Anchoring Introduction
Ensuring that your boat is in the same place you left it is a very important skill. There are also other factors to consider: depth under keel and surrounding area depth, tidal currents, low tide depth, other boats in proximity, wind speed and direction changes, type of bottom, and length of stay. All factors play into your anchoring decisions.
Whether you are anchoring a sailboat or a powerboat, the principles are the same. This module draws upon the extensive anchoring experience we have had in all parts of the world on a sailboat. Thus this module features many a sailboat image of anchoring situations. Don’t worry. a sailboat is a powerboat just with the sails down. In our travels, we’ve encountered all types of anchoring situations:
- anchoring with all chain and with part chain and rope
- using two anchors Bahamian style
- stern and bow anchoring
- a long line ashore off the stern
- deep anchoring
- hybrid Mediterranean mooring with an anchor
- various bottom compositions
- narrow coves with cliffs on each side
- busy (busy busy) anchorages
- boats rafted together on anchor
- high tidal range anchoring
- and more
The photograph below was taken in Corsica. The depth was 60 ft (18m). We anchored off the bow and took a long line ashore off the stern to prevent swinging into the cliffs during the night in the case of a wind direction shift. It was in my younger days and I was able to snorkel to the bottom to ensure the plough-type anchor was dug in successfully.
