harlanl wrote:
I wonder if
anyone has figured out the best ways to accomplish this maneuver with
the least risk.

Depends on the boat. Power, sail, small, large, in between. There's a
different "best" way for every boat but there's always a way.

And how early in the game did they rig their anchor set
up.

Pretty early. I guess when I first started single handing as a kid 40
years ago. But the idea was around a long time before me.

Rick