All Captains,
Women too, can be and are fully qualified to be skippers! They are as adept and sometimes more so, than some of the male skippers I have seen at sea! Don't ever underestimate them, they will sink you every time with a well placed broadside! Three chears for all female skippers: Hip Hip Hooray, Hip Hip Hooray, Hip Hip, Hooray!!!!
D. Stump
Captain Commanding
s/v Hanalei CD-30C
CDSOA #1
Nautical Traditions Officer
CDSOA, Inc.
Single Handed Anchor Handling
Moderator: Jim Walsh
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JimL
A trick to get out of trouble.....
I agree it's great to have the engine idling in neutral, but if things go bad and you're running over your rode...the sails are the way. Here's a trick that worked in rocky lakes.
1. Prep the anchor after sailing through the anchorage and finding a beam or close reach escape route.
2. Approach the anchor drop point BY YOUR PLAN!
3. Have the bitter end at the cockpit, cleated, with a fender or float about 6 feet up the line, on the side deck. The rode must run outside all stanchions and shrouds.
4. The anchor rode is cleated at estimated length to foredeck cleat.
5. Luff up to anchor point slowly, with sails out to leeward, then go forward and drop anchor.
6. Back to cockpit and slip boat sideways/backwards as necessary to set anchor. You'll know quickly if the anchor is beginning to bite, or if you're much to close to rocks etc.
If everything goes to pot, or you really missed your guess, uncleat the bitter end, hustle forward and uncleat the rode, and pitch the whole works over the side. Get the boat moving on your beam/close reach and get out of there. After regrouping/rethinking and taking your Valium, you can go back for your anchor under power if needed. Knowing that you're not going to lose your ground tackle will keep you from hesitating when things are getting dangerous.
I know this violates the rule of always having ground tackle ready to use, but if things have gone badly, it's not the time to be desperately trying to yank up the anchor, rode, and chain. Get out of there and stay safe. All you'll lose is a little time, nothing more.
leinfam@earthlink.net
1. Prep the anchor after sailing through the anchorage and finding a beam or close reach escape route.
2. Approach the anchor drop point BY YOUR PLAN!
3. Have the bitter end at the cockpit, cleated, with a fender or float about 6 feet up the line, on the side deck. The rode must run outside all stanchions and shrouds.
4. The anchor rode is cleated at estimated length to foredeck cleat.
5. Luff up to anchor point slowly, with sails out to leeward, then go forward and drop anchor.
6. Back to cockpit and slip boat sideways/backwards as necessary to set anchor. You'll know quickly if the anchor is beginning to bite, or if you're much to close to rocks etc.
If everything goes to pot, or you really missed your guess, uncleat the bitter end, hustle forward and uncleat the rode, and pitch the whole works over the side. Get the boat moving on your beam/close reach and get out of there. After regrouping/rethinking and taking your Valium, you can go back for your anchor under power if needed. Knowing that you're not going to lose your ground tackle will keep you from hesitating when things are getting dangerous.
I know this violates the rule of always having ground tackle ready to use, but if things have gone badly, it's not the time to be desperately trying to yank up the anchor, rode, and chain. Get out of there and stay safe. All you'll lose is a little time, nothing more.
leinfam@earthlink.net
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Mark Yashinsky
You need to have a talk w/ that reef
sounds like if they had been holed, it would have saved a lot of other people headaches (and from themselves). Wonder what other mayhem they caused???
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John MacArthur
Re: Here's what I do.....
Not even! I've been busier than the devil getting ready to go sailing in Mexico with "Stork" for the next month. Way too little time....D. Stump, Hanalei wrote: Captain Kaplan,
Hey, do you have too much time on your hands this Winter? Just wondering.......your most HUMBLE servant......
Dave Stump
Captain Commanding
s/v Hanalei CD-30C
CDSOA #1
jmac@laplaza.org
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Bill Goldsmith
Re: Single Handed Anchor Handling
I took a flight from Cleveland to LaGuardia last week. Usually the LaGuardia landings are smack-down get-em home, matter-of-fact. Well, this time, the lady captain of that flight put that bird down on her tippy-toes--best landing I ever experienced, period.
goldy@bestweb.net
Steve Alarcon wrote: A variation I saw in Canada a few years ago...
