Anchoring Under Sail

As Taken from ISPA Coastal Skipper Advanced Sail

Published: Thursday, March 15, 2012 7:00 am
By: ISPA (International Sail and Power Academy)

Basic anchoring procedures are covered in the Competent Crew and Day Skipper Sail classes.
First of all, pick your spot, keeping in mind all anchoring necessities, coverage, security, fetch, and availability of wind to get you out of the anchorage.

Use your charts first to assist to designate your anchorage location. You must calculate the amount of rode required from the bow to the seabed, and the total amount of rode necessary for anchoring, then sail around the spot you intend to anchor. Double check with your sounder for depth and also for characteristics of the seabed.
