Leaving Your Boat at Anchor on a Windy Day

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by Andrew Troup

I've possibly said this before, but it bears repetition: I think Brian from Fortress is the absolute model for a commercial member.

I don't think I've ever seen a post from him which gave me the feeling my perceptions were being massaged or manipulated in some undeclared way.

What's more, he never makes a secret of the fact that his products have specific limitations to balance their considerable and evident virtues.

Honour where honour is due...

I completely agree. No game-playing.

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by engele

I have no idea why anyone would knock Fortress anchors. Our Fortress is the single most awesome at anchor I've ever used. Combined with a nice alternate (like say a Manson), you can cover just about any condition, but in my mind, I am not sure that a Fortress wouldn't be a great primary (I've been tempted to put it on my roller as our primary).

Our Fortress has never fouled or unset even when set from the dinghy as our secondary, unlike our very oversized CQR with all chain set at full power in reverse with 7:1 (which I normally trust absolutely). I am opening myself up to criticism here by saying two un-cool things, I have a CQR and I like a Danforth style anchor, but the fact is opinion runs rampant around here, and not everyone here really actually has experience with the things they comment on.

I've seen more than one person who had a Danforth (not a Fortress) with a bent fluke and said "Oh well, what's the diff ..."

I suspect there IS a difference. I wouldn't want to rely on a damaged anchor.

[Andrew Troup]

Originally Posted by engele

I have no idea why anyone would knock Fortress anchors. Our Fortress is the single most awesome at anchor I've ever used. Combined with a nice alternate (like say a Manson), you can cover just about any condition, but in my mind, I am not sure that a Fortress wouldn't be a great primary (I've been tempted to put it on my roller as our primary).

Our Fortress has never fouled or unset even when set from the dinghy as our secondary, unlike our very oversized CQR with all chain set at full power in reverse with 7:1 (which I normally trust absolutely). I am opening myself up to criticism here by saying two un-cool things, I have a CQR and I like a Danforth style anchor, but the fact is opinion runs rampant around here, and not everyone here really actually has experience with the things they comment on.

I think you are overstating any 'uncoolness' in connection with Danforth style anchors, especially in respect of Fortress.

My feeling is that it's the single anchor about whose considerable virtues almost everyone agrees.

I suspect the majority of experienced offshore sailors carry at least one, and it's rare to hear one of these people say a bad thing against them.

Partly this is because their limitations are no secret ... and Brian from Fortress, who posts here quite often, is as forthcoming about these as anyone else on here - something other anchor manufacturers would do well to consider soberly, I reckon... it shows them in a very bad light.

There are no anchors I've encountered which never misbehave, or (in my opinion) which do not have several serious disadvantages - but in saying this I'm perhaps going out on more of a limb.

Many of those who recommend putting all your anchoring eggs in one basket follow their own advice, including some vastly more experienced sailors than me.

[Kettlewell]

There are no anchors I've encountered which never misbehave, or (in my opinion) which do not have several serious disadvantages - but in saying this I'm perhaps going out on more of a limb.

I think that is correct, and even those in the BIB crowd who say they use that one big one on the bow 95% of the time still admit to carrying around a secondary anchor and a kedge anchor that can be taken out in the dinghy. Even those who say they anchor on one anchor 95% of the time, still have that 5% where they use a second anchor.

The OP's situation is just such a case--main anchor out of commission for some reason, second anchor was used.

[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by Don L

crap happens, and in an anchor thread there is lots of crap!

Well-spoken Confucius.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by phillysailor

Any anchor-nanny aps that can send a text?

Yes, Ive recently been running "My Anchor Watch" on my Samsung/Android phone. It has this feature but I have not tried it yet.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by Andrew Troup

On the topic of dragging in lightish winds: I have a feeling that this is rather more common than anchoring threads would have us believe.

....

I had a minor light air drag recently. Here in Bocas del Toro Panama the winds tend to be light and variable. It is not unusual to do a 360 or two over a 24 hour period. Anchored in a spot where holding was not great but adequate for these conditions (shallow sand and coral rubble) so shank/flukes were partially exposed. Put out about 75' of 3/8 chain in 10' of water. After a few days when returning to the boat one afternoon with a bit more breeze than usual...a howling 15 knots...I noticed we appeared to have moved a bit. Hauled up the hook to reanchor and discovered our daily spins around the compass rose had wrapped chain around the anchor and tripped it. Weight alone was enough to keep us from moving much but moving we were.

[Kettlewell]

Here in Bocas del Toro Panama the winds tend to be light and variable. It is not unusual to do a 360 or two over a 24 hour period.

Except when the thunderstorms get cranking during the rainy season! They are short lived, but can be intense.

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by Kettlewell

Except when the thunderstorms get cranking during the rainy season! They are short lived, but can be intense.

Indeed, make sure your anchor is set solid at any time. I have seen 60+ knot (knots, not mph) winds during squalls on a regular basis. Same for Colombia.

I'll repeat which anchors we carry:

- 176lb Bruce used as single anchor 99% of the time.
- Fortress FX-125 disassembled in the bilge for severe weather. Used once in 10 years.
- Fortress FX-85 used for Bahamian moor once and on the beach many times when no palm tree around to tie to.

