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Old 18-04-2021, 13:52   #1
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Stern anchor technique

Hello Forum. Looking for some ideas on the following:

Yesterday we were anchored in a somewhat exposed anchorage in Anegada, very good holding in sand bottom. 10 -15 ft deep.

The wind was from the east but there was a swell rolling in from the SE so after anchoring with the main anchor (Mantus 125 lb all chain rode) we dinghy out our Fortress anchor perpendicular to the aft port quarter with 30 ft chain and the rest line. With Fortress set, we then winched in the stern anchor rode on a primary winch pulling the stern of the boat around so that we were facing into the swell and the wind about 45 to port. Lovely night with no rolling!

This morning we prepared to leave with the intention of winching the stern anchor rode in further until our stern was close to/over it, iand it broke free. Then we would haul it aboard, stow and then weigh the main anchor as usual. However when we winched in the stern anchor we got to the chain before the anchor broke free. We could not continue to winch as the chain would jam and chew up ithe fair leads or if not in them would ruin the toe rail. No possibility to hand over hand the chain with 24 ton of boat being pushed from the port side by a fresh breeze.

In the end one of us jumped in, and physically tripped the stern anchor by hand allowing us to haul it in by hand. But this was only possible in 10 feet of clear warm water!

How else might we have got ourselves off the stern anchor? We could have tied a tripping line to the stern anchor before deploying and tripped it with the dink when ready. But are there other ways that we have not thought of?

Your thoughts....
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Old 18-04-2021, 16:05   #2
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Re: Stern anchor technique

I would let out more main anchor rode, so that you can pull the stern one out from more directly above it.
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Old 18-04-2021, 17:01   #3
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Re: Stern anchor technique

Quote:
Originally Posted by Hobiehobie View Post
How else might we have got ourselves off the stern anchor? We could have tied a tripping line to the stern anchor before deploying and tripped it with the dink when ready. But are there other ways that we have not thought of?

Your thoughts....
Method 1. Winch up until you reach the chain using one of the primaries. Then use a dockline or other scrap of rope to tie a rolling hitch to the chain, as far away from the winch as you can safely reach. Winch that in using the other primary, slacking the rope rode on the first primary as needed. Using a second piece of rope, continue to alternate winches with a fresh purchase with a rolling hitch until the anchor is aweigh.

Method 1a. Walk the stern rode up to the foredeck and thread it through the bow roller then proceed with Method 1. Boat weathercocks into the wind reducing windage, and the rode is more accessible on deck for tying rolling hitches.

Method 2. Walk the stern rode up to the foredeck and hoist it up using the windlass. Requires compatible chain and a rope-to-chain splice that will go through the gypsy.

I do not have any chain on my stern anchor. If chain is used at all it should be minimal as it complicates handling and storage in many ways.
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Old 19-04-2021, 13:58   #4
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Re: Stern anchor technique

Jammer. Thanks for that. Yes I am thinking that maybe we should remove the chain. Maybe just keep 10ft of it for some weight and chafe protection but little enough that the anchor will be off the bottom before the chain reaches the toe rail. But also maybe there is no harm in getting rid of it all when we use the Fortress just to align ourselves to the swell. We could reattach if we were using the anchor for a critical purpose. Regarding your other solutions, I agree that getting the line up to the bow roller would work. We have a second roller but with a fresh breeze abeam the boat it would not be an easy task even with your technique of alternating winch pulls with a rolling hitched line. But thank you for your thoughts...
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Old 19-04-2021, 16:09   #5
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Re: Stern anchor technique

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Originally Posted by Hobiehobie View Post
We have a second roller but with a fresh breeze abeam the boat it would not be an easy task even with your technique of alternating winch pulls with a rolling hitched line. But thank you for your thoughts...

On a larger boat such as yours you can leave the stern rode on the primary, then tie a longer line with a rolling hitch to the chain, then take the end of the line through the bow roller and back to the other primary leaving the rode on the first primary. You can bend two or more lines together if necessary to get the length you need.


Then gently ease the rope rode from the first primary. The boat will weathercock into the wind and blow back somewhat until the load is on the improvised setup. Now you can power the boat forward and take up the slack in the rode with the second primary as far as you can without the chain damaging anything, tie another rolling hitch, and alternate winches --- using them only to take up slack and ultimately raise the hook, since you can motor into the wind to create slack until you're right over it.


