Since you mentioned this was to help others learn - I have a question
Did you set the
anchor under sail by: a) running downwind, dropping it, and letting the continuing inertia of the
boat set it, which then snaps the bow into the
wind or b) coming up into the
wind, stalling, dropping the anchor, and then backing the
mainsail to drift back and set the anchor?
I've done both on the 23' sonar I most often sail (no engine) which has 1,800 lbs
displacement, a
rope rode, and a light easily manhandled anchor, and my understanding (and the snap on the bow) makes me believe that method A yields the stronger set. On the Sonar, I cleat the
rode at the bow, bring the anchor and all the
scope through the bow chock and outside the
lifelines to the
cockpit and coil the
rope there so it pays out easily. I'm hesitant to try this on the bigger
boats I crew/skipper on now though as I'm not sure if it translates to all chain rode with heavier
gear, more force on the associated points (cleat and chock, and possibly
windlass unless you pretie a snubber), and the potential for the chain to clump, fall over, and scar the
deck. Have you tried this method? I haven't been able to find anything online that talks about it specifically with heavy
gear and an all chain rode, but would like to know in case I'm ever in a similar situation with a bad
engine and a worse storm. Thanks!
For what it's worth, I've tried both a Danforth and a
CQR in Lake Tashmoo (notoriously soupy bottom) and couldn't get either to set; so great job weathering the storm in less than ideal bottom conditions!