Anchoring in extremis

<< First  < Prev   1   2   3   4   Next >  Last >> 
  • 08 Nov 2010 23:46
    Reply # 459211 on 459179
    Annie Hill wrote:

    One of the most interesting articles in JRA Newsletter 55, is the account of Easy Go's stranding as a result of Hurricane Earle. If you sail enough miles, chances are you'll end up on the beach sooner or later. I've been there, got the scars, too. That being so, I sent some comments about the event to Bob and he was kind enough to suggest putting them up on the forum for further discussion.

    I too have a Luke anchor, but it's such a brute to handle, it hasn't emerged from the bilge in years. It's nice to know it's there, though. There were times in Scotland where it was the only thing that would punch a hole in the weed and find the bottom.
    Generally, on a good bottom, I like to lay two anchors in as wide a 'V' formation as possible, for gale-force winds and above.
    However, it's important to have some idea of what the bottom actually is. Once , I anchored on what turned out to be smooth rock, thought that a second anchor would be a good idea, and then got into a terrible tangle when a gale-force williwaw blew me away, through the rocks and out to sea, much chastened.
    The other bottom type that has given me trouble is soft ooze, where even my Delta slowly renders through it. The only solution here is lots of anchors, with lots of fluke area.
    It's said that you can tell a serious cruising boat by the number of different anchors she carries - Bruce and Danforth for the soft stuff, Delta, Spade, Bugel and CQR for general purposes, Luke/Herreshoff for rock and weed.
    But the most desirable item of equipment is a crew that has perfect foresight, always seeks better shelter before it's too late, always lays another anchor before it's too late... unfortunately, we mortals have to muddle through as best we can, and sometimes we get away with it, sometimes we don't. I'm glad that Bob got away with it. There but for fortune go I.
  • 08 Nov 2010 22:36
    Message # 459179

    One of the most interesting articles in JRA Newsletter 55, is the account of Easy Go's stranding as a result of Hurricane Earle. If you sail enough miles, chances are you'll end up on the beach sooner or later. I've been there, got the scars, too. That being so, I sent some comments about the event to Bob and he was kind enough to suggest putting them up on the forum for further discussion.

    So here they are: slightly edited.

    • Get a 60 lb Luke anchor, or equivalent. (Henry Fuller of Cape Breton Boatyard, gets his from a place in Ontario, I think it is - about a third of the price of the genuine Luke, but identical in all other respects.) These are the ONLY anchor that will hold in kelp and, frankly, I wouldn't head further north without one. 

    (Luke anchors are based on a design by L Francis Herreshoff; Claud Worth designed something similar and the designs can be found in Sensible Cruising Designs by LFH or Yacht Cruising by CW; the proportions are cited in Cruising Under Sail by Eric Hiscock. The way in which these designs differ from the more conventional Fisherman/Yachtsman anchor is that they have very large, spade-shaped flukes. Those made by Luke and the outfit in Ontario, which I think are called Victory anchors, break down into three component parts: the arm/flukes, the shank and the stock. The arm and shank are both cast; the stock is a piece of round bar. Googling may produce a seller: if you have access to a foundry, you might be able to have one made.)

    • When bad weather threatens, try to anchor on a scope of 10:1. Chain (or rope) in the locker never did anyone any good.

    • Put out all your anchors. Anchors in the locker never did much good, either. If there seems no reason to spread them further round the boat, set some in tandem.

    • If possible, ensure a soft landing!

    This is by no means as frivolous – or as impossible – as it sounds. Admittedly, if you are already secured and have no engine, you might decide to stay put, but it might be worth looking round the shore and seeing if it is worth shifting berth in case the worst happens. Landing on mud is usually no more than an incident. Landing on rocks might be a catastrophe.


    Dragging ashore is a horrid business and however careful you've been, you always end up feeling a bit of a fool. I think it was great that Bob could write about it so clearly and honestly.

    Annie

<< First  < Prev   1   2   3   4   Next >  Last >> 
       " ...there is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in junk-rigged boats" 
                                                               - the Chinese Water Rat

                                                              Site contents © the Junk Rig Association and/or individual authors

Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software