Anchoring

Introduction to proper anchoring: why is it important?

Many boaters think that anchoring is just about throwing a piece of iron overboard and hoping the boat wakes up in the same place in the morning. Wrong! Proper anchoring is a fundamental skill that determines not only comfort and restful sleep, but also the safety of the entire crew. Who would want to find out in the middle of the night that the boat has decided to set off on a solo voyage towards a rocky coastline? Certainly not me.

Types of anchors and their use

An anchor isn't just a piece of iron, it's your insurance against adventures of the unwanted kind. Some of the most well-known types of anchors include:

• Fisherman (Admiralty anchor) - a beautiful classic, but a bit impractical for modern sailing
• CQR (plough anchor) - reliable and a favourite among experienced sea bass.
• Delta - ideal compromise between price and performance, popular especially in Croatia.
• Bruce - holds well in mud and sand, but occasionally fails in rocky bottoms.
• Danforth - light and easy to store, great as a backup anchor.
• Mushroom - more of a specialty for smaller boats or buoys

On charter boats, the main anchor is most often a Delta or Bruce, weighing around 10-30 kg. And believe me, this weight is quite enough to exercise your muscles.

How to choose the right place for anchoring

Not every bay is suitable for you to spend the night. So what to look for when choosing a place?

• Depth - Ideally 3-10 metres. In deeper places you need a longer chain than your boat has available. Anchoring in 30 metres of water with a 50 metre chain? That's like going to the Giant Mountains in the summer in flip flops - it's doable, but not sensible.
• Bottom substrate - Sand with clay or mud are best. Rock or thick grass is like an ice surface for an amateur skater: it slides and doesn't stick.
• Bay width - Expect the boat to turn at anchor. Narrow bays are beautiful for postcards, but when the wind pushes you to shore? It's not so romantic anymore.
• Wind direction - Wind blowing out of the bay = awesome. Wind blowing into the bay? Better get out of here fast.

And remember - always have a plan B! Not every place will welcome you with open arms.

The most common anchoring mistakes and how to avoid them

Watching some of the captains at anchor, I feel like I'm watching a Charlie Chaplin comedy. So what mistakes should we be sure to avoid?

• Short anchor chain - The golden rule: the length of the dropped chain should be at least 3-5 times the depth plus the height of the bow.
• Anchoring too close to other boats - Yes, it's certainly nice to talk to the crew of the next boat, but definitely not at 3am after an unintentional collision.
• Disregarding the weather forecast - If a storm is on the way, it's probably not the best idea to stand in an open bay facing the wind.
• Poor communication with the crew - Confusion has never helped anyone.

Practical advice for safe anchoring in different conditions

Each place has its own specifics:

• In Croatia, you will often come across buoys or piers - use them! But watch out for ropes in the propeller, especially if you are handy like me.
• In Greece, it's hard to do without the classic mooring. I recommend you learn "anchoring stern to the pier". It looks neat, plus you save space for others.
• If the wind is blowing harder from the side when backing up to the pier, drop the anchor farther away from the pier and keep the chain taut. The boat will then not fly from side to side like a kite.
• Shore mooring - If you are going ashore and will be moored off the shore, moor your vessel to two ideally unworn ropes at two fixed points on the shore. Of course, the anchor in front must not be missing.

What can I say in conclusion?

Anchoring is simply an art combined with a bit of physics and common sense. I recommend beginners to practice in calm conditions and gradually work their way up to more challenging situations.
To the more experienced, I remind you: Never underestimate the preparation of even a seemingly simple manoeuvre! I once succumbed to the impression of my own genius and ended up with someone else's anchor chain tangled in mine... As the classic says: "You learn by making mistakes".
So, off to new adventures! Wherever you anchor in the world, I wish you restful nights without unwanted visits from neighboring boats or rocky shores.
And remember: Proper anchoring is the foundation of every sailor's happy life!