Anchoring well means choosing the spot, laying enough chain and proving that the anchor holds. In harbour the same care goes into your lines.
Which bay should I anchor in overnight when the wind is forecast to change?
Choose shelter from the forecast wind, not the present one: a bay open to it becomes a lee shore, so move while it is light. Drop on sand or mud, not on weed or rock.
Choose shelter from the forecast wind, not the present one: a bay open to it becomes a lee shore, so move while it is light. Plan your way out before dark.
Only A lies under the land when the wind goes south.
The chart names the seabed: S sand and M mud let an anchor dig in, Wd weed and R rock do not. Drop on pale sand, never on dark seagrass, and clear of a submarine cable, a magenta wavy line.
| Anchor | Where it works |
|---|---|
| Plough (Delta) | Sand and mud |
| Danforth | Sand and mud; may not reset when the pull reverses |
| Fisherman | Weed and rock |
| Grapnel | A dinghy, over rock |
How much anchor chain should I let out for the depth I'm in?
On all chain, a scope of at least 4:1 in settled weather and 5:1 to 7:1 in strong wind; chain and rope needs 6:1 to 8:1. Measure from depth at high water plus bow height.
Scope compares the length of rode with the height from the bow roller to the seabed: depth at high water plus bow height. An anchor holds only while the pull is nearly horizontal; a short chain lifts the shank and pulls it out.
| Rode | Scope |
|---|---|
| All chain, settled weather | 4:1 at least |
| All chain, strong wind | 5:1 to 7:1 |
| Chain and rope | 6:1 to 8:1 |
A rope rode needs a few metres of chain at the anchor against chafe. More scope widens the swinging circle: its radius is about the chain along the bottom plus the boat's length.
The stern can swing 52 m from the anchor, past the rock.
How do I check my anchor is holding right after I drop it?
Reverse gently to dig it in and watch a transit abeam, two fixed marks ashore in line: steady transit and taut chain, it holds; opening transit and juddering chain, it is skating, so try another spot.
In clear water, snorkel over it. In gusts a nylon snubber from a bow cleat to the chain spares the windlass; a catamaran rigs a bridle from both bows.
How can I tell at night whether my anchor is dragging?
Set a GPS anchor alarm centred on the anchor, its radius the chain plus the boat's length. On the plotter, swinging draws an arc; a straight track downwind means you are dragging.
Centre the GPS anchor alarm on the anchor, radius the chain plus the boat's length. If it sounds, check transits, track and depth first. Swinging draws an arc; a straight line downwind is dragging.
Loops while she swings, then a straight track as she drags.
If you drag, start the engine and motor up to take the strain, then re-anchor or leave. If a neighbour drags down on you, wake her crew with horn and torch; engine on, fenders out. In strong wind set an anchor watch.
| Two anchors | What for |
|---|---|
| Both from the bow, 30–45° apart | A strong, steady wind |
| Bahamian moor: two bow anchors 180° apart | A small swinging circle |
| A kedge from the stern | Lying end-on to the swell |
How do I raise the anchor without straining the windlass?
Let the engine move the boat: motor slowly up the chain so the windlass only takes in slack, lock it off with the chain up and down, and break the anchor out by motoring gently ahead.
Agree hand signals first: the bow crew points along the chain. Motor slowly up it so the windlass only takes in slack. With the chain up and down, lock it off and break the anchor out by motoring gently ahead. Then set the chain stopper and lash it.
| Problem | Answer |
|---|---|
| Fouled under a rock | Pull it out backwards: a trip line on the crown, or from the other side |
| Under a neighbour's chain | Hold their chain on a slip line, lower yours clear |
| Aground | Lay the kedge by dinghy towards deep water and winch off |
How do I moor stern-to on a town quay in the Med with my own anchor?
Drop the anchor three to four boat lengths out, reverse in straight so your chain does not cross the neighbours', and take two stern lines ashore. Get sternway early: prop walk is strongest from rest.
On a town quay you lie stern-to: the anchor holds the bow, two lines the stern. Drop three to four boat lengths out and reverse in straight, so your chain does not cross the neighbours'. Get sternway early: prop walk is strongest from rest, then the rudder steers.
In a cross wind drop upwind of the berth's line. The windward stern line goes ashore first and comes off last. In surge, ease the stern lines and haul in chain to sit further off. Ferry berths stay clear.
From B the chain holds the bow up to windward.
A lazy line replaces the anchor: make it fast at the end away from the quay, and stay in neutral until it is clear of the propeller. In a cove a shore line holds the stern: lead it round a rock and back aboard, to slip from the deck.
Which mooring lines stop my boat surging back and forth alongside a pontoon?
The springs, which run diagonally, stop her surging; bow and stern lines, and breast lines square to the pontoon, hold her in. Where the level changes, leave the lines long and slack.
Bow and stern lines, and breast lines square to the pontoon, hold the boat in. Springs run diagonally and stop her surging. Where the level changes, leave the lines long and slack.
Wind off the berth: come in steeper and get a line on fast; to leave, just let go. Wind onto it: stop parallel a metre off; to leave, motor ahead against a bow spring, bow fendered, until the stern swings out. In a raft, take your own lines ashore and cross by the foredeck.
Approach a mooring buoy into the wind. Its pick-up line only lifts the ring: lie to your own line, from a bow cleat through the ring and back to the same cleat.
Questions from this topic, as the app asks them. Open one to see the answer.
You anchor in 5 m at high water with all chain, settled weather. How much chain do you let out?
C. At least 24 m (4 × depth to the roller), more if wind is expected
Chain scope 4:1 minimum, measured from the bow roller; 6:1 or more in strong wind.
You are about to anchor for a gusty night. How much chain do you pay out?
D. 35 m
(6 m depth + 1 m bow height) × 5 = 35 m; measure from the roller, not the surface.
You are anchored in a busy bay by day. What do you hoist?
C. A black ball forward
Rule 30: ball by day, all-round white light at night.
You set the GPS anchor alarm. Where do you centre it, and roughly what radius?
D. Centred on the anchor, about 50 m
The antenna can be anywhere within chain plus boat length of the anchor: 34 + 12 ≈ 50 m.
Full astern does not move you off. What do you do next?
D. Lay the kedge by dinghy towards deep water
A kedge laid towards deep water gives a pull the engine alone cannot.
Berthing stern-to with your own anchor in a Greek harbour. When do you drop the anchor?
A. About 3–4 boat lengths out, reversing towards the quay, paying out as you go
Drop early, keep tension, stern lines ashore, then snug the chain.
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