Apologies, Ocean Girl for not picking up on your response.

The other technique I have used ( and I wish I had during hurricane Ivan) is to let your anchor out at 25-30 degrees off starboard or port. Using the chain shackle again fasten a rope, maybe 16mm to your anchor chain, let out the anchor until it is secured in the sea bed. Let out some more chain and then take in the rope on a winch nearer the stern. Adjust the rope and chain to set the chain angle at about 25 degrees.

The point of all this is to have a consistent thrust from the wind on one side of the bows.
The higher the wind speed the greater the effect of what I call catenation slamming.

With high wind you start with the anchor and chain facing the boat to the wind. This minimises the wind thrust on the boat so the weight of the chain makes it catenate i.e. droop.
More to follow.

I am sailing in the Aegean, why not join me you sound an interesting woman.

Hi Ocean Girl, Apologies i have not picked up on your message before!. if you are thinking of anchoring in heavy weather in the Chesapeake, i would lay about four times your depth in chain and the attach ten feet of nylon rope to your chain (they make a special shackle). Then fix the other end of the rope to your anchor post or a heavy cleat and let out further chain until the chain made a loop below the rope. you then have the flexible nylon taking the shock loads. Hope this helps. Rope size maybe 14 or 16mm for a 30ft boat.

Camille1, can you expand a bit about your technique for heavy weather anchoring? I really liked your post, hope you can give some pointers for me.
I have a 30ft CD (you probably know em, they are everywhere on the Chesapeak ). She doesn't have much freeboard but would like to cut down on the shock loads.
Thanks!
Erika