Anchoring in extremis

  • 13 Sep 2017 21:26
    Reply # 5148390 on 459179

    The Vulcan was actually designed for the benefit of the stinkpots. It will self launch and self recover on a bow roller better than other types.

    Hmph. You try getting the Vulcan out of sticky mud after a blow, Peter. Not so easy, then.

  • 13 Sep 2017 21:11
    Reply # 5146300 on 459179

    Having retrieved the anchor on Weaverbird, I can testify that it's easy... almost relaxed. Small boats are more straightforward!

    Peter

  • 13 Sep 2017 20:52
    Reply # 5144259 on 459179

    I'd not come across the Vulcan. I guess he needed to design a new anchor after the scandal of the second generation Rocnas, made in China. I've anchored in pretty much extremis on a spade. I think I prefer the Manson supreme, on odds, never having dragged one. But the spade was good.

    Your dainty little fish hooks and watch chain makes me appreciate anew the joys of small boats!


  • 12 Sep 2017 22:41
    Reply # 5077042 on 459179

    Weaverbird is anchored in the pool at the entrance to Gillan Harbour, Cornwall. There are gale force gusts blowing down the harbour, so I'm following my usual practice of lying to two anchors in a V formation. As a result, I'm lying quite comfortably, with little veering about. Neither am I losing any ground -  which is good, because Car Croc rock is right behind me.

    One anchor is a 6kg Rocna, the other is a 9kg Vulcan (same designer as the Rocna). Both have 10m of 6mm chain, followed by a 12mm warp. I've been quite impressed by the Vulcan this summer. It looks very similar to the Spade, which cruising sailors who venture to wild places rate as the best of the new generation of anchors; but the Spade is enormously expensive and the Vulcan isn't.

  • 29 Jan 2012 03:21
    Reply # 809784 on 809747
    Gary King wrote:

    David, do you use the slot on the Supreme & does it work for retrieval?
    Or does it attempt to retrieve itself when the wind changes direction?
    Gary,
    I don't have a Manson Supreme, I have a Rocna. Annie has a Supreme, she may be able to answer.
  • 29 Jan 2012 02:27
    Reply # 809747 on 809578
    Deleted user
    David Tyler wrote:.. and the Manson Supreme, are a quantum leap in performance and reliability over the older plough anchors. In Europe, the Spade and the Bugel have an equally good reputation, I believe.   
    Anchors tend to breed and multiply on a cruising boat. I ought to sell the 20Kg Delta. 
    I suggest you start with a 10Kg and a 20Kg Rocna/Manson Supreme/Spade/Bugel, and add a spare 20 Kg of a different type, just in case.
    David, do you use the slot on the Supreme & does it work for retrieval?
    Or does it attempt to retrieve itself when the wind changes direction?
  • 28 Jan 2012 19:16
    Reply # 809578 on 809322
    Peter Manning wrote:David, since we are discussing anchoring in this topic can i ask if you are still using the same anchors you had when you left the UK. I think they were a 16kg Delta  bower anchor, a 10kg Delta kedge and a fishermans (not sure of its size). Have you found these adequate or have you added to or changed any of the anchors. I need to purchase my anchors soon and would like to benefit from your experience.
    Peter,
    I still have the 10Kg Delta, which is a suitable size for rowing out in the dinghy. I still have the 50lb Luke, which I bring out reluctantly when there is thick, heavy weed. I lost the 16Kg Delta, jammed irretrievably under boulders at Isla de Trindade, and replaced it with a 20Kg Delta when I reached Cape Town. And lurking under the cockpit is a 20Kg Bruce copy, which was used for mooring at Ravenglass, and has come along for the ride - might come in useful sometime.
    In Tasmania, the 20Kg Delta let me down once too often, and I upgraded my bower to a 20Kg Rocna. This, and the Manson Supreme, are a quantum leap in performance and reliability over the older plough anchors. In Europe, the Spade and the Bugel have an equally good reputation, I believe.   
    Anchors tend to breed and multiply on a cruising boat. I ought to sell the 20Kg Delta. 
    I suggest you start with a 10Kg and a 20Kg Rocna/Manson Supreme/Spade/Bugel, and add a spare 20 Kg of a different type, just in case.
  • 28 Jan 2012 10:28
    Reply # 809322 on 459179
    Deleted user
    David, since we are discussing anchoring in this topic can i ask if you are still using the same anchors you had when you left the UK. I think they were a 16kg Delta  bower anchor, a 10kg Delta kedge and a fishermans (not sure of its size). Have you found these adequate or have you added to or changed any of the anchors. I need to purchase my anchors soon and would like to benefit from your experience.
  • 28 Jan 2012 00:37
    Reply # 809133 on 459179
    It's a nice sunny afternoon, it's blowing about 25 knots, and there are small waves with a mile of fetch over shallow water. Tystie is perfectly comfortable, veering gently to and fro a little.
    ... so I thought I'd try the experiment.
    I attached a 30 metre warp to the anchor chain, led it outside all to the stern quarter cleat on the starboard side, waited until she veered out to port, and eased out the chain. The bow fell away, taking the weight on the warp, until she was lying very steadily, stern-to, at an angle of about 20 degrees to the wind. The motion became rather worse, somewhat jerky, and the waves were slapping the transom and the topsides aft, throwing spray up into the cockpit. Not pleasant at all. So I took the other end of the warp forward (that's why it was more than twice as long as the boat) and secured it while I eased away the chain some more, until she was again head to wind. That way, I retained full control, which might be a problem in extremis (which 25 knots clearly isn't). I might have used a long bridle, with a leg to each stern quarter cleat, but the waves slapping against the transom at 90 degrees would have been worse.
    My preference for anchoring in wild conditions will remain to lay two anchors in a broad 'V'. Two points of attachment to the seabed are always better than one. In extremis, three points of attachment are better than two.
  • 24 Jan 2012 19:46
    Reply # 806398 on 459179
    Deleted user
    We use stern anchoring as a way of slowing down when we are sailing into a wharf. A stern anchor is also valuable as a drag in storm condiitons. When anchoring we prefer to use the bow anchor. Sailing out the anchor in less favourable conditions is always an option with the bow anchor. We have a double ender. Either is the same except the sails prefer the bow.
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