My boat came with these but they were on my list before that. I love Fortress anchors, just not as primary anchor. I can't handle Danforth as it's too heavy to bring out in the dinghy etc. Even the FX-125 is relatively easy to handle.

Our primary rode is 350' of 3/8" G7 chain. Our secondary rode is 50' of that chain plus 450' 1.25" Yale 8-plait.

[Hudson Force]

We are all subject to risk, but what I see most often is not the failure of the anchor or the cases of overwhelming wind and wave conditions. What I see most often are bad choices. Last night we anchored in the Stono River just before entering the Charleston Maritime Center. We decided to anchor so that we could time an entry into the Maritime Center at slack current on the next morning. Our anchorage was a commonly used place with a maximum of current of 1.8 kts. With a low depth of about 11 feet; a 7 ft. tidal range and a 15 mph wind parallel to the current. During the flood we were set firm by the wind and current and with the ebb we were sailing about, but holding very steady in the sandy mud bottom with our Bruce on 120' of chain. I didn't hesitate to use a good length of rode as all three of my neighbors were at least 300' away. About three hours after we anchored we were disturbed by a ca 40' trawler anchoring close up wind and current during the flood. He seemed to have trouble holding and, to our relief, he raised his anchor and moved to a new more distant place. I continued to watch him anchor at five more locations, each time lowering his ca. 45# Delta on an all chain rode and manuevering hard in reverse and forward,- plowing about. I had no way to determine his length of rode, but the angle of the taut chain out of the water suggested that it was short. He finally settled a safe distance from me, but seemingly close to another unoccupied sailboat. In the morning I saw him with two anchors out and close to the bow of the sailboat. TowBoatUS had been called and he appeared to be attempting to remove the sailboat rode from a tangle in his prop. For a while all three vessels were drifting free with the current. Eventually a diver was called to work on the tangle. I assume all was sorted out, but we left before the untangling in order to make our slack current appointment. This is what we see most often, ...not a problem with conditions or location, but bad choices from the captain and crew. Here, there was huge open space and an excellent depth and bottom holding, but the choice was a short rode, close to others, and no sense of setting the anchor properly.

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by CaptForce

We are all subject to risk, but what I see most often is not the failure of the anchor or the cases of overwhelming wind and wave conditions. What I see most often are bad choices. Last night we anchored in the Stono River just before entering the Charleston Maritime Center. We decided to anchor so that we could time an entry into the Maritime Center at slack current on the next morning. Our anchorage was a commonly used place with a maximum of current of 1.8 kts. With a low depth of about 11 feet; a 7 ft. tidal range and a 15 mph wind parallel to the current. During the flood we were set firm by the wind and current and with the ebb we were sailing about, but holding very steady in the sandy mud bottom with our Bruce on 120' of chain. I didn't hesitate to use a good length of rode as all three of my neighbors were at least 300' away. About three hours after we anchored we were disturbed by a ca 40' trawler anchoring close up wind and current during the flood. He seemed to have trouble holding and, to our relief, he raised his anchor and moved to a new more distant place. I continued to watch him anchor at five more locations, each time lowering his ca. 45# Delta on an all chain rode and manuevering hard in reverse and forward,- plowing about. I had no way to determine his length of rode, but the angle of the taut chain out of the water suggested that it was short. He finally settled a safe distance from me, but seemingly close to another unoccupied sailboat. In the morning I saw him with two anchors out and close to the bow of the sailboat. TowBoatUS had been called and he appeared to be attempting to remove the sailboat rode from a tangle in his prop. For a while all three vessels were drifting free with the current. Eventually a diver was called to work on the tangle. I assume all was sorted out, but we left before the untangling in order to make our slack current appointment. This is what we see most often, ...not a problem with conditions or location, but bad choices from the captain and crew. Here, there was huge open space and an excellent depth and bottom holding, but the choice was a short rode, close to others, and no sense of setting the anchor properly.

I am blunt enough to call that incompetent because it is what it is. He probably had a 100 tons license.

[Kettlewell]

Short scoping it is the single biggest problem I see. I don't know how often in a crowded anchorage I have had someone drop their hook right about where my hook is, then let out half as much scope as me and come to a rest with their stern 10 feet in front of my bow. They don't dare back down because they might "pull it loose." Luckily most of them realize that isn't a good place to be, so they pull up and then try the same stunt a few more times until they end up in some marginal location, not quite on top of someone, with significantly short scope, and an anchor that is not well dug in. Often they then proceed to demolish large quantities of alcohol prepping themselves for the inevitable thundersquall.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

I am blunt enough to call that incompetent because it is what it is. He probably had a 100 tons license.

Reminds me of a likeable but clueless acquaintance who was just mystified why he kept dragging in 25' depth on 70' of rode...

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by Kettlewell

Except when the thunderstorms get cranking during the rainy season! They are short lived, but can be intense.

Definately would not choose this anchorage if expecting weather.

Do have some more Panama related questions I will post in another thread.

[Emmalina]

My insurance specifies I can't leave the boat unattended for more than 4 hours when at anchor. Don't know where this figure came from ??

Biggest fear around here is bare boat charters for dragging