Anchoring 101

Taking you through all aspects of anchoring, technique and gear. The theory and the practice, examples of good and bad, it's all in here.

We also talk about the often forgotten subject of anchor chains and fit what we think is the ultimate anchor chain a Cromox chain from Ketten Wälder in Germany:

There's also more information on the website:

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[SteinVarjord]

An exceptionally good video!
As I’m a sailing nerd with a lot of real life experience, I pretty much always find seriously misleading info in this type of content. In this case, nothing of that, whatsoever. This video explores the right topics, draws the right conclusions, explains them correctly and doesn’t omit anything needed in this context. Applause!

I totally agree about the anchor comments too, by the way. Rockna is a great anchor, but has a weakness with resetting after a windshift. I’ve experienced it myself. Other anchors with an arch seem to share this weakness. I can’t say for sure, but my impression is that the arch collects seaweed etc, which changes the balance and drag of the anchor, so the tip is held off the bottom. The tip wasn’t covered. It just didn’t grip. Spade is my clear favourite. The galvanised one especially, but I’d love to have the aluminium one, as I sail a weight sensitive catamaran. Maybe I’ll go for an oversized alu...

[jasonwright]

Good rule of thumb, never completely rely on your electronics to always be 100% accurate. Always assume "general area" rather than pinpoint accuracy. GPS satellites can sometimes be inaccurate, depending on solar activity, auroras, and magnetic field radiation. As well as needing a software update occasionally etc. When i anchor i like to stand at the bow and take note of my position using landmarks, bouys, other boats etc to determine whether or not i may drag a little or staying put, once my anchor is set.

[jasonbeale]

Wow I’m not even a boat owner but this is one of the most fascinating videos I’ve ever seen

[richardvass]

Very useful video thanks! Our Gunfleet 58 was fitted with a Lewmar CQR. I have been in scuba kit and watched it drag time after time in various sea bed was a nightmare. We fitted and oversize Mantus anchor a couple of years ago. It's big, bites first time and lets me sleep soundly!

[melgelderman]

This type of content sets you apart from the crowd. Well done.

[MrFlyingguy]

hugely informative and diagrams are immensely helpful...

[SailingABSea]

Very informative, the German guy really knows his stuff. I know you don't like roll bars on anchors but we are extremely happy with our Mantus anchor.
Just like you we over specced on size. We have a 46 foot boat and a 39 kilo (85lbs) Mantus. People look at the size of it and we're sure they're sniggering, but the thing is, it goes in every time and more importantly it stays in. Apparently it will reset within 3 metres if there's a wind or current 180 change.
We even had one subscriber who calculated that with all of our 100m out it would hold us in 80 knots, but we're not willing to test his calculations.

[christopherschembri]

Thanks for all the information, especially on the types of chain. It is a real eye-opener and is priceless! The diagrams and theory on anchoring technique are just as awesome. Thanks again.

[VonBluesman]

I love your display of intelligence, it makes your videos very interesting, intriguing, rewarding, and a pleasure to view. Your demonstrations are like a picture, they say a 1, 000 words. Thank you for the time, effort, and research you put into your post. Stay safe. GOD bless ya’ll.

[nickmalone]

One of the best anchoring videos on YouTube. Love that you got information on the actual materials in chain.

[riffseekss]

I fitted a Rocna anchor on my 40, 000 pound 53 foot patch five years ago. In looking over my ships log, I anchored just over 120 times… Everything from overnight to as long as a couple weeks in one spot.

I found that it sets very quickly. I have dragged twice with this anchor and I'm certain in both instances any other anchor would've dragged in similar circumstances. One incident was only a few centimeters of sand over shale and the anchor wouldn't grab at all. The second instance was an anticipated storm that was very late in arriving and was almost exactly 180° opposite of how the boat was lying. I had about 100 m of chain out in only about 6m of water, but as we charged from one extent of the anchor range to the other, 200 m, We had to be moving at 2 to 3 knots. When we started the engine and took in the rode, the anchor was in a bowl of grass and debris close to a meter in diameter. There were perhaps 20 other boats in the anchorage and to my knowledge everyone dragged in these conditions. The only criticism I've ever heard of a Rocna that is it's inability to set in a rapid 180° wind change. From my experience I think this is a fair assessment.

While I’m very satisfied with the Rocna, if I was to purchase another anchor now I probably would get a mantis or perhaps the spade that you were considering. I would also advise you to look at the mantis swivel as it is very well-designed and appears extremely strong.

I am in complete and utter envy of your stainless steel chain! Each time it's come time to replace my galvanized chain, I've had some difficulty with the expense. I also have a minor castling problem with the galvanized chain piling up in the anchor locker. Also certain that stainless steel is a joy to clean! Perhaps, the only downside to stainless steel is an incident happened to me in the BVIs 25 years ago or so. The boat I had chartered had a stainless steel rode. But when the windless failed, it was quite a job recovering very slippery stainless anchor chain even with zero wind and current.

