Anchoring Advice

After some friends had an episode where their anchor dragged they asked us these questions: "Have you ever dragged? Scared yourself dragging? Developed moderately "foolproof" techniques?"

I answered, "Yes, yes, yes".

We dragged all over every harbor in Mexico until we got rid of our beautiful but ineffective stainless steel plow anchor and started using a bruce. However we've only dragged once when we were not aboard, in San Diego, and it was a shocker to come back to the harbor in see...no boat. 1/2 a mile away rested Wings, serenely in the middle of a group of boats, with a bit more chain out courtesy of some good Samaritans who came aboard the dragging home and let out some more chain. As we dingied back to Wings we could see several people on surrounding boats looking us over to see who was responsible for such a fiasco. Wings was not much for the worse for it it except some scratches on the solar panel frame where we were t-boned by the bowsprit of a 100 foot schooner but we were worse for wear and financially impacted as I went around the harbor giving bottles of wine to those who rescued Wings. Made some good friends though.

We got very nervous after that and it became worse as the anchor never seemed to hold with any predictability or consistency. We learned to keep the radio on at night so people could call us if they saw us moving while we slept. Eventually I inspected the anchor with snorkel and fins one time in Mexico and watched it's behavior as Judy backed down and caused it to drag in white sand which should have been perfect holding ground. I watched it turn on its side and proceed to bulldoze merrily across the bay, just as it must have done countless times before. That was the last time we used it.

There have been other dragging incidents, some very scary, but always we have been on board. Now we set the GPS anchor watch and often the depth sounder anchor watch. At least we know when Wings decides to go walk-about; the electronic genies don't sleep.

Dragging is rare now but it happens. We do have some good techniques, which are common and well known good seamanship practices:

1.A bigger anchor than you want to carry.
2. An anchor type that is right for the conditions. We like our bruce and use it exclusively but in some situations a danforth is better. Other people have other preferences.
3. Chain. At least two boat lengths of it. On Wings, with an electric windlass, we use all chain.
4. 5 to 1 scope.
5. A snubber to absorb some of the shocks although we rarely stay where there is any wave action
6. Location. We chose a spot by it's protection, not by it's convenience to local attractions. We move if the conditions change. We always have an exit route planned so even at night we can up anchor and get on the move.
7. Make sure you have enough swinging room for when the tide or wind changes.
8. Set it very carefully. Judy is forward and after sufficient scope is out I back down gradually on the anchor while she keeps her hand on the rode. When it becomes tight she can feel the anchor set and she can tell what kind of a bottom it is, rocks, soft mud, sand, by how it sets (or doesn't set).
9. Pre determined hand signals. Since I am at the engine controls and Judy is forward; duties established because Judy doesn't want to be the one who is positioning the boat and deciding when to drop, and that is the role of the helmsman, hence my job; and she is at the bow, we've agreed on some hand signals which she can give to inform me what it happening forward, This avoids shouting to be heard over the sound of the engine and windlass which tends to entertain the neighbors more than we prefer. Signals that work for us: Pointing aft means I should go into reverse. Index finger circling in the air (winding up) means "more power". Faster finger circling means even more power. Flat of hand palm down moving away from her body means "cut it, we're good". Shaking her head means its not working. My only signal is pointing down, like tapping my finger on the table, which means "start letting the chain out".
10. We put a major load on the anchor after it is set by strong reverse on the engine while we watch to see if it is moving and Judy monitors the rode. If it moves, we reset.
11. Constant monitoring of our position. We don't leave the boat unless there is good holding and calm conditions, and we still worry.
12. Set an anchor watch, (electronic).
13. Be prepared to move. If the conditions change and are not to your liking, get out of Dodge now, don't wait. Even at night, It is better to sail all night then be on a lee shore with danger of dragging. The most critical time is just before dusk. Be decisive at this hour because once it is dark you will have more trouble finding a good place to re-anchor. Dinner can wait.
14. Watch your neighbors and don't be afraid to rescue a boat which is dragging while the owners are gone it's good karma.

We never had any anchoring skills while we cruised in PNW. Didn't need them, the anchorages were usually calm and well protected. But we had to learn them when we started to go onto more adventurous places.

Fred, SV Wings, Phuket