What to do when the anchor drags in an onshore wind?

[RupertW]

Not if you're single handed!!

Trying to motor up to the anchor with no one on the tiller is not possible.
Minn's proposal is perfectly possible!! and much easier than trying to motor up.

It's not just possible, it's easy. The idea of running between foredeck to take up the slack and tiller to tack the boat is cumbersome and time consuming compared to starting the engine, pointing the boat at the anchor under autohelm then using the windlass at the foredeck to take up the slack. You may have to go back to the cockpit a couple of times to correct the course but everything is under control and going forwards. I'm not saying you couldn't have a bit of nostalgic fun and hoist the sails, or that it's not good practice to give it a go, but practically the simplicity of engine to anchor is a doddle at a safety critical time.

 

[JumbleDuck]

It's not just possible, it's easy. The idea of running between foredeck to take up the slack and tiller to tack the boat is cumbersome and time consuming compared to starting the engine, pointing the boat at the anchor under autohelm then using the windlass at the foredeck to take up the slack. You may have to go back to the cockpit a couple of times to correct the course but everything is under control and going forwards.

On my long keeler even the autohelm isn't necessary. I just set the engine going fast enough to take us very slowly to the anchor, leave the tiller free, and head for the foredeck. Keeping the anchor chain tight produces all the course correction necessary. When it's up I stroll back to the cockpit, engage the tillerpilot and then go back to the foredeck to sort everything out. Might not work with a fin keel, natch.

 

[lw395]

What normally involves strolling nonchalently to and from the foredeck might be a very different game in conditions when anchors start dragging.

Last time I left an anchorage because I'd been overconfident in the weater forecast and the wind had turned onshore, keeping the boat pointing towards the anchor involved a lot of helm and bursts of power. Your autohelm is simply not going to do that.

 

[RupertW]

What normally involves strolling nonchalently to and from the foredeck might be a very different game in conditions when anchors start dragging.

Last time I left an anchorage because I'd been overconfident in the weater forecast and the wind had turned onshore, keeping the boat pointing towards the anchor involved a lot of helm and bursts of power. Your autohelm is simply not going to do that.

It doesn’t have to do it perfectly at all - just keep the boat going forwards in the approximate direction and when it goes too far off to one side the chain tautens and you are either securely anchored and able to walk back and adjust course or the anchor breaks out and you just bring the rest of the chain up. That’s not theory, that’s just normal habit and often in 30 plus knot winds (though rarely onshore)

 

[sailaboutvic]

Did it for a good few years on and off solo on a 10t boat. Manual windlass then no windlass when that broke. Leapfrog lines between the mast halyard winches to get the bulk of the 10mm chain up in deeper anchorages . Not really a lot of fun and far from ideal but doable. Sailing in and out of anchorages when the grumpy engine was having an off day.

Most things are doable in the right conditions, the posting started " what do you do if the anchor drag in a on wind "
I take it he means in a blow and close to the shore , if your that close and the wind blowing 25/35 kts over the deck I think you would agree messing about trying to sail up to your anchor and lifting it by hand while the wind blowing your bow down wind and your heading towards the shore at 2kts isn't a good idea .
Different when it's light winds and you have plenty of time , but it light winds one would hope a well set anchor wouldn't drag .
apology to everyone For thread drift earlier on , re sailing into Marina

 

[GHA]

, re sailing into Marina

I've actually sailed onto pontoons more than once as well with a bust engine

But that's back in the real world where it's best to ignore 95% of what you read on t'internet and deal with how the real world/your own boat is at that moment

 

[Kukri]

Most things are doable in the right conditions, the posting started " what do you do if the anchor drag in a on wind "
I take it he means in a blow and close to the shore , if your that close and the wind blowing 25/35 kts over the deck I think you would agree messing about trying to sail up to your anchor and lifting it by hand while the wind blowing your bow down wind and your heading towards the shore at 2kts isn't a good idea .
Different when it's light winds and you have plenty of time , but it light winds one would hope a well set anchor wouldn't drag

No I certainly do NOT agree. See below.

It's not just possible, it's easy. The idea of running between foredeck to take up the slack and tiller to tack the boat is cumbersome and time consuming compared to starting the engine, pointing the boat at the anchor under autohelm then using the windlass at the foredeck to take up the slack. You may have to go back to the cockpit a couple of times to correct the course but everything is under control and going forwards. I'm not saying you couldn't have a bit of nostalgic fun and hoist the sails, or that it's not good practice to give it a go, but practically the simplicity of engine to anchor is a doddle at a safety critical time.

Same comment. I don't think either of you understand the procedure.

