Anchors
The best Method to Anchor your yacht Solo
The best Method to recover your Anchor Solo
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How many anchors do you need?
Anchors that keep your family, your vessel and you safe.
TinTin has numerous anchors, currently, I carry 6 anchors. Two anchors serve the same purpose as a primary anchor and the other four are for specialty bottom types, extreme conditions and for my dinghy.
On TinTin, I have two anchors connected to either chain or chain and rope ready to deploy as my primary and secondary anchors, both can be deployed within minutes and recovered using the anchor windlass. My primary and secondary anchors and anchor chain or anchor rope are connected to TinTin with a length of spectra rope to terminate the connection. This small diameter rope allows me to cut my anchors free quickly if required.
The reason to cut an anchor free, escaping from an anchorage where the anchor becomes fouled on the seabed, and the conditions in the anchorage have turned dangerous. This has happen to me. The fouled anchor became a threat to the safety of Tintin, the crew, and myself.
It was a beautiful tropical island, I was anchored off an amazing resort in calm flat water, the location had been hard to anchor in and I had resorted to my trusty fisherman to dig in, it was also 15m deep, I was there whilst my girlfriend did a boat dive with the resort to a remote sea mount to dive with sharks. This anchorage turned from glassy to a horrible lee shore within an hour of a wind change, it was not forecasted. Whilst trying to recover my anchor I snapped the rope drum on the windlass and recovering the anchor by hand in difficult conditions, and solo was not working.
I attached a fender to the anchor rope cut it free and returned two days later to recover it. A helpful local had already recovered it, he was more than happy to take $50 the 20m of rope attached to the chain and a can of coke. I just respliced it to me rode. Shit happens, have options.
Your anchor chain should be secured to your vessel with a strong rope that can be cut in an emergency. I have met 2 sailors who have lost their primary anchor, and all of their chain because they failed to secure the chain to the hull. This is embarrassing, potentially life threatening and always expensive to replace, it may be impossible to replace your anchor and chain in remote locations. It is also why you need more than one anchor and chain or rope.
I feel anchoring is as much art as it is science and skill, an observant captain can normally anchor safely in most locations. I like depths of 4m - 20m and try to maintain 2m under my keel at all times, ideally I anchor in 5 - 10m. You must ensure enough depth under your keel for variation in tides and also swell building and entering your anchorage, the last thing you need is your yacht bouncing off the sea bed.
The captain of a vessel needs to have some idea of the sea bed but must know the depth, the prevailing wind, the tides and any swell that is going to affect the anchorage.
I like to choose a suitable anchor for the seabed, that said the latest generation of anchors; for example the Rockna are excellent in a wide range of sea beds. My go to anchor for thick kelp and weed will still be my modified fisherman's anchor but my Rockna will cover all other bottom types.
I carry a 50-60kg Danforth for cyclone conditions, this is suitable for sand bottoms. I am inclined to join my Danforth to my Rockna with 15m of Chain in a dual anchor configuration to achieve double the holding power. Providing I have time to prepare and I have some swing room.
I could also set a twin anchor configuration at 90 degrees and even dual stern anchors depending on swing room.
I once rode out a 30 - 65 knot gale over several days with four anchors secured to the seabed and rock shelves in a bay with no room to swing. Any failure would have resulted in a long walk. This took place in Cape Arid on the Southern tip of Western Australia. Its why I carry spare anchors, extra chain, lots of heavy rope and rope slings also enough heavy shackles to connect it all. As a cruising sailor you will experience some of the most challenging anchorages that you can imagine.
Also after trying to anchor for several hours in thick weed and constantly dragging and failing to anchor. I was forced out to sea in a 45 knot gale. The situation I encounted, go to sea and deal with gale force winds or becomng wrecked on the rocks in a weed filled bay as night was approaching. Its why I now carry and anchor just for weed or kelp. I would have preferred that snug little bay to the week of gale force winds in the Southern Ocean.
The Rocna 20 kg - primary
My current primary anchor, it works first time everytime. its a excellent design and sets quickly and reliably. I have endured a number of gales hanging off this anchor and it has held steadfast. This anchor has really good holding power. It rides well on the anchor roller and recovers easily.
Delta 25kg - retired
I used this anchor as my primary anchor for 6 years on TinTin. It is a good anchor but does not set as well as the Rocna. It is good in sand and mud and represents excellent value for money if your on a budget, This delta held my vessel in many gales. I found it suitable for most conditions found in Australia.
cqr 25 - spare
I have used a CQR for over 30 years, they are a good design and hold well in mud and sand once they are set. I find they can be a little more difficult to set, I retain mine as a spare because it fits in my hold better than the Delta anchor.
fishermans 20kg - secondary
A 40kg fishermans was my primary anchor for many years sailing around the South and East coast of Australia. They set easily and are better in thick weed or sand over weed. My current fishermans is modified with bigger flukes and more weight. They hold well if big enough and sharp enough to dig in.
danforth 50kg - cyclone
I used these for years on smaller vessels such as 12m ribs and large inflatables, they hold really well in sand. They are easy to stow and many cruisers carry one on the stern as a kedging anchor, mine is secured to the cabin top.
danforth 5kg - dinghy
This is my primary dinghy anchor for my 3m rib. I stows easily, it is also fitted with 5m of 5mm chain and 20m of floating rope. I like the floating rope when diving. You need a decent anchor with chain on your dinghy. When anchoring near coral, when anchoring on the beach in a rising tide and when anchoring near to shore.
kettlebell 10kg - dinghy
I use kettlebells for fitness they are solid steel balls with a handle, I sometimes use the kettlebell if I'm snorkling off the dinghy and I want to move the anchor often without it getting caught. I have also used them as an anchor buddy to lower down my chain.
anchor buddy - 20kg
This is a 20kg stainless bar with shackles and chain on each end. I clip it onto the chain and lower it down the anchor chain to provide the chain with more friction or holding power on the sea bed. Its always used in a storm and stops the vessel from swing around the anchor .
anchor swivel
I don't use one at the moment but I'm considering one if I can find a swivel with enough redundancy buit in. At the moment I use 2 heavy steel shackles to connect the chain to the anchor. I have used shackles for ever, you must use stainless steel twitching wire to secure the pin in the shackle.