A 36-38 foot sloop came in to the anchorage, main up, running before 1-2 Kt breeze. Vessel reversed course (came into the wind), and the (singlehanded) skipper went forward, lowered the anchor and some rode as the boat drifted before the wind. Skipper then casually walked back to the main boom and backwinded it - driving the boat astern. The boat fetched up nicely, and the anchor was set!
Three days later, that same boat (and skipper) overhauled us (on our CD30) in 25-30 Kts of wind from several miles behind. We were single reefed, with only the stays'l forward. The sloop was flying everything.
The skipper of the 36-38 ft. sloop was a woman, and she was still singlehanded!
Steve Alarcon
CD36 Tenacity
Seattle
goldy@bestweb.net
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Neil Gordon
Re: Single Handed Anchor Handling
>>Usually the LaGuardia landings are smack-down get-em home, ...<<
Those are the ex-Navy carrier pilots. They pick their spot on the runway and drop the plane on it.
It's the Air Force guys who do the inch at a time soft touchdowns.
Regards, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167
cdory28@aol.com
Those are the ex-Navy carrier pilots. They pick their spot on the runway and drop the plane on it.
It's the Air Force guys who do the inch at a time soft touchdowns.
Regards, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167
cdory28@aol.com
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BobF
Re: Single Handed Anchor Handling
There's lots of helpful info about solo sailing in Frank Mulville's SINGLE-HANDED SAILING, including an entire chapter on "Close Work and Anchoring". I got my copy through amazon.com.
BobF
s/v Zephyr CD28 #230
BobF
s/v Zephyr CD28 #230
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Neil Gordon
Re: A trick to get out of trouble.....
>>I know this violates the rule of always having ground tackle ready to use, ...<<
A second anchor on board is a good idea, anyway.
Regards, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167
cdory28@aol.com
A second anchor on board is a good idea, anyway.
Regards, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167
cdory28@aol.com
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Frank Vernet
Re: Navy Pilots
Concur with the carrier pilot landings - you can always tell! Next time it happens, as you depart the cabin and the crew is standing by the exit thanking you for your patronnage, offer the following to the pilot(s): "I'm giving you an OK - 3 wire. Little flat in the groove and slightly overpowered, but otherwise OK!". If they are carrier pilots, they'll get a good laugh out of it.Neil Gordon wrote: >>Those are the ex-Navy carrier pilots. They pick their spot on the runway and drop the plane on it.<<
Frank Vernet
CO Sirius
CD 33 #84
frank.vernet@mda.osd.mil
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Robin Meigel
Re: Chesapeake Mud
I will be castigated by some for this, but I, too, singlehand a CD 27. I purchased a rail mount fitting for my secondary danforth which I attach to the stern rail only when I plan to singlehand. There is flat room on top of the aft lazarette to lay out the rode of my secondary anchor (8-12 lb) and I tie the bitter end aft.
I slowly approach going with the wind and drop the anchor over the back -- the rode streams out behind. I step back down into the cockpit and feed it slowly with one hand while standing IN the cockpit. After the anchor is set, I walk the bitter end forward and cleat it off there. The bow swings around into the wind.
I prefer to walk the rode back to raise the anchor from the stern. I feed the muddy rode into a waiting large bucket of baywater. While I'm dunking the anchor, I'm closer to the tiller if the boat is drifting toward anything. The mount is there if I have to stop cleaning the anchor to address anything.
I am of course mindful of where the prop is at all times. I have not had a problem with the rode traveling that far forward under the boat during either the setting or raising process.
Setting and raising the anchor has never been a big deal under sail or power in my 27. I have a manual windlass but have never had to use it. The time it takes to clean off Cheapeake Bay mud is the biggest disincentive to singlehanded anchoring. I'm still musing over alternatives to speed that process - including the luxury of a gusher pump that tees off the head raw water intake with a garden hose that you run through the forward hatch only when you want to use it. Has anyone done that?
