RTIR Kedge Anchor

[Enya]

Preparing for the race and the possibility of zero wind I have bought 100 metres of rope for my 7.5 KG bruce type anchor so it can play the role of kedge. Current anchor chain is coming off the boat but having said that, do I need to have some chain, say 10m of 6mm between the rope and the anchor for it to set effectively. Boat is 27ft Albin Vega.

 

[Lucky Duck]

It is usuall to have the first couple of meters as chain if rope is being used but as the purpose of your set up is purely as a kedge in light winds then you may well be able to do without.

Of course, having gone to the expense you can bet that it will blow old boots instead.

 

[Enya]

Just a couple of metres sounds good. Thank you.

 

[Martin_J]

The chain will also be a bit more resilient to chafing through should there be anything sharp e.g. rocks on the bottom...

 

[AIDY]

I normally dump all the chain for rope... remember anchor needs to be stowed... dump all your drinking water apart from jerry can or a few 5 litres of mineral water.... don't fill with diesel before the start either.

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

For RTIR I completely emptied my Twister, which was usually very much a cruising boat in my ownership.
Bower anchor and chain went ashore, (or rather onto my pals boat and raft) only a small fishermans kedge and line stayed aboard. .Absolutely everything I didn't need for that day went ashore.
I did leave the windvane on the back yet unbolted the paddle and left that behind.
Emptying her made her sit up around 100mm/4" and made an enormous difference to her speed and agility.
If short handed it would also make a difference to leave all cabin locker lids, sole boards and doors ashore. With a bigger crew it would be safer to leave main sole boards in.
Just a minimalist tool box left onboard.

If you don't need it leave it behind!

pp.s. don't forget to clean her bottom a few days before too, it made 1 knot difference on my Twister.

 

[Enya]

I normally dump all the chain for rope... remember anchor needs to be stowed... dump all your drinking water apart from jerry can or a few 5 litres of mineral water.... don't fill with diesel before the start either.

There are some who say that some weight on the bow has merit. When chain and water is dumped, I guess just distribute the crew regardless of conditions.

 

[Bosun Higgs]

If short handed it would also make a difference to leave all cabin locker lids, sole boards and doors ashore. With a bigger crew it would be safer to leave main sole boards in.


.

Definitely not allowed in handicap racing.

 

[st599]

For RTIR I completely emptied my Twister, which was usually very much a cruising boat in my ownership.
Bower anchor and chain went ashore, (or rather onto my pals boat and raft) only a small fishermans kedge and line stayed aboard. .Absolutely everything I didn't need for that day went ashore.
I did leave the windvane on the back yet unbolted the paddle and left that behind.
Emptying her made her sit up around 100mm/4" and made an enormous difference to her speed and agility.
If short handed it would also make a difference to leave all cabin locker lids, sole boards and doors ashore. With a bigger crew it would be safer to leave main sole boards in.
Just a minimalist tool box left onboard.

If you don't need it leave it behind!

pp.s. don't forget to clean her bottom a few days before too, it made 1 knot difference on my Twister.

You're not allowed to remove the fixtures and fittings.

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

For RTIR I completely emptied my Twister, which was usually very much a cruising boat in my ownership.
Bower anchor and chain went ashore, (or rather onto my pals boat and raft) only a small fishermans kedge and line stayed aboard. .Absolutely everything I didn't need for that day went ashore.
I did leave the windvane on the back yet unbolted the paddle and left that behind.
Emptying her made her sit up around 100mm/4" and made an enormous difference to her speed and agility.
If short handed it would also make a difference to leave all cabin locker lids, sole boards and doors ashore. With a bigger crew it would be safer to leave main sole boards in.
Just a minimalist tool box left onboard.

If you don't need it leave it behind!

pp.s. don't forget to clean her bottom a few days before too, it made 1 knot difference on my Twister.

Does doing all of this make the race more fun and the day more enjoyable?

Not a criticism, but it seems a lot of trouble to go to for what I thought, for most entrants, was a fun handicap ace day.

 

[Seajet]

For a racing kedge, I think I'd go for a grapnel or fisherman anchor, as one may well be over weed covered rock, rather than sand or mud such as a normal anchorage; it will be a fine balance of ' heavy enough to take a hold' versus ' light enough to cast forward', and the warp will have to be relatively light, not to mention well flaked out. A well functioning depth sounder and a GPS with indications/ alarms if dragging will be useful too...

 

[Racecruiser]

Preparing for the race and the possibility of zero wind I have bought 100 metres of rope for my 7.5 KG bruce type anchor so it can play the role of kedge. Current anchor chain is coming off the boat but having said that, do I need to have some chain, say 10m of 6mm between the rope and the anchor for it to set effectively. Boat is 27ft Albin Vega.

Hmmm .... be careful firstly regarding the regulations, see notice of race. Haven't checked but I think the RTI is subject to ISAF Category 4 requirements (mainly to do with safety) and having one suitable anchor and cable will be covered. Cat 3 stipulates two!

Secondly your rating certificate - I suspect you may be in the ISC section as opposed to the racier IRC section but ripping weight out of the boat is not allowed as others have pointed out - furniture even bunk cushions have to be on board although sometimes a notice of race will say bunk cushions can be taken off (usually in the winter).

Then there is common sense - all rope and a light kedge may be OK when it's calm but if your mast comes down south of the island and you get a line round the prop in some wind and waves you'll want an anchor that works!

Good luck! I've done quite a lot of RTIs and am quite content not to do another for a few years as it can be dangerous for the heart rate!

 

[Seajet]

Racecruiser,

good points; I should have made clear that I'd have a 'proper' anchor - with warp & chain in my case - probably stowed on the midships cabin sole for the race, as it's only 7.5kg etc.

It would take quite some prize ( possibly a night with Felicity Kendal in 1970's trim might do it ) to encourage me to set off without a viable, useful when the **** hits the fan, anchor !

 

[northwind]

When racing, do you use the kedge to attach onto the boat in front and then haul yourself forwards in light airs?

100m of warp requires quite a throw...

You might want to use a grapnel instead of a bruce

 

[BlueSkyNick]

Why do you think you need a kedge at all? If you get to the point of stopping you might as well call it a day anyway.

 

[Lucky Duck]

Why do you think you need a kedge at all? If you get to the point of stopping you might as well call it a day anyway.

Like this?

 

[Twister_Ken]

A well functioning depth sounder and a GPS with indications/ alarms if dragging will be useful too...

It's all in sight of land. A transit is best.

 

[Seajet]

It's all in sight of land. A transit is best.

Twister Ken,

maybe - one of my favourite film scenes is at the end of 'The Cruel Sea' when No.1 takes a transit and it's never explained, obviously the drill from the experienced seagoing advisor.

However for something like the RTIR I'd think by the time a transit showed ' You're in the ****' you'd definitely be in it, hence my suggestion of electronics !

 

[Twister_Ken]

Twister Ken,


However for something like the RTIR I'd think by the time a transit showed ' You're in the ****' you'd definitely be in it, hence my suggestion of electronics !

Not at all. If you're watching the shore it's obvious the moment you stop moving over the ground. It's all part of race navigation in light airs. I've been on boats where we've taken a gun because we've been first to spot the need to kedge. For that reason, you don't make a big fuss about doing it. You hope the others may not notice until they've sailed 'backwards' for a bit.

 

[Seajet]

Twister Ken,

in that sort of situation I'd hope I'd catch on long before !

I was mentioning kedging for the benefit of the common herd, not for brilliant types like you and I who never put a foot wrong...