Single handed anchoring without windlass - advice for novice

[Kukri]

It's a parallel rule :encouragement:

Nobody has mentioned anchoring under sail in zero wind, I tried it for the first time recently and it seemed impossible to set the anchor. I really wanted to set it, because we had rocks all around, a fraggled crew, and it was getting dark.
Luckily there was a bit of current and that slowly drifted the boat away from the anchor, so it managed to grip of sorts.

I have had the problem of anchoring in a flat calm. If there is a current you can “drudge” on an anchor on a scope too short to set until you get to your chosen spot, then pay out more, but since this method risks picking up all and any ground chains on the way I think a better way is to drudge on a loop of chain with the anchor on deck and drop the anchor at the chosen spot.

Trying to pick up a mooring in a flat calm and a strong current is advanced level stuff...

 

[lw395]

It's a parallel rule :encouragement:

Nobody has mentioned anchoring under sail in zero wind, I tried it for the first time recently and it seemed impossible to set the anchor. I really wanted to set it, because we had rocks all around, a fraggled crew, and it was getting dark.
Luckily there was a bit of current and that slowly drifted the boat away from the anchor, so it managed to grip of sorts.

Ihave 'kedged' many times while racing in zero wind and adverse current.
Usually with some old anchor which anchor enthusiasts derice, such as a Danforth, Breton or CQR.
You chuck it out with loads of string and usually it grabs the bottom with a jolt.

Anchors on the whole work by cutting into the seabed until they are buried.
If there is no wind or current, they will just sit on the top of the seabed like a stupid weight.

Last year I was using a RIb as a start line committee boat. I got my assistant to chuck the hook and we sat in about 6-10 knots of breeze and started the race. We didn't drag significantly. No more than a 'sporting' amount of pin end bias to encourage any port-tack heroes. Of which there was a disappointing shortage.
After the start, I hauled up the anchor, it was a comedy folding grapnel, still locked in the folded postion. With a few metres of chain.

If there's no waves, the forces on an anchor are often surprisingly low.

If you want to spike the bottom without any ploughing action, perhaps a good old fisherman anchor is the thing?