Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack Tar
As for those who drag in a moderate blow all I can say is **** happens.
|
Thats not a **** happens, thats poor planning.
Quote:
Anchoring is like running aground. There are only two types of sailors those that have drug anchor and those that are going to. That said all you can try to do is be prepaired. One anchor out and one set to go. Another little tip. Get a bunch of those cheap boat knifes from West MArine. Put one on a lanyard and attach it at every point you might need one. Near the anchor windlas, near the main mast, near the mizzen. When your in trouble the last thing you want to do is fumble about for your knife. Get a cheap GPS. Set the Anchor drag alarm. Keep watch. There is nothing as exciting as waking up on the opposite side of the harbor that you set your anchor on.
|
Absolutly right there Jack. Mind you I've never used an
alarm, I seem to notice the change in the feel of the
boat even when asleep.
Quote:
On another note:
Im not going to expand on how I feel about someone making a comment about change if they are just a pond sailor. I have enough experiance under my belt to feel ok handling a 52,000 lb boat. How about you ?
|
Me? only 30K odd
offshore miles and run a company who's job is design and supply of
anchoring systems. Personally I think I have more than enuff experiance to say I know what happens when you load the front of a yacht up with oversized
gear for that infrequant occasion you get caught in a big blow. I'm also a lot more aware of the new materials and methods you can use to have both a safe sailing yacht and anchor happily in a blow.
With absolutly no intention of being rude, that would not include oversized anchors on hemp
rope. But in saying that I also regard one of the most important
parts of any anchoring system is the 'feel good factor'. If you don't have it you will always sleep poorly. If that means massive anchors and so on, so be it.
We see it dayly. People wanting massive
gear beceause the guy next to them has it or they read it in an old
English seamanship manual published in 1920. There are many who seem to run more a 'monkey see, monkey do' programme than sort their own specific boat out. Each and every boat/owner does differant things and works in differant ways so why clone a system off a boat that is 'a lot like mine'?
I've been trialing a very small system on my boat (32ft yacht) for a while now, a lot smaller than the product manufacturers recommend on all of the gear. It's probably at the opposite end of the scale than your thoughts. My entire primary system weights 26kg or 31kg, that's the
rope, chain and anchors. I have a 10kg and a 4.5kg alloy (both new gen types) which I swap around to try differant things with. It goes against all (most)
current (even though 'current' is still very old) thoery. So far it has been magnificent even in 40-45knts odd with small wave action and 25-30knts with big wave action and strong tidal low. I've yet to experiance any downside while anchored and enjoy the improved
safety and performance my boat now has.
Just because 'thats the way it's always been done' doesn't make it right or the best option available today.
PS. I think you'll find Craig has spent many many days well out of site of land as well.