| Elementary considerations regarding anchoring spots | | | | behind headlands (like Dungeness), dodgy places with |
| need to be observed. Check the charts to make sure | | | | little or no shelter. |
| firstly, that you will have enough water at low tide, | | | | Sometimes when you don't have a fair wind there |
| secondly, for the nature of the bottom, thirdly, for | | | | seems little point in motoring full speed ahead, burning |
| any underwater obstructions such as wrecks, | | | | what precious little fuel you have left, and staying |
| pipelines, cables etc, and finally to ensure you have | | | | exactly in one spot... at times like these (bearing in |
| enough swinging room for the amount of scope you | | | | mind weather conditions, sea conditions etc.) It may |
| are likely to pay out. Check with the charts and local | | | | be worth anchoring. Maybe getting in behind a |
| regulations to make sure anchoring is not prohibited. | | | | headland to wait out the tide. |
| Crowded Conditions. | | | | Anchoring in these conditions, with deepwater, often |
| Anchoring in narrow channels require special vigilance | | | | none too calm, need special consideration. The first |
| at the turn of the tide, as there is always a possibility | | | | thing is don't use your main anchor, even if you have |
| of swinging into the side of the Channel and | | | | an electric anchor winch to pull it up again. Anchoring |
| grounding. On a falling tide this could be serious, thus | | | | in deep water with heavy chain is inviting trouble, as |
| there are special techniques you can use to limit your | | | | the sheer weight of the chain when you break out |
| swinging circle dramatically. The Bahamian Moor is one | | | | the anchor is backbreaking. |
| of these, and it will be covered in another article. | | | | I heard of one account where a ship suffered engine |
| In crowded conditions, where you'll have to anchor in | | | | problems in the Indian Ocean. It was flat calm, and |
| amongst other boats establish whether any of them | | | | the problems were going to take some time to fix. |
| are on moorings as opposed to anchored. It is not | | | | The bosun thought it would be a good idea to keep |
| wise to anchor around moored boats, as your ground | | | | the crew busy, so the anchors (both of them), were |
| tackle can end up fouling their mooring chains. In | | | | lowered away into the unfathomable depths and the |
| these cases you will have a real job recovering your | | | | chain lockers were chipped and painted. The problem |
| anchor. | | | | came when it was time to raise them... the anchor |
| If you're anchoring amongst other anchored boats, | | | | windlasses simply did not have enough power to pull |
| try and gauge where they have laid their anchors, | | | | up the weight of the chain that was dangling in the |
| how much scope they have out, and thus estimate | | | | ocean. Both anchors were lost. |
| what their swinging circles are likely to be. | | | | The same thing has almost happened to me on a |
| Some boats with substantial underwater sections lay | | | | much smaller scale obviously, as I struggled away |
| more to the tide, whilst those with high topsides and | | | | with the weight of many metres of chain hanging up |
| shallow underwater sections are more affected by | | | | and down. Even an electric winch would have |
| the wind. In crowded conditions it is best to anchor | | | | problems in these conditions. |
| nearer to boats that will behave the same as yours | | | | Advice... use your Kedge anchor and loads and loads |
| does. | | | | of rope. Swinging circles won't be a problem in these |
| There is really a whole art to anchoring in close | | | | cases. |
| quarters situations that only practice will make | | | | Anchoring to seek shelter in heavy weather. |
| perfect. The etiquette involved is that the newcomer | | | | Passagemaking, no matter how thoroughly planned, |
| must keep clear of people already anchored. | | | | can sometimes result in being overtaken by |
| If space is tight, one way of making sure you do not | | | | unpleasant weather. Often there comes a point |
| drop your anchor on top of or across your | | | | where trying to push on forwards is a futile exercise, |
| neighbours, is to motor up behind them (into the | | | | and the thought of losing all the ground you have |
| prevailing forces), and drop your anchor close to their | | | | just made doesn't appeal either. |
| stern. You then fall back on your anchor rode and | | | | If you are heading eastwards down the English |
