Stern Anchor

[MapisM]

This year I'm starting my second decade of Med boating, and I'm currently based in Sardinia, but I cruised the Adriatic, Ionean, Thyrrenian and Ligurian seas.
I'm still missing the Spanish coasts and islands, is that the area you're referring to by chance?

Re. the kedge usage, I did guess that you generally use it to keep the boat bow to swell, but I was focusing on anchorages with the boat tied to the shore, where wagenaar said - and as I understood you agreed - that he uses the kedge and ties the bow to the shore (thus obviously keeping the stern more exposed to swell), whilst I always do the opposite.

 

[wagenaar]

One reason not to put the stern towards shore was the presence of a self-steering. This meant you had to stay away quite a distance from shore and it would not be possible to step on it, but would have to use a dinghy to row ashore. Putting the bow towards the shore often made it possible to just jump on shore with a rope and tie it to a proper attaching point. I've done this in the Med, but also in Sweden and Finland.

 

[MapisM]

Aha. I didn't consider that - it's a problem I don't have.

 

[JamesFrance]

I have acquired an alloy FOBlight anchor suggested for far heavier boats than mine, together with a leaded rope which sits in a bag.

This seems to be popular with the French and very easy to use over the stern. I have not used it much yet but it seems a good idea and I have added some chain to stop chafing mainly.

I would be interested to hear opinions on this.

 

[Swagman]

I'm like the other guy.
Have carried a second anchor for three yars all around the Med, and never used it once. Never.
Only now retain it as a spare for bower.
JOHN

 

[Roberto]

[ QUOTE ]
I have acquired an alloy FOBlight anchor
...

I would be interested to hear opinions on this.

[/ QUOTE ]

I have one too, like other light weight anchors (namely Fortress) when you drop it in the water it tends to "fly" a little but never found that too worrisome, if the rode is not pulled too quickly the anchor sets reasonably fast

I use it mainly as lunch hook, when I do not want to pull out the heavier anchor which needs windlass and stuff, with the light anchor I renewed with the pleasure of arriving and leaving an anchorage under sail alone (as I can easily handle the anchor plus its few metres of chain), no engine for windlass
.
I never tested it in more than 25knots of wind (held well so far) and will probably never do as in stronger conditions or if we wish to spend a night at anchor we always use the heavy one.

 

[Carolwildbird]

what's a "FOBlight" anchor? new one on me....

EDITED- ignore this post- just found details on google!

 

[wagenaar]

To prevent the "flying" I put first a few meters of chain out of the bag , so it hang already outside the ship and then dropped the anchor. The chain pulled the anchor down much faster and there was not that much "flying".

 

[charles_reed]

Happily we're not all alike.

My stern anchor is a Delta, mainly because it self-stows so well. It's on 25m of chain and 75m of octoplait.

It's been used quite frequently around the Med - Siracusa, Salerno two mention two most commonly.

That's because I tie-up bows-to (not every boat has a sugar-scoop stern) and the wind pilot is excessively vunerable.

My third is an old-fashioned Danforth, scarcely ever used, especially since it snared the cable between Gugh and St Agnes.

 

[Chris_Robb]

Well - the wind might not be blowing in the same direction as the swell! in fact this is probably the most normal situation.

Mind you, a flat bottomed motor boat probably does not role around like a MOB (manckey old boat), so perhaps thats why you never needed to use a kedge.....

 

[JamesFrance]

Agree entirely with what you say there. Many a sleepless night rolling before we learnt how to align boats with a stern anchor, also previous boats would try to sail the main anchor out by tacking constantly in strong winds with no sail set.