?

Good point I reckon that if you need to use your engine then you are doing something wrong.

 

[Twister_Ken]

"how did people set their anchors before engines were invented?"

Quite possible to sail a boat backwards. I've done it many times, once or twice deliberately!

 

[webcraft]

Yes well . . .

"how did people set their anchors before engines were invented?"

Quite possible to sail a boat backwards. I've done it many times, once or twice deliberately!

Anchoring under sail is taught as part of the DS practical syllabus by the RYA. Part of the procedure involves backing the mainsail and reversing the anchor in as far as is practical in teh prevailing conditions.

Two observations on Parsifal's question:

Firstly, my guess is that before engines, new gen anchors, RYA training and endless anchoring threads and articles telling people how to do it people DID in fact drag more often - although of course this can never be more than a supposition as there is no empirical evidence.

Secondly, I have never looked on reversing the anchor to dig it in as a vital part of setting it - although a small pull is obviously necessary wind or current is sufficient on most occasions. The point of going full astern on your anchor is to simulate a F6-7 blow so that when the breeze gets up in the middle of the night you do not lie awake wondering if you are going to drag - because you have already tested the set of your anchor.


- W

 

[srm]

Makes me wonder: how did people set their anchors before engines were invented?

That was back when people used a skill known as seamanship, and were aware how to handle their boats in the many and varying conditions they would meet. Boat builders and designers also knew how to make boats with well balanced hulls and rigs that allowed infinite adjustment in power. Perhaps not being in a mad rush also helped them.

Strangely enough most modern yachts can also be handled without an engine, though depowering a fully battened main can be difficult without reefing. But should you try it you may find that you start to develop some of the almost forgotten skill of seamanship and may even find it more satisfying than pushing buttons and pulling leavers.

 

[Poignard]

But should you try it you may find that you start to develop some of the almost forgotten skill of seamanship and may even find it more satisfying than pushing buttons and pulling leavers.

You mean do as I have been doing for the last 39 years!

I was not seeking advice but trying to tactfully point out that people have managed to sail boats, and anchor them, quite competently without engines for thousands of years. In fact they still do in many parts of the world.

My first yacht had no engine, and my second had a tiny outboard which spent most of its life corroding quietly in a locker and was not certainly not used for any manouvres involving an anchor.

Personally if I arrive at some anchorage under sail I am not going to start the engine just to dig in the anchor, which will dig itself in when a load comes on it. If it doesn't then I'll do something about it. As for sleeping quietly when the wind gets up - I'm one of those old-fashioned fusspots who gets up and checks that I'm anchored safely or even, dare I say it, keeps an anchor watch!

 

[snowleopard]

As for sleeping quietly when the wind gets up - I'm one of those old-fashioned fusspots who gets up and checks that I'm anchored safely or even, dare I say it, keeps an anchor watch!

You sit up checking bearings, I'll sleep soundly in the knowledge that my GPS or depth gauge will wake me if we start to drag.

 

[Woodlouse]

You sit up checking bearings, I'll sleep soundly in the knowledge that my GPS or depth gauge will wake me if we start to drag.

I sleep soundly with absolute faith in my CQR. Seems that going by this thread I do everything wrong, I use a CQR, I let it free fall then I run out as much chain as I want before usually using the engine to really dig it in. All wrong apparently, but It's never dragged.

 

[flyingscampi]

All magazine reviews are pants, they get a yacht or product for a day, try it once and then give it marks out of 10 or whatever.

These forums provide a much better source of information.

 

[Tranona]

Exactly so. The best attribute that the 'modern' anchor designs have given us is the increased range of bottoms that they can cope with. After 20 years as a satisfied user of a Delta I suffered drag in a very soft mud bottom, admittedly in the wildest conditions I have ever experienced. I also had a few more problems than I wanted when anchoring stern-to, mostly in the fresh cross-winds that are a feature of many Greek harbours. I bought a Rocna that has so far not been tested in the conditions that led to the dragging of the Delta but is undoubtedly better in stern-to berthing.

Thats interesting. I have just changed from a CQR copy to a Delta because the former was very poor when there was weed or a hard bottom. Never had any problem with stern to anchoring - indeed, my wife who hates all this palaver was always proud of being able to set the CQR. After a bit of experimentation we think we have sussed that you have to let the Delta set first rather than dropping on the run as we did with the CQR - not always convenient.

Have a CQR on my boat in Poole - been there since 1963. Great in the harbour mud and not too bad in sand, but hopeless if you go seahorse bashing in Studland now the bottom is infested with eel grass!

 

[Wandering Star]

I sleep soundly with absolute faith in my CQR. Seems that going by this thread I do everything wrong, I use a CQR, I let it free fall then I run out as much chain as I want before usually using the engine to really dig it in. All wrong apparently, but It's never dragged.

Yep, me too, I generally use a CQR though also like the Delta, I let 3 x times scope freefall as I'm going astern, set the anchor, let an additional whatever amount out according to various factors. I've never had a pile up of chain and I'm surprised I've survived for as long as I have without a single hiccup - there must be a Guardian Angel looking out for me. As for the debate on using the engine, what's to debate? I know I could set the anchor under sail but since my boats fitted with an engine why not blooming use it to make absolutely sure the anchors well set, in fact I'd consider it negligent not to do so.

Cheers, Brian.

 

[srm]

You mean do as I have been doing for the last 39 years!

I was not seeking advice but trying to tactfully point out that people have managed to sail boats, and anchor them, quite competently without engines for thousands of years. In fact they still do in many parts of the world.

My first yacht had no engine, and my second had a tiny outboard which spent most of its life corroding quietly in a locker and was not certainly not used for any manouvres involving an anchor.

Personally if I arrive at some anchorage under sail I am not going to start the engine just to dig in the anchor, which will dig itself in when a load comes on it. If it doesn't then I'll do something about it. As for sleeping quietly when the wind gets up - I'm one of those old-fashioned fusspots who gets up and checks that I'm anchored safely or even, dare I say it, keeps an anchor watch!

In which case I apologise most profusely - I share similar experiences with a "Stuart NONE Turner" in the first yacht I sailed.

I was simply trying to nudge the 'motor boats with sails' brigade that seems to make up the vast majority of "sailing" boat owners to try using sails for all manouvers (as you may well have been). If the wind is suitable I am not adverse to sailing out or in to my marina berth. (And once was applauded by surprised visitors just for sailing around the end of the breakwater). I once had a YM instructor criticise me for anchoring on a run in light airs. Presumably, he was another 'mobo with sails' type at heart and unable to accept that its possible to put the helm over just before checking the chain to avoid it touching the hull.

I was anchored in the mouth of the Helford River for a day on May bank holiday. It was interesting to see that the most of the boats that worked up the river under sail (rather than motor sail) were gaff rigged, plus a modified Freedom 35 with a junk rig. Three of the gaffers tacking up the river were a lot bigger and heavier than most of the 'mobos with sails' that chugged past.

Now that GPS has taken all the fun out of navigation I find the most satisfying aspect of owning a boat is handling under sail - with the occasional use of a sweep or a warp to avoid shattering the peace of a still evening.

 

[ribrage]

i've spent weeks n weeks out at studland using a cqr without a problem sat through gales etc quite happlily, never had a problem with it setting.
I did rescue a malo 38 that was off on a jolly without its owners, when they got back and recovered their bruce anchor it had a rock nealy fitted in side of it, so maybe there are some anchors (bruce) which would be better if they were truely buried rather than just left to set on their own ?

 

[srm]

. . .38 that was off on a jolly without its owners, when they got back and recovered their bruce anchor it had a rock nealy fitted in side of it, so maybe there are some anchors (bruce) which would be better if they were truely buried rather than just left to set on their own ?

Had a similar experience with a big Bruce on an MFV. We motored astern to check the anchor was holding, which it was. When it was recovered there was a big slab of rock like a tomb stone wedged by a smaller rock in its jaws. It took a bit of judicious boot work by a crew member standing on the stem head to get it to drop its prize.

 

[snowleopard]

All magazine reviews are pants, they get a yacht or product for a day, try it once and then give it marks out of 10 or whatever.

These forums provide a much better source of information.

My feeling is that you get way too much of 'my anchor is best' and very little informed comparison around here. The most valuable posts are those that give experiences of more than one type

 

[rudolph_hart]

My feeling is that you get way too much of 'my anchor is best' and very little informed comparison around here. The most valuable posts are those that give experiences of more than one type

I've used a few types, with various combinations of chain & warp, but the one that truly gasted my flabber with its holding power was an aluminium Fortress on my previous Dehler 34. This anchor was so light it could be waved around overhead with one hand, yet held in soft mud through a 20-minute "mini tornado" (as dubbed by the media when reporting the structural damage it caused in nearby Brightlingsea).

For the current owner, it also held in hard sand off a lee-shore Chichester Bar in a bit of a blow, when the Whitlock steering jammed on full lock. It was so well dug in they couldn't raise it, so they buoyed it & retrieved it after the blow. It was bent but intact.

Current anchor is a 15kg Delta (factory fitted).