Stern anchoring

[Roberto]

We wanted to try spinnaker flying, so we anchored from the stern;
letting aside the pathetic attempts at flying, I noticed the following
1. stern anchored, the boat has an impressive stability, there is almost no side to side movement, it seems stuck in place
2. as the wind increased to roughly 15-20kt, it was still very stable, no wandering all over the anchorage, the only drawback being noise from the wavelets hitting the stern overhang
3. even at 20ish kt, I could (almost) easily retrieve the anchor cable by hand, which is out of the question when bow anchored, so windage is definitely less
(boat is 42ft sloop)

why aren't more boats anchored by the stern, at least in flat water ?







<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[boatless]

Read a hilarious account of an open-transom sportsboat kedging by the stern, with a fair tide....

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Althorne]

Did you tie off to one side cleat at the stern or to both sides to give an even hold?

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Althorne]

Yes - well, what happen that was so funny....?

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Roberto]

On one side cleat only, but with most of the windage forward the contribution to the absence of movement must have been almost irrelevant compared to two cleats, the boat remained almost in the wind axis..



<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[boatless]

Think it through.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Althorne]

I see.....bit too droll for quick thinking.(frown)

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[boatless]

Found it. With thanks to Dave S.

Quote

"Reminds me of a Cowes Week race back in the mid 90s. A bunch of us were sailing a 1720 (open-transom sportsboat with a cockpit running right to the mast) while the owner schmoozed some clients on a stinkpot he'd borrowed. Typical Cowes Week start, off the Squadron with about 8-squillion knots of tide taking us towards Ryde, and almost no wind. Race committee decided to send everyone off down tide (which was also downwind) so as to get each fleet away from the start before the next one.

Our plan was to kedge uptide of the line, pull the hook up just before the gun and zoom off, downwind and down tide. So far so good. Then one of the guys pipes up "Hey, if we anchor stern-to we'll be pointing downwind, and we can get the kite up before the start..." Sounded like a good idea. A really, really good idea...

The anchor warp gets tied onto the transom and we chuck the hook over the back. The owner is hovering at a sedate distance in his stinkpot. There is also a RIB in the vicinity, with a commentator reporting live for Cowes Week Radio.

Those of you who are more awake will recall that I mentioned an open transom.

Just as we're starting to think about the kite, the hook hits the bottom and bites. The boat slows down, stops, and the transom sinks. About two feet. And's that's just to start with. Within a couple of seconds the entire crew are stood on the foredeck apart from me. I'm sat on the gunwhale, up to my waist in water, steering backwards with both hands, as the water comes past at 8-squillion knots. The owner is looking on from his stinkpot. His clients are taking photographs. Cowes Week Radio are commentating, live, to anyone who doesn't have a good enough view. The anchor line, attached to the transom, disappears into the water at 45 degrees. We can't even let it out, because it's attached to the boat with a bowline. From the foredeck a quiet voice announces '1 minute...' " end quote

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[omega2]

You really should have let them find out for themselves, some of these guys are unbelievable.

<hr width=100% size=1>J HAMER

 

[greatspirit]

Most boats will (without sails) point downwind if drifting hence the behaviour of your boat when stern anchored....it would probably have behaved differently in a tidal stream, but it depends on the underwater configuration of the boat
PS Are you sure the anchor was holding?

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Roberto]

**PS Are you sure the anchor was holding?**

dug in by (intermittently) filling a 150sqm spinnaker!


tidal streams permitting, as as you say most boats point downwind and wind drag seems to be less, [warning on] I think I'll try anchoring by the stern a few more times, until something will seriously go wrong!




<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[jenku]

Many smaller boats like being anchored by the stern and will "sail around the anchor" less. I have tried both methods on my boat and although it is quite happy with stern anchoring I don't really think it moves less and the rudder bangs around (stern hung rudder) quite a bit.

On the other hand, on hot days it's nice to anchor by the stern as i keeps the wind nocely in the cockpit and the cabin. Not that hot days really have been a problem this season...



<hr width=100% size=1>http://www.sail.to/alacrity

 

[cmckesson]

We anchor by the stern often. Yes, ours too lies much calmer stern-to. It can also help with midges as the cockpit dodger (spray hood) funnels a nice breeze through the cabin.

We have several variation on the theme. In one we belay the stern hook forward. Then we sail past our intended spot, drop the hook over the stern as we go by. It digs, bites, and swings the boat round head to wind, upon which we drop sail. We then decide whether to leave the cable forward or rig it back to the stern. Rigging it to the stern makes sailing off the hook much easier too.

We also often rig two hooks (one each bow and stern) and then put a third line which I (perhaps improperly) call a tag line on the stern cable. By rigging the tag line to the other end of the baot, I can in effect change the position at which the stern line acts. The result is that I can get the boat to lie at almost any desired angle to the wind. This is extremely useful when there is a wave action which is at angle to the wind. It allows me to bridle the boat head-to-wave to minimize rolling, and thus improve the quality of the night's sleep.

Just my two cents worth! <smile>

Chris McKesson
Puget Sound, Washington, USA

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Roberto]

Follow up

for those who were interested, I just found this article where together with drogues for heavy weather at sea, the practice of stern mooring is recommended for hurricane anchoring /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif