Why isn't the boat facing into the wind at anchor?

[Cthoops]

One of our goals this season is to start anchoring overnight. We've been in West Harbor at Fishers Island, NY since yesterday and for most of the day today we've been either beam to the wind or stern to the wind. No one else in the anchorage is doing this. Why is this happening, and is it a problem?

FYI, we're using a 22 lb Rocna with 25 feet of chain, 7:1 scope. Full keel, 24 foot Bristol, and we're definitely not dragging.

[Stu Jackson]

What are the wind speeds? What are the currents?

[Paul L]

Current?

[Cthoops]

Wind speeds have only been 5-8 knots. Fishers Island Sound does get some strong currents but I don't know what it is here in the harbor. Ram Island is only about 1 knot right now, but that's around 2 or 3 nm from here.

Update: Looks like slack was 45 minutes ago and the current is building a bit. We're no longer stern to the wind. Maybe it was the lack of current?

[Cthoops]

Nope, wasn't the lack of current. We're 30 minutes away from max ebb and we're stern to the wind again.

[hoppy]

I've been in an anchorage where I've been facing 180 degrees to the way every other boat is facing. The bay had 20m hills around it except in one spot which I guess causes the. Wind to swirl around making boats in a particular spot to face the other way.

Been there other times and seen others facing the wrong way.


Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[JPA Cate]

Whenever you have a breeze against the tide situation they sort of fight it out for control of your boat--and the boat points in odd directions, will ride up over its anchor, and so on.

I wouldn't worry about it, but would keep an eye on it because if the wind gets up you'll find yourself not where you expected. You can somewhat shorten your swinging circle by taking up some rode, till you're 6:1, which should still be adequate for holding. In the old days when we had a 30 footer, with rope rode and a Danforth anchor, we anchored on 5:1 most of the time. Did not drag with that setup.

From your description, it did not sound as if the boat was shearing all over the place, but adopting different postures relative to different tidal circumstances. Did I get that correct? If you're shearing a lot, there are fixes.

Ann

[44'cruisingcat]

Full keel boat, light wind, some tide. Tide will win most times.

[zeehag]

wind vs tide--you are in an estuary , yes?? figger speed of tide current and speed of wind. some times wind wins, sometimes tide wins.

[Stumble]

If there is any tide at all, where is the rudder? If not centered you may be steering the boat unknowingly.

[colemj]

West Harbor is a strange place - there are parts of it that the tide/current rips through, parts it swirls around the shore, and parts that never see much current at all.

I suspect it is your specific anchor spot in the harbor. Are you back in the open anchor area or up in the mooring field and beyond? If you are actually in the Dumplings, all bets are off.

But if you are hooked good, don't worry and enjoy it - a nice place indeed as long as the wind is not out of the North. East Harbor is also delightful if you want a change.

Mark

[barnakiel]

Boats with too much hull tend to lay to the current unless there is heaps of wind.

b.

[barnakiel]

On the second thought: if Bristol is a BCC then this may explain why the Pardey's experience with heaving-to is not commonly confirmed by sailors in other designs / configs.

b.

[colemj]

I think his Bristol is a Bristol Yacht's boat, not a BCC.

Mark

[Cthoops]

Originally Posted by colemj

West Harbor is a strange place - there are parts of it that the tide/current rips through, parts it swirls around the shore, and parts that never see much current at all.

I suspect it is your specific anchor spot in the harbor. Are you back in the open anchor area or up in the mooring field and beyond? If you are actually in the Dumplings, all bets are off.

But if you are hooked good, don't worry and enjoy it - a nice place indeed as long as the wind is not out of the North. East Harbor is also delightful if you want a change.

Mark

Thank you to everyone for the comments, I've learned quite a bit - and yes, it's a Bristol Yachts boat, not a BCC.

Colemj, you're right about West Harbor being strange re: the currents. However, it's been lovely regardless. We are in the open anchor area and we saw at least 8 different fireworks shows up and down the coastline last night.

Thanks for the suggestion re: East Harbor. We're also planning on trying Chocomount Cove some other weekend.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend, everyone.