More of the rope rode has to be eased out through this process, but you probably get the idea.
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Old 20-04-2021, 05:32   #6
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Re: Stern anchor technique

FWIW: You’re using much longer chain, than Fortress recommends.
From the Fortress Guide:
“... Use three-strand nylon rope, 6-12 ft (2-4 m) of chain and a minimum of 5:1 scope.
Also, a minimum of 6 ft (2 m) of chain should be used for every 25 ft (8 m) of water depth. For storm conditions use an anchor one or two sizes larger ...”
https://fortressanchors.com/selection-guide/
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Old 20-04-2021, 06:01   #7
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Re: Stern anchor technique

Pay out enough on the stern anchor to retrieve the bow anchor then you can approach the stern anchor bow into the wind.

If there isn't enough rode on the stern anchor, put a float on it and come back to it when you're done with the bow.
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Old 20-04-2021, 06:37   #8
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Re: Stern anchor technique

In these type of examples using a stern anchor with limited holding is worth considering.

It does not take much holding power to swing the bow into the waves. A stern anchor with limited holding ability also has the advantage that if the wind picks up from the beam the stern anchor will drag well before the high windage will cause a problem for the primary anchor. The limited holding ability of the stern acts a little like a fuse in an electrical circuit.

This limited holding can be achieved in many ways. The best, if available, is to use a small anchor with limited or no chain. Alternatively, you can deploy a very short scope on the stern anchor. Both of these options will limit the bury of the anchor and the recovery will be easy.

An alternative to a stern anchor to solve the problem of swell is to rig a line from the stern to the primary anchor rode. Adjusting the length of line will alter the pivot point and alter the boats angle to wind to facilitate aligning the bow with swell.
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Old 21-04-2021, 15:05   #9
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Re: Stern anchor technique

Thank you all so much. Very useful insight. I think we will try with zero chain and see how it goes. Next option to try 10ft chain if the "fuse" is too light.
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Old 21-04-2021, 16:12   #10
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Re: Stern anchor technique

I've used anchors in a V many times (testing anchors, often it is the only way to get enough hold to drag a third anchor to failure).


The simplest recovery is often to...
  • Add an extension line to which ever anchor is more difficult to recover, or simply slack it off, and lead it to the bow if it is not there already.
  • Let the boat swing to the other anchor and recover normally.
  • Recover the remaining anchor normally.
What you do not want to do is try to recover either of the anchors without the freedom to simply motor up over them, one at a time. You may get away with if there is no wind, but it's not best.


Also, this is why the second anchor should have very, very little chain. It's trouble and does not serve the same purpose that it does on the primary.


If the Fortress had been with little chain...
  • Slack off the Fortress rode.
  • Recover the primary.
  • Motor up over the Fortress. Once it is straight up-and-down, let the waves break it out. This might take some time and some occasional re-tensioning.
  • Recover by hand, since it is light. No winching needed. But you could take the tail to a primary. The chain should be short enough that it dos not reach the deck from the bottom.
Easy, done it many times. Never fight a cross wind.

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Basically a long version of what Cal40John said
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Old 13-05-2021, 07:38   #11
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Re: Stern anchor technique

This has been an edifying read, so thanks to all the previous posters.

Question about this suggested method though:

Quote:
Originally Posted by cal40john View Post
Pay out enough on the stern anchor to retrieve the bow anchor then you can approach the stern anchor bow into the wind.

If there isn't enough rode on the stern anchor, put a float on it and come back to it when you're done with the bow.

In OP's case, the secondary anchor was off the stern quarter. As you start to move upwind onto the bow anchor for retrieval, doesn't this place the stern anchor's rode under the boat, potentially fouling the prop? Or am I picturing the situation wrong? Maybe you wait to move the secondary anchor's rode to the bow roller until after the bow roller is weighed?

Also, once the bow anchor is retrieved, you're now a long rode-length upwind of the remaining stern anchor. So the boat will drift downwind two rode-lengths, and then be brought up with a jerk on the anchor. This sounds like a recipe for dragging and/or damage to me? Dragging not a huge issue since you're in the process of weighing, but still seems uncomfortable. Plus, that drift backwards sounds like another opportunity to foul the rode on keel, rudder, or prop.
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Old 13-05-2021, 07:40   #12
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Re: Stern anchor technique

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Originally Posted by JebLostInSpace View Post
Maybe you wait to move the secondary anchor's rode to the bow roller until after the bow roller is weighed?
Whoops, meant to say "Maybe you wait to move the secondary anchor's rode to the bow roller until after the primary anchor is weighed
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