Robin Meigel
s/v "Pacem"
1979 CD 27
I slowly approach going with the wind and drop the anchor over the back -- the rode streams out behind. I step back down into the cockpit and feed it slowly with one hand while standing IN the cockpit. After the anchor is set, I walk the bitter end forward and cleat it off there. The bow swings around into the wind.
I prefer to walk the rode back to raise the anchor from the stern. I feed the muddy rode into a waiting large bucket of baywater. While I'm dunking the anchor, I'm closer to the tiller if the boat is drifting toward anything. The mount is there if I have to stop cleaning the anchor to address anything.
I am of course mindful of where the prop is at all times. I have not had a problem with the rode traveling that far forward under the boat during either the setting or raising process.
Setting and raising the anchor has never been a big deal under sail or power in my 27. I have a manual windlass but have never had to use it. The time it takes to clean off Cheapeake Bay mud is the biggest disincentive to singlehanded anchoring. I'm still musing over alternatives to speed that process - including the luxury of a gusher pump that tees off the head raw water intake with a garden hose that you run through the forward hatch only when you want to use it. Has anyone done that?
Robin Meigel
s/v "Pacem"
1979 CD 27
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Richard Feffer
Re: LI Sound mud!
After hauling up much of the muddy bottoms of LI Sound, I decided to do something to get the mud off the chain and rode. (Adding a windlass and 100 feet of chain that feeds directly into the anchor locker was a major factor.) Besides these weary old bones can't haul up all those buckets full of water anymore! I did exactly as you suggested. Installed a salt water washdown pump (Shur-Flo) under the sink in the head. I put a tee into the line to the head and a filter before the pump. The hose with nozzle stays under the sink when not in use. Through the forward hatch prior to hauling the anchor or aft through the companionway when necessary. Don't know how I did without it!
I've used your method of dropping the anchor over the stern many times. Works quite well. Somewhat of a problem if there is a lot of chain attatched to the anchor though!
RichFef@Prodigy.net
I've used your method of dropping the anchor over the stern many times. Works quite well. Somewhat of a problem if there is a lot of chain attatched to the anchor though!
RichFef@Prodigy.net
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kerrydeare
Re: Single Handed Anchor Handling
"There may be times when I want to pull into a nice cove, drop the hook and read a book along with sipping an ice cold brew ... Any hints as to techniques for doing this single handed will be appreciated ..."
You won't have any trouble if you first get a picture in your mind of how you want things to end up. Good anchoring technique seems to depend to an extent on a sense of plane geometry and an ability to envision how things will look after you are settled in. Sometimes this is easy and sometimes it is not. There are some folks who just "get it" right away, and some who, well ..., don't.
Some mechanics. To be able to do things well single-handed on a small sailing boat, you should give serious thought to some type of electronic autopilot. It doesn't have to be anything elaborate, but you will notice an amazing difference in your "abilities" (and sea-going reputation) once you have the autopilot in operation. For one thing, you will not appear to be drifting all over the anchorage while getting your gear set up, and so on. You can be sure that the other boats will be giving you, the newcomer, a very sharp eye. They have nothing to worry about except spilling their wine on the cockpit sole. You're the guy doing all the work, and sometimes getting past the "Anchoring Review Committee" is the hardest part. This gets so bad in some anchorages that at the end of the performance the other boats hold up number cards like the ones you see at figure skating events. A pretty nasty bunch, I would say.
Getting back to business. Once you get happy with your new autopilot, you must arrange some method of having your gear ready to run that suits your needs. This will depend on your own style and your specific gear, particularly how much chain you want to put down, style of anchor, etc. Don't rush this part. While you're sitting at home watching the Superbowl this weekend, take time to visualize how you want you gear laid out on the foredeck. Usually it ain't simple, so give it a lot of though. Personally I have my gear ready to run at a moment's notice when I am anywhere _near_ shallow water, but it took some while to get it that way.
