Decide
How should you approach the spot where you want to anchor?
The lesson in plain words
- Prepare
- Before you arrive, free the anchor, check that the inboard end of the chain (the bitter end) is made fast on board, check the chain is marked so you know how much is out, and agree hand signals between the helm and the bow.
- The crew at the bow wears shoes and keeps feet and hands clear of the running chain.
- Approach
- Look at boats already anchored: they lie head to wind or current.
- Come in the same way, slowly, to the spot where you want the anchor.
- Stop the boat there with a touch astern.
- Let go and pay out
- As the boat starts to drift back, lower the anchor to the bottom under control, do not throw it.
- Pay out the chain as she falls back, so it lies along the bottom instead of piling on the anchor.
- Let out at least the length you worked out: a common rule of thumb in shelter is 4 times the depth plus bow height for all-chain, 7 times with chain and rope.
- Set it
- With all the chain out, make it fast and go gently astern.
- The chain straightens and the anchor digs in.
- Watch a transit, two fixed objects in line on the shore: if they stay in line, the anchor holds.
- By day show the black ball forward (COLREG Rule 30).
Key data
- Approach
- Slowly, head to wind or current, like boats already anchored
- Let go
- As the boat stops and starts to drift back
- Scope (shelter)
- About 4:1 all-chain, 7:1 chain and rope
- Set
- Gently astern; check a transit on shore
- Day signal
- Black ball forward (COLREG Rule 30)
Key points
- Prepare the anchor, secure the bitter end, mark the chain, agree hand signals.
- Approach slowly, head to wind or current, and stop on the spot.
- Lower the anchor; pay out chain as the boat drops back.
- Set it astern and confirm with a transit; show the black ball by day.
Check what you have read
When do you lower the anchor?
True or false?
Decide each statement before you see the answer.
Let out chain equal to the depth.
Lower the anchor; pay out chain as the boat drops back.
Approach slowly, head to wind or current, and stop on the spot.
Throw the anchor while the boat is still moving ahead.
Set it astern and confirm with a transit; show the black ball by day.
Once the anchor is down, it holds.
Practice case & exam keys
Situation
You arrive in a sheltered bay with 4 m of water at the expected high water and a bow roller 1 m above the water. Your boat has all-chain. Other boats lie heading north. How do you approach, how much chain do you let out, and how do you know the anchor holds?
Show the answer
Approach slowly heading north, as the anchored boats show the wind or current from there. Stop on your spot and lower the anchor as you drift back. Let out at least (4 + 1) × 4 = 20 m of chain, paying out as you go. Then go gently astern and pick a transit ashore: if the two marks stay in line, the anchor holds. Show the black ball forward.
Exam keys
- Approach head to wind or current, slowly; stop, then let go as the boat drifts back.
- Scope from depth plus bow height: about 4:1 all-chain, 7:1 chain and rope, in shelter.
- Set astern; check a transit; black ball by day (Rule 30).