Drogue vs. Sea Anchor

[Jimbo485]

Where is the lovely Rakuflames?? Are you practicing the deployment and retrieval of drogues and sea anchors?

We haven't had any of those "interesting" discussions for quite a while....

[DumnMad]

Yep Raku, hope the health is holding up. Cold weather = lying low.

[charliehows]

I'm curious about this sea anchor para anchor thing - I'd come to the conclusion that no matter what i chuck over which end of my boat she seems to settle beam on with no sails up - but assuming a para anchor actually sets to the current - coming down east coast aus. the east coast current runs at 1 or 2 knots southwards. It's not unusual to get caught in a change from ne to se weather pattern and i tend to give up trying to go south against the weather but - would a para anchor set in the current hold or even pull against the weather? Anyone tried it?

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by charliehows

I'm curious about this sea anchor para anchor thing - I'd come to the conclusion that no matter what i chuck over which end of my boat she seems to settle beam on with no sails up - but assuming a para anchor actually sets to the current - coming down east coast aus. the east coast current runs at 1 or 2 knots southwards. It's not unusual to get caught in a change from ne to se weather pattern and i tend to give up trying to go south against the weather but - would a para anchor set in the current hold or even pull against the weather? Anyone tried it?

Try to look at a sea anchor like a steel anchor. Properly matched to boat it basically "anchors" you in one spot. All I have read indicates very little "dragging". 24 hours in a storm and maybe a few miles. So lets just pretend it is zero. Finer math can be done during the storm - while comfortably on the sea anchor.

If you are anchored to column of water then whatever way the column is going is the way you will be going. 2 knots S is 2 knots S. Then apply the finer math ("drag").

That is how I see it never having used one.