OK, so now you are bringing the boat into a likely spot with your gear set to run. You may want to "drive" around a little to check out the terrain and sniff out some likely spots. No need to make a production about this, but sometimes a pass through the anchorage makes very good sense. On the other end of the scale, try to avoid making a polar expedition out of this part. I have seen boats drive around for over a half hour looking for just the right spot. This a good waste of cocktail time if you ask me.
Once you figure where you want to _land_, work backward using the depth, required scope, and relative positions of the other boats and obstructions, to try to determine with pretty good accuracy where you actually want to drop the anchor. This is where there is no substitute for experience. A lot of the standard sailing manuals cover this subject, but you will find with time that your own methods will be just fine. Just be sure to take your time and think back to high school geometry class. At this time in your anchoring "career" the most important thing to remember is to drop the anchor only after the boat has come to a stop, ar at least after there in no forward motion. Sometimes this takes a little more patience than it would seem, but it's quite important as you will no doubt find out with more experience.
Now all you have to do is pull up to your chosen drop spot, have the boat stopped, turn the autopilot to standby to keep the tiller from banging around, walk forward very casually (never forget that the Anchor Committee is watching your every move), and spend time carefully feeding you gear over the bow while the wind pusheds the boat astern. Once you have the required rode out, consider backing down a little with the motor, and relax. Don't forget to turn the engine off so that your are not accused of boing a noise-maker. This could cost up to 2 full points with the Anchoring Committee.
There are hundreds of variations on the basic technique, including anchorinjg under sail, picking up a mooring under sail, sailing off the anchor, etc. Sometimes the hardest thing to do is to get a good set when there is little or no wind, or where there is significant current. Don't worry or even consider any of these "show off" tricks until you are happy with the basic maneuver of getting the boat safely anchored in the simplest manner. Remember that even the "experts" mess up once in a while, usually right in front of the Yacht Club on a busy Sunday afternoon.
Once you are settled in and have uncorked whatever it is you like to uncork, you will realize that missing the third-and-long touchdown that won the game on Superbowl Sunday wasn't really such a big deal.
kerrydeare@yahoo.com
You won't have any trouble if you first get a picture in your mind of how you want things to end up. Good anchoring technique seems to depend to an extent on a sense of plane geometry and an ability to envision how things will look after you are settled in. Sometimes this is easy and sometimes it is not. There are some folks who just "get it" right away, and some who, well ..., don't.
Some mechanics. To be able to do things well single-handed on a small sailing boat, you should give serious thought to some type of electronic autopilot. It doesn't have to be anything elaborate, but you will notice an amazing difference in your "abilities" (and sea-going reputation) once you have the autopilot in operation. For one thing, you will not appear to be drifting all over the anchorage while getting your gear set up, and so on. You can be sure that the other boats will be giving you, the newcomer, a very sharp eye. They have nothing to worry about except spilling their wine on the cockpit sole. You're the guy doing all the work, and sometimes getting past the "Anchoring Review Committee" is the hardest part. This gets so bad in some anchorages that at the end of the performance the other boats hold up number cards like the ones you see at figure skating events. A pretty nasty bunch, I would say.
Getting back to business. Once you get happy with your new autopilot, you must arrange some method of having your gear ready to run that suits your needs. This will depend on your own style and your specific gear, particularly how much chain you want to put down, style of anchor, etc. Don't rush this part. While you're sitting at home watching the Superbowl this weekend, take time to visualize how you want you gear laid out on the foredeck. Usually it ain't simple, so give it a lot of though. Personally I have my gear ready to run at a moment's notice when I am anywhere _near_ shallow water, but it took some while to get it that way.
OK, so now you are bringing the boat into a likely spot with your gear set to run. You may want to "drive" around a little to check out the terrain and sniff out some likely spots. No need to make a production about this, but sometimes a pass through the anchorage makes very good sense. On the other end of the scale, try to avoid making a polar expedition out of this part. I have seen boats drive around for over a half hour looking for just the right spot. This a good waste of cocktail time if you ask me.
