As already mentioned, this post is the
second and the final one in our
mini-series about anchoring.
Visit the first post to get acquainted with the complete maneuver. Anchorages usually have some sort of
unwritten house rules, which means that
specific behavior is required. For example, the
vessel that arrived to the anchorage
before you has to choose the right spot for anchoring and the yachtsman should be left alone until the maneuver is done. Also, it is very important to be aware of the
anchors and
anchor chains of your neighbors in order to avoid any crossing over of your chains. The
anchor light has to be lit at sunset, while at least
one person should be
aboard and awake at all times when anchored.
As mentioned before, anchoring is a complex maneuver which requires exercise and experience, so do not lose hope if your first anchoring does not go as you have wanted. Keep calm and
repeat the entire maneuver once again. There is absolutely nothing wrong with repeating the procedure several times because the most important fact of anchoring is that the vessel is
safely anchored at the end of the maneuver.
As there are several types of seabed, so there are
several types of the anchor. It is very difficult to say which design would be the best because every one of them has different features and performances, depending on the type of the seabed. The most common anchors at chartered sailing yachts are
bruce,
danfort,
plough and
rocna. Unfortunately, it is impossible to choose an anchor when chartering a yacht, so the best thing is to be confident that charter managers have equipped their vessels with the most appropriate type of the anchor for the sailing area you will visit during your holidays.
Sailing handbooks usually describe anchoring maneuver on the
basic level. It might seem too simplistic at first sight, but if you stick to the basic rules, you will not fail in any situation, regardless of the type of the anchor or the seabed.
Experience is the most important thing about anchoring, which is why handbooks do not flood you with a lot of advice about anchoring. There are also some unusual and advanced anchoring techniques, well described by sailors who have managed to perform them. The
best ideas come to you, not when you think about them, but when you have to
improvise to save your life. Some really helpful and innovative new anchor systems have been patented as the result of one lucid moment in the middle of an emergency or panic. Do not hesitate to share your experiences and techniques online. It will be useful for all of us!
I wish you a calm sea, a fine wind and a strong mast!