There is no question of "running back to the tiller". I explained that you back a headsail and lash the helm. The boat tacks herself as the chain comes taut on each tack.She will be hove to on one tack and not on the other. That's fine. Everything is under control

In a rising sea under power alone the boat will not point at the anchor under autohelm; the bows will blow off, because there is not enough way on the boat for the rudder to "bite" on anything except the prop wash, and in those circumstances a strong wind and sea will knock the bows off the heading. If you sail the anchor out (and you can perfectly well have the engine on at moderate revs to "help") the boat will sail up to the anchor close hauled and once it breaks out you are under way and sailing away from the danger.

 

[Kukri]

I've actually sailed onto pontoons more than once as well with a bust engine

But that's back in the real world where it's best to ignore 95% of what you read on t'internet and deal with how the real world/your own boat is at that moment

As have I. Well said.

As it happens as I was reading this thread my two sons were sailing a 19ft keelboat into a marina (SYH) which is actually home to a fleet of them.

 

[GHA]

As have I. Well said.

As it happens as I was reading this thread my two sons were sailing a 19ft keelboat into a marina (SYH) which is actually home to a fleet of them.

Certainly not something I'd do by choice, though there are so many variables it's possibly impossible to discuss in the black and white forum world

One of the finest bits of seamanship I've seen lately was that French guy Youtubing round Britain, nasty cross winds would have made berthing very tricky single handed so he carried on across the channel back to France where it would be easier. Stack the cards in your favour when you can

 

[sailaboutvic]

No I certainly do NOT agree. See below.



Same comment. I don't think either of you understand the procedure.

There is no question of "running back to the tiller". I explained that you back a headsail and lash the helm. The boat tacks herself as the chain comes taut on each tack.She will be hove to on one tack and not on the other. That's fine. Everything is under control

In a rising sea under power alone the boat will not point at the anchor under autohelm; the bows will blow off, because there is not enough way on the boat for the rudder to "bite" on anything except the prop wash, and in those circumstances a strong wind and sea will knock the bows off the heading. If you sail the anchor out (and you can perfectly well have the engine on at moderate revs to "help") the boat will sail up to the anchor close hauled and once it breaks out you are under way and sailing away from the danger.

Not sure what I don't understand , as. Never comment on the second posting you have in#46 in which you say it was posted by me . Unless I was drank at the time .

I can only imagine that you sail a small sailing boat to be able to do this , for sure on mine you would never be able to do it or on any good size yacht .
There lots you can do in a dinghy or a small sailing boat that would be almost impossible to do in a large boat even with two on board let alone solo .
For one you could launch it off a trailer .

 

[sailaboutvic]

As have I. Well said.

As it happens as I was reading this thread my two sons were sailing a 19ft keelboat into a marina (SYH) which is actually home to a fleet of them.

Has it happen Suffolk yacht harbour was my base for 19 years and it was there that I got hit by a skipper of a racing boat under sail in his friends 18 footer , I very surprise that Jonathan is aloud this to go on ,
I know for a fact it's agains Marina rule to come in under sail .
as I still very much in contact with Jonathan , it may be worth bring this to his attention .

 

[Kukri]

Has it happen Suffolk yacht harbour was my base for 19 years and it was there that I got hit by a skipper of a racing boat under sail in his friends 18 footer , I very surprise that Jonathan is aloud this to go on ,
I know for a fact it's agains Marina rule to come in under sail .
as I still very much in contact with Jonathan , it may be worth bring this to his attention .

With pre- arranged permission.

Your ball.

You are aware that there is a fleet of Squibs at SYH?

 

[Kukri]

Not sure what I don't understand , as. Never comment on any of the above .
Ivan only imagine that you sail a small sailing boat to be able to do this , for sure on mine you would never be able to do it .
There lots you can do in a dinghy or a small sailing boat that would be almost impossible to do in a large boat even with two on board let alone solo ,

I don't know what you sail. I have done it singlehanded, more than once, in a 38ft heavy gaff cutter and, not single handed, in a 55ft Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter on the north coast of Bear island.

 

[sailaboutvic]

I don't know what you sail. I have done it singlehanded, more than once, in a 38ft heavy gaff cutter and, not single handed, in a 55ft Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter on the north coast of Bear island.

Good for you ,and did you sail that up to your anchor in a blow and pick it up by hand , some how I guess not , but let's leave it at that . Because this is getting silly .

.

 

[Kukri]

Good for you ,and did you sail that up to your anchor in a blow and pick it up by hand , some how I guess not , but let's leave it at that . Because this is getting silly .

.

You've lost me.

First case, 7/16" chain, 45lbs CQR, Reids windlass, second case, 1/2" chain, 75lbs CQR, Simpson Lawrence windlass. Obviously both manual. CQR did not stow in the roller but was picked up and stowed on deck. In the heat of the moment, just catted the CQR with the line to the gravity eye that all CQRs should have, according to their inventor, and sorted it later.

I just want to make the point that this is simple everyday procedure; there is nothing "fancy" about it. It's actually the easy way to do it.