overnight anchoring - practical tips for newbie overnighter!!!!

stefan_r

stefan_r

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So, am off to Greece (Samos) for a week next week and fancy anchoring overnight.

Daytime / lunch anchoring never been a problem but there's something about being asleep and something happening that puts the willies up me!

So current plan is:
-1-check weather for overnigh surprises. Prevailing northerlies this time of year and I WILL be on a lee shore based on cruising area (Northern Samos)
-2-lay PLENTY of scope (it's all chain)
-3-set anchor watch on GPS (but it's a fixed GPS and my bunk is a little way away so might not hear it!!!!)
-4-fingers crossed and try not to wake up too much imagining we're beached.........


I have the Imray charts for Samos and there are only a few spots marked with the <anchor>...I was planning on either anchoring there or just dropping the hook off one of the beaches like I would do during the day.

Either way there will be no land shelter by the looks of things....should I ONLY overnight in something deemed to be an "anchorage" (weather permitting of course!!).

Help needed because I do want to get some sleep!!!

Cheers
Stef
 
Hi Stef,

You are doing all the right things according to your list! I think most will agree that we all only really sleep with one eye open when on the anchor all night! however its a great feeling and as you have no tide to worry about you should be ok if the weather does not start to blow hard!

I feel its always best for a first timer to choose a location that others are using, so that you can be fairly certain its an anchorage which is safe, but try and avoid overcrowded places as I have seen all sorts of mess created by crossed anchor chains etc.

Good Luck

Barry
 
Just had a week in a Bav 36 in Turkey, probably similar terrain & weather but maybe a bit hillier ? We normally anchored stern to shore overnight, usually in quiet little coves or bays (with attendent bar / restaurant etc. you know the sort of thing. Not marinas). Normally pretty quiet overnight, but this year we had 3 very squally nights, don't know why, there's no pressure gradients so its katabatic / anabatic stuff, surprisingly strong between 2:00 am & 6:00 am then nothing. we anchor in about 10M with 30 - 40 M chain out, & 2 stern lines spaced well apart. Get bar taut using engine etc. to make sure the anchor is firmly bedded (took me 3 attempts on our last night). Sods law states that most gusts hit sideways. Then you'll sleep easy when the rigging starts to whistle.
Oh yes - don't forget the Ouzo (or rakki), thats the really essential anchoring tackle.
Enjoy !
 
Firstly I'd say that you should arrange your bunk so you're near a window or the cockpit so when you do wake up fretting then you can have a quick look out without waking your companions. Far better that than lying in your bunk worrying - after all the safety of everybody on board is pretty much in your hands. It's different if it's your own boat with an anchor you know well in places you've often anchored before.

Couple of other things - firstly I can't imagine anchoring on a lee shore overnight, unless inside a very sheltered bay, as you really would have to be alert to any sudden winds blowing up.

Secondly, I'd be careful with simply laying out lots of chain. If you have loops of chain on the seabed and somebody anchors close up behind you (they will, even if there is no other boats in sight), then a gust could cause your chain to stretch out and bang you into the other boat. If you want to be sure your anchor has set properly then gently reverse and lay out your chain until you think you have put out enough, then increase the reverse throttle until at least half-power. You will then know whether the anchor will hold in a sudden squall or will drag. Repeat the above until the anchor holds.
 
[ QUOTE ]
lay out your chain until you think you have put out enough, then increase the reverse throttle until at least half-power.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for this - hugely useful - especially bunk!!!

Question - I am a 46' motor boat with top end of 30 knots...half power may be keen!!!!! I tickover at 500rpm and 2300rpm top end. Would revving to 750-ish be more practical for my circumstances?

I have heard something about reverse until the nose dips but have never managed to get that technique right to the point where I know it bobs as opposed to just rocking in the waves....
 
I wouldn't even think about anchoring off a lee shore if the Meltemi is blowing. Try to find somewhere with at least a bit of shelter; usually one side of a cove has better protection than the other. If you don't trust your GPS alarm you can make a mechanical alarm: Tie a light line to a heavy weight, 1KG or more, and lower it to the seabed. Allow a couple meters slack to allow for tide and clip the line to the life line or rail with a clothes peg - not too tight. Continue the line onto something that will make a horrible clatter when it is disturbed - a frying pan with some plastic tumblers standing in it, on the galley counter, for instance. If you drag beyond the extent of the line it will free itself from the peg and pull the frying pan off the counter, waking everyone on the boat. If you have run the line through a small port, or through a lifeline stanchion base you won't even lose the frying pan!
 
Find a spot where loads of experienced people have parked up - should be OK.

PS I use lead diving weights for the alarm system mentioned above - help you when snorkelling too.
 
Stefan - put out 6:1; put it into reverse (the same direction boats are lying!) and even at tickover the anchor will set. It should hold the boat at tickover. It will not hold it at 3:1 etc Bobs are for lunch stops.

Once it is set and you are going nowhere take chain back in to 4:1 - I am assumong that you aren't planning to stay if it's forcast to blow at all, or 5:1 . any more and you risk mixing it with other boats a little too much.

lets face it you are there to enjoy yourselves but stay safe too
 
stefan
Get the anchor laid and then give her a burst astern - she'll let you know in no uncertain terms that she's got a grip. i.e. the crew all fall backwards. You could also go "have a look" at the anchor with the snorkeling gear.

I've spent many happy nights laid to an anchor in some secluded bay in the Med - the first was (please forgive the pun) a nightmare but once I realised that the real fun is in finding an un-occupied small bay - back her in and drop the hook - run a couple of lines ashore to hold her head to "sea" - go for a swim and check the anchor is hooked in well, then get out the booze and food.

best of luck

Peter.
 
One tip: after you anchor look out for a nearby shore transit roughly admidships, e.g. a streetlight in front of a house, that will be easy to check in the dark. This will give you quick reassurance you haven't moved.

If anchoring among other yachts, think about where their anchors will be, you must not overlie them. For this reason it is best not to overdo the chain. 3x depth is usually adequate, 5x is the most you need short of a hurricane.

Be reassured, there is a guardian spirit that nearly always wakes yacht skippers if their anchor drags at night. Either that or the bloke on the boat behind whose anchor you are now fouling.
 
Where I am (West Aus) the winds are fairly consistent from the S/W afternoon and evening and turn to Easterlys by morning. When anchoring most yachties will put down two anchors, one to the S/W and another to the East. This minimises the swing and avoids breakouts as the boat comes round.

May be applicable to you depending on prevailing winds but I always sleep better with two anchors down.

Regards
TonyM
 
Depending on the shoreline, setting the depth sounder minimum alarm can help as well.

I have worried in the past about an alarm not waking me up, but when you go to sleep apprehensive, it's amazing what tiny sounds will wake you up.
 
I use to take a small hand compass down and put i besides my bunk. So when I get worried I just can check if the bearing changes without even looking outside.
 
I've anchored charter yachts overnight more times than I can remember in the E.Med. and Caribbean and never dragged. Two things I always do a) lay out the chain VERY slowly then wait a few mins before increasing the revs...many people go too fast and the anchor never bites properly (if it won't hold in full reverse I lay it again) b) get the snorkel out and have a look. I have mixed feelings about lines ashore, but if space is tight you may have no option.
 
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