One last point, I've been very happy using an 8 mm 3-ply nylon braided line for my snubber. Even with a 20 ton vessel with a lot of windage, it has never failed me. I especially like it's spring-like effect, it's practically illuminates and absorbs all jerking motion! I also use a rolling hitch to attach this snubber since I've never found another device that doesn't harm the galvanized coating on the chain. I can't remember anchoring in any conditions worse than about 40 knots and perhaps 1 m waves through the anchorage, so perhaps it night fail in extreme conditions. The 8 mm snubber takes a beating and i replace it perhaps twice per year.

[petethecatable]

A very good video about anchoring. Nice to see one that focuses on the REAL issue of anchoring: proper technique and the system. I have fairly extensive experience and some suggestions for your presentation, however. You have what appears to be an Ideal heavy duty windlass that may be able to withstand the stresses of backing down and breaking out the anchor. Most of the folks who watch this video more likely have a less robust recreational windlasses that will eventually (soon most likely) fail if used to hold the tension of back down and break out. You mentioned that you are planning a chain stopper installation and I would recommend you put that as a priority if you want to save your windlass. Although you appropriately gently back down it is still an enormous pressure and breaking out a stuck anchor by driving over it can exert destructive forces to most recreational windlasses. All this can be avoided with a chain stopper or by using a snubber (a chain hook makes this a lot easier). I think you should amend this video or put a caveat about putting shock loads on most windlasses. Don't ask how I learned this. I have rebuilt several of them.
I also agree with your assessment of the Rocna. I saw a guy sawing the roll bar off his $800 version after realizing the thing had a penchant for collecting the bottom and failing to reset. Every time I hear some yachtie talk about "next generation" anchors or simply buying "one size larger" I hope they stay tied to a dock somewhere because they are repeating marketing talk, not anything factual. Part of anchoring should be situational awareness and when things get snotty, taking action to move while you still have time or prepping a second anchor is much more important to your survival than what brand of anchor you have down. I know a group of boats that were lost in an open roadstead in Cost Rica last year because some of them hunkered down behind their gear rather than take to sea as they should have when the surf came up. Some of them were unable to get their hooks up when the surf started and several ended up on the beach. I have always had a second anchor ready to go when things are getting iffy and want a primary anchor I can get up so I can move. The marketing folks all suggest they can give you an anchor that will "never drag". You have sailed enough to know this is ridiculously untrue and dangerous talk. FWIW. Ray Durkee

[JohannesNeumeier]

The tip with the piece of chain between ropes either side for lifting a stuck anchor at its neck is superb, never even thought of it. We have a little white fender to use attached at the front of the anchor... I reckon it's less likely someone will try moor to it also ;)

[NiallHarding]

Thank you for an informative and very watchable video. As you have invited feedback I hope my comments will be of some interest. I always use a hollow bar to operate the clutch on the windlass, as this keeps fingers away from danger. Yes I have used my hands but I insist that crew never do. To keep the angle of lift below 11deg I use the formula (depth + height of bow)X4 added to length of boat. The length of boat is significant when this is applied in shallow water. Once anchoring for more than a lunch stop or a swim I always use a snubber. My method of using the snubber is to attach to the chain with a chain hook and lower it to over a meter below the water. I then pay out more chain up to 2/3rds of the depth. I have found this practice (as shown to me by a sailor on an 11 year circumnavigation) keeps the angle of the pull down in all but very severe winds and also allows for rapid escape if necessary. I do not use a chum as it can imprison one in difficult conditions because hauling anchor involves retrieving the chum first. Which anchor? The spade is my choice, which I bought through Calibra Marine Southampton. I sail a 1975 Amel Meltem, she is 18 metric ton, 16 meters with almost 2metres freeboard and currently on the hard in Preveza. Thank you very much for all your efforts to bring us these videos and congratulations on such a beautiful and well found yacht. Best wishes and safe passage.

[dudispudis]

The most beautiful anchor chain I have ever see. Looks nicer than my wedding ring.

[andrewthompson]

Good ideas Used to love my mizzen when anchored in heavy winds i tend to put my foot hard on the anchor chain when pulling her in as you can really feel what the anchor is doing through the chain vibrations

[WindwardToEden]

Just discovered you. I REALLY like these anchor videos. I've learned more in the little bit of time watching yours than any other channel.

Thank you!
-Nick

[georgehockaday]

Very nice information indeed, what most people fail to mention is how well you and your partner work together.

[Bakanelli]

Small correction at 19:01 Mr Chris meant that A2 is 304

[dsanderson]

Chris was a fascinating chap to listen to so I am very glad that you shared this with us all. I'll be sharing it on my sailing / boating blogs with my fellow boaters.