[Rhodes22-list] Anchoring in a 5 knot current

[Bill Effros]

Peter,

I've thought a lot about your original question since you asked it, and 
my answer keeps coming up the same: in a 5 knot current emergency, an 
anchor would be well down the list of my solutions.

When things happen, it's best if you have anticipated what course of 
action you will embark upon.  If you start fumbling with anchors, you 
can't be steering, or setting sails at the same time.

I think Alain is making the same point.  No anchor sets every time.  
Setting anchors is a skill, not a difficult skill, but a skill 
nonetheless.  Throwing anchors at emergencies, especially in 5 kt. 
currents, will not have a particularly high success rate.

I keep a 3 lb. folding grapnel anchor under the cockpit seat.  I usually 
stern anchor, and then move the anchor forward after it has set.  This 
allows me to keep my boat in control at all times, and to steer out of 
problems should they arise.  It also means I never run over my anchor line.

In non-emergency situations I will use my Fortress anchor, which is also 
under the cockpit seat.  In emergencies I would use the Grapnel because 
no matter how it falls, it's got a point sticking out that could grab 
onto something, and usually does.  If I managed to stop the boat I would 
probably try to set a second anchor, this time a Fortress for it's 
superior holding power.

If the Fortress encountered a "flying" problem (something I have read 
about, but never encountered) I would attach another anchor, either a 
grapnel or a mushroom, roughly 10 feet from the Fortress to bring the 
Fortress down to the bottom where I could set it properly.  Fortress 
recommends 6 feet of chain.  I think this is to bring the anchor down to 
the bottom and counteract "flying" problems.

Bill Effros



Alain POIRAUD wrote:
> Thanks Peter,
>
> “After checking out the spade and the sword and reading some of your
> comments 
> on other lists too, they seem like good anchors to me.”
>
> Hummmm!...  Difficult for me for not saying that my “babies” are not the
> nicest babies on the world.. :-) :-)  
>
> But you can check also on Goggle to have some independent comments.. 
>
> Talking about anchoring  in a five knot current, I did it quite often in the
> river mouths of Brazil, and except some precautions 
>  it is not really difficult:
> -	First they are some anchors that you should not use in this case; they are
> fluke, lightweight ones (Danforth and Fortress) as they could “fly” on the
> current;
> -	Then you should use the common anchoring technique: With your engine, go
> up to the current , slow down the engine until you are nearly stopped and
> then launch your anchor.
> -	 Reduce a little bit the engine RPM  until the boat is going slowly
> backward and pay out the rode until  reaching a scope of MINIMUM 3/1 
> -	Then attach the rode to the Samson post and stop the engine (neutral
> point) –  with your foot on the rode, you must eventually feel the anchor
> dragging on the bottom (small vibrations) and when the anchor set, it will
> stop the boat
>
> It is nearly the same manoeuvre that anchoring in calm water with an engine
> backward  with the small difference that you are using the current to go
> backward and set the anchor.  (I hope my explanation is clear – otherwise
> ask again..) 
>
> I will always suggest to have some chain just after the anchor, the weight
> will help the anchor digging in and it is also the ONLY way to avoid shafing
> the rope on the sea bottom
>
> --
> View this message in context: http://www.nabble.com/Anchors-t1344828.html#a3951332
> Sent from the Rhodes22 forum at Nabble.com.
>
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