| snub it when you are far enough behind them (or | | | | Channel the prevailing SW and NW winds will be |
| have let out the correct amount of scope). This way | | | | favourable... you'll be sailing like a freight train. |
| when the wind or tide turns, you should both swing | | | | With the first blasts of strong winds normally |
| together, and your swinging circle should never | | | | originating from the South West, passage making |
| impinge on theirs. This is of course dependent on you | | | | westwards along the channel offers plenty of |
| both having roughly the same scope deployed, and | | | | opportunities for shelter, for the prepared. |
| this is why anchoring on rope is considered antisocial. | | | | This is the time to have a good study of the charts |
| If after having deployed your anchor and settled | | | | to find out what natural land features can give you |
| back on it, you find you are too close to another | | | | some protection from the wind and waves. Getting |
| anchored boat..... you have to pull it all up and try | | | | onto the port tack and sailing close-hauled as possible |
| again with good grace. | | | | in a stiff SW wind, gives you access to many of the |
| Good spots to anchor in all conditions are hard to | | | | bights and bays in the western channel. Within these |
| come by, many will offer shelter from one direction | | | | bights and bays the sea is likely to be a bit calmer, |
| but be very exposed to another. Spots with all-round | | | | and you may be able to harden up your course a bit. |
| shelter tend to get crowded, and often tend to fill up | | | | The net result is you may well be able to tuck |
| with permanent moorings. Many rivers and creeks fall | | | | yourself under a headland and anchor fairly close |
| under one jurisdiction or another, who's minions will | | | | inshore out of the main blast the wind, in relatively |
| chase you for " anchoring fees" (as if they're | | | | calm waters. |
| providing a service !). We try to mention these | | | | Should it be impossible to push forwards into one of |
| irritations in our harbour coverage. | | | | the bays, it may be that running back a little way and |
| For short stops it is not necessary to find a | | | | tucking in behind some headland will give you respite. |
| bombproof anchorage, it is sufficient to be in the lee | | | | Extra special care is needed as headlands often have |
| of the land, with enough depth of water and no | | | | tidal races plus large areas of disturbed seas |
| underwater obstructions. Obviously you are looking | | | | extending offshore in heavy weather. You need to |
| for a place with no swell or waves, and you need to | | | | keep well away from all this. |
| take into account what would happen if the wind | | | | When choosing a spot look for somewhere that will |
| shifted. In UK waters SW winds are liable to suddenly | | | | also give good protection should the wind be |
| shift to the NW, therefore finding a spot with shelter | | | | swinging round rapidly to the Northwest. With a bit |
| from both these directions makes sense if staying a | | | | of luck you won't lose too much ground, and you |
| little while. Close attention to weather forecasts is | | | | may also have access to harbours within the bay |
| required in an "open" anchorage, but anchorage off a | | | | that are sheltered from the wind, and thus relatively |
| beach etc. for lunch is the norm. | | | | safe to enter. |
| Deepwater Anchorages. | | | | After all the commotion of heavy weather at sea, |
| It is quite possible, and indeed used to be normal, to | | | | even a tenuous open anchorage in the lee of the |
| anchor in rather tenuous places to await a fair wind | | | | land will seem blissfully peaceful. |
| or tide. Nowadays even sailing yachts have powerful | | | | Any kind of open anchorage needs special care while |
| engines, and most skippers choose to smash on | | | | working on the foredeck, with harnesses and life |
| regardless. Vessels with puny engines and propellers | | | | jackets essential. It is very easy to be pitched over |
| very often used to have to anchor "at sea". Having | | | | the side, especially while struggling with cables... I |
| commenced my sailing in such a vessel I have found | | | | know... it has happened to me ! |
| myself anchored in some very strange places. In the | | | | And that about concludes this little article on |
| Thames estuary (out of the shipping channels), | | | | anchoring spots. |