Now that the resident catamaran crazy, Jeff, has returned from his so-called
voyage perhaps it would be an opportune time to make an observation or two
about something I have seen all catamaran people do in the past couple of
years.

I call it the bridle two-step. I'm sure you have watched the show yourself
if you cruise. Here comes a catamaran into the anchorage. Of course, they've
simply GOT to get upwind of everybody and into the skinniest water possible.
With much ado and clanking and clattering of chain they let go the bower.
This might or might not involve a crew member on the foredeck undogging the
chain stop pawl. At any rate the anchor drops, the chain runs out, never
mind that the boat is still making headway, so the chain runs out toward the
stern of the boat then as the boat stops it piles up on top of itself right
under the bow roller in a heap. Then as the boat begins to make sternway the
pile of chain unravels itself and slows the boat to a stop without ever
having the anchor itself backed down upon.

If this isn't bad enough we must then witness the bridle two-step. This is
where a crew person leans over the bow roller and attaches a chain hook from
a farm or logging supply store to the chain. This chain hook is generally
eye-spliced to two nylon lines the bitter ends of which are made fast to the
bows of the hulls. Then with some shouting and more clatter extra chain is
let out until a strain is placed upon the nylon lines.

The purpose of all this is supposed to be to keep the catamaran from sailing
around so much on the anchor. But, it is a wasted effort because all one
must do is look at the physics of the situation. With the bridle one can
envision a 'Y" with the chain hook at the junction of the arms. This chain
hook allows the chain to pivot the same amount as would be the case if the
chain were simply snubbed off at the centrally located bow roller. So the
use of the bridle turns out to be just another monkey see, monkey do affair.

The other reason a bridle is used is it's supposed to keep the snatching
effect of an all chain rode from adversely wearing the bow roller or
bothering a sleeping crew with abrupt motion. But, whatever happened the
concept of cantenary? The bight of the cantenary is what's supposed to
cushion the snatching effect. But, the problem is catamaran operators
usually anchor in water that is dangerously shallow and they usually pay out
only about a boat length of chain at the most. So, of course it snatches.
This should indicate to them that they need more rode, more cantenary and
more depth in which to anchor. But, noooo. They'd rather do the bridle
two-step.
They just HAVE to anchor in too shallow water because it is one of the main
reasons they got the stupid thing in the first place - to go in shallow
water and to anchor in shallow water. But, it turns out anchoring in shallow
water has no advantages. Duh!

But, you can't teach a dufus anything.

Wilbur Hubbard