"Shaun Van Poecke" wrote in message
...
My anchoring technique when sailing solo has always been pretty laughable.
At least for observers anyway. For some reason, it never occured to me
that i could anchor from any place on the boat other than the bow.
anchoring in isolated places usually went ok; a quick sprint to the bow
with the motor still running in neutral, drip anchor and drift back until
i had enough scope, then tie off.

Anchoring in crowded areas, particularly if it was a bit choppy or there
was a strong wind could really be an experience though.... the usual
scenario sees me dashing back and forth as i drift too far too fast to get
the anchor placed exactly where i want it, tripping over loose lines all
the while.

recently i read a post where someone described how he kept his anchor in
the cockpit, with the chain stored in a bucket. he would then deploy the
anchor from the cockpit, see that it was set well, then walk the rode up
to the bow and tie off there. While it could really only work with small
boats and small anchors too, this idea seemed simple and brilliant to me.
Am i the only idiot who never thought of it?

Shaun


You can do even one better by running a doubly long line from the bow to the
cockpit (that's twice the length of the cockpit to the bow), set the anchor
from the cockpit as described then tie the rode off to the line at its half
length point, let it go, and keep the end in the cockpit. To pull in the
rode, simply pull in the line until the rode enters the cockpit and pull up
the anchor. You are always tied off at the bow and yet never have to go up
there. Make sure your line runs outside the shrouds, lifelines etc.

Works for me.

Ben Allez

s/v Chauncey's Gig
Morgan Out Island 41