Boat anchor information
A good anchorage is one that is both save from wind and waves, and also safe enough from shore and rocks/reefs. The bottom must have good grip of the anchor. In areas where there are many other boats, or it is possible to have old ropes, chains or objects inside the water, you must be careful that your anchor is not trapped.
You have to estimate where exactly to drop the anchor, having in mind that it should be deep enough to allow for tides, and at the same time it should be shallow enough for the anchor to have a good grip. Also the yacht should have enough space to swing and float without endangering other vessels around.
If the wind is strong and it changes, be ready to move and seek for a better place (so you have to be familiar with the place well in advance, at best when you arrive first at the area, have a look around). The rope of the anchor must at all times be clear and ready to work. A good way to estimate how long it should be, is to multiply the current depth by 5. For example if it is 6 m deep where the yacht is, the anchor chain better be 30 m long. Beware that a fast moving chain can be potentially dangerous, so never use your bare hands to handle it. The anchor is dropped from the bow part of the yacht. Once it is dropped and secured, whenever the vessel moves backwards, the chain (or warp) will pull; the helmsperson can try whether it drags by reversing a little harder.
You can lift the anchor when the motor has just started, and the speed of the yacht is still very slow. If it is not a warp but a chain, maybe one person from the crew will not be able to handle it and back up will be needed. Somebody must stand at the foremost position and make sure that the chain/wrap enters clear in the anchor locker and inform loudly the skipper about the progress of the operation. When the chain or warp starts to pull vertically, then this person must back off to prevent it pulling back or damaging the bow. The crew must be on the alert and feel whenever the anchor breaks free from the bottom. The anchor may break or damage the bow, that is why be very careful at the final stage of the process; also the anchor might be very dirty so you need to wash it up in water, or even rub it before storing in the locker. Mind that you must wear boots and preferably gloves when you handle it.
Logically, when you are not at the marina and using an anchor, you will need something to get to the shore - and usually that is a tender or a small dinghy.
You must be very careful with it and take care of the following:
- do not overload it
- always put oars in it, because the outboard motor may fail.
- Make sure you know exactly where the yacht is at night
- Know exactly when the tide is, and don't start when the wind is very rough
- Mount on and off the yacht with special care so that you don't fall in the sea
- Everybody must wear lifejackets; and waterproof clothing if possible
- Never use it when you have drunk alcohol.
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