Anchoring

I should have asked Frank Taylor our Anchor Nazi to write this ( the Jervis Bay Division)

We have had some anchor scares and issues over the years so, I thought I would just go over what we do on Kai Rani

We have hand signals ( hopefully the person anchoring is looking back) Closed fist , stop. Thumb down , drop more. Thumb up, to retrieve

I always use Navionics with sonar setting to get a depth indication for the anchoring area I have chosen.

I come in slowly and check the area out for swing room and depth and type of boats near my suggested drop site.

Once you have chosen your “drop Zone” make sure boat is stopped . This where you set your Anchor alarm. Proceed to drop anchor and slowly drift / motor back as you pay out more anchor chain

The suggested ratio is 5:1 or greater if your exposed or storm coming (5 metre water depth plus freeboard for Kai Rani 1.2m,  so put out 32 metres) and when you are sure it has bitten, put a snubber on to take all the strain from the windlass.

Before I put the snubber on I reverse back with a little more throttle to be sure the anchor has bitten and you have a good angle on the chain showing its tight and taught.

Anchor is not always achieved first time so you might have ground problems ( seafloor) or swing issues or just not setting correctly, so be prepared to do it again until it has set.

I always leave motor running for some time in reverse to make sure I’m not going to drag and this also allows you to see what your swing will be and take note of boats round you as well as land marks otherwise you won’t sleep.

Check you anchor before you go to bed, have a torch in the cockpit ready if you have to come up during the night.

Don’t forget to put your anchor light on and maybe a “Lucy Light“ at the stern. When in Queensland you should have an “Anchor Ball“ as daytime option. 

Chain is important choice also a swivel attached to the anchor, to stop the chain twisting and potentially contributing to a “breakout”.

If the wind picks up you might have to let some more chain out.

The Skipper might have to start the motor and put it into gear and steer to take the load off the anchor. We did this in a 45knt storm cell at Bribie Island. The anchor was very hard to pull out the next day.

A wise sailor once told me whatever anchor size that fits your vessel, go up one size.

Jeremy Clarke

SV Kai Rani