Once you figure where you want to _land_, work backward using the depth, required scope, and relative positions of the other boats and obstructions, to try to determine with pretty good accuracy where you actually want to drop the anchor. This is where there is no substitute for experience. A lot of the standard sailing manuals cover this subject, but you will find with time that your own methods will be just fine. Just be sure to take your time and think back to high school geometry class. At this time in your anchoring "career" the most important thing to remember is to drop the anchor only after the boat has come to a stop, ar at least after there in no forward motion. Sometimes this takes a little more patience than it would seem, but it's quite important as you will no doubt find out with more experience.
Now all you have to do is pull up to your chosen drop spot, have the boat stopped, turn the autopilot to standby to keep the tiller from banging around, walk forward very casually (never forget that the Anchor Committee is watching your every move), and spend time carefully feeding you gear over the bow while the wind pusheds the boat astern. Once you have the required rode out, consider backing down a little with the motor, and relax. Don't forget to turn the engine off so that your are not accused of boing a noise-maker. This could cost up to 2 full points with the Anchoring Committee.
There are hundreds of variations on the basic technique, including anchorinjg under sail, picking up a mooring under sail, sailing off the anchor, etc. Sometimes the hardest thing to do is to get a good set when there is little or no wind, or where there is significant current. Don't worry or even consider any of these "show off" tricks until you are happy with the basic maneuver of getting the boat safely anchored in the simplest manner. Remember that even the "experts" mess up once in a while, usually right in front of the Yacht Club on a busy Sunday afternoon.
Once you are settled in and have uncorked whatever it is you like to uncork, you will realize that missing the third-and-long touchdown that won the game on Superbowl Sunday wasn't really such a big deal.
kerrydeare@yahoo.com
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Neil Gordon
Re: Single Handed Anchor Handling
>>... you should give serious thought to some type of electronic autopilot... For one thing, you will not appear to be drifting all over the anchorage while getting your gear set up, and so on.<<
So instead the autopilot will drive the boat with reckless abandon while you're consumed with setting up gear? If you want to impress the onlookers, heave to just outside the anchorage, set up your gear, then sail or motor to your selected spot.
Regards, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167
cdory28@aol.com
So instead the autopilot will drive the boat with reckless abandon while you're consumed with setting up gear? If you want to impress the onlookers, heave to just outside the anchorage, set up your gear, then sail or motor to your selected spot.
Regards, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167
cdory28@aol.com
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Eric
Re: Single Handed Anchor Handling
Just wanted to reiterate the posts that urge you not to dislode the anchor using anything but the boat's mass/momentum. I single-hand in Allia (CD 25) all the time and have had few problems with the approach of tying off the rode as the boat coasts (slowly!) over the anchor. It slides right out.
ew
ew
Steve Alarcon wrote: A variation I saw in Canada a few years ago...
A 36-38 foot sloop came in to the anchorage, main up, running before 1-2 Kt breeze. Vessel reversed course (came into the wind), and the (singlehanded) skipper went forward, lowered the anchor and some rode as the boat drifted before the wind. Skipper then casually walked back to the main boom and backwinded it - driving the boat astern. The boat fetched up nicely, and the anchor was set!
Three days later, that same boat (and skipper) overhauled us (on our CD30) in 25-30 Kts of wind from several miles behind. We were single reefed, with only the stays'l forward. The sloop was flying everything.
The skipper of the 36-38 ft. sloop was a woman, and she was still singlehanded!
Steve Alarcon
CD36 Tenacity
Seattle
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Remote Control
Re: Single Handed Anchor Handling
I have a remote control for my Navico tiller pilot. But with my method, the boat's momentum alone (out of gear, very slow speed) is enough to keep it going straight enough while I drop the anchor, then I'm in the cockpit quick enough to hold the tiller with one hand while feeding out the rode behind me as the anchor is set. As suggested in the other posting - everything is set up before I enter the anchorage.