On Sat, 17 Feb 2007 15:32:18 -0500, Harlan Lachman
wrote:

I have been intrigued by the discussion of anchoring -- especially the
thought of rigging an anchor so one can drop it off the bow from the
cockpit. Thinking about spin pole, cleats, hatches, etc., I wonder if
anyone has figured out the best ways to accomplish this maneuver with
the least risk. And how early in the game did they rig their anchor set
up.

harlan

First and foremost, as Roger Long said:
Slow down, plan ahead, be able to anticipate how your vessel will act,
and
you'll be surprised how easy everything is.

That's good and accurate advice in any and all cases, even with a
"crew" on board.

Single-handed a lot, including 'Final Step', a high windage Coronado
35. No windlass. To answer Harlan's question, a lot of times I ran the
rode, from the bowsprit roller mounted anchor, back and over the
main's winch on the mast to one of the cockpit winches. Now the
Coronado is a flush-deck center cockpit, so the rode wasn't touching
anything except the two winches. Mostly this was for raising - just
winch it up all the way.

To drop it was mostly get set up, turn into the wind, engage autopilot
(if not already), release main, mizzen and jib sheets if under sail or
throttle back and neutral if under power at the proper time (Roger's
anticipate your vessel), calmly walk forward and drop at the proper
time. Use the wait to lower jib, etc., keeping an eye on things.

Now, if conditions are a bit rough. If under sail drop main at some
convenient point before anchorage and enter under jib and mizzen. Drop
jib while "coasting" to anchor spot (not always possible). Drop mizzen
after it's all done. Or... Crank up the engine and drop all sails at
convenient point before anchorage if really, really rough and or
really, really crowded.

How early in the game to get set up? Before you get in tight quarters
at the latest. Set up as much as possible at all times. Just like have
your bow and stern lines run back and coiled at the cockpit _before_
you hit the first channel bouy if going in to a dock. That way you can
pull up to the dock, grab both lines and step onto the dock. No
running about, watching the stern swing out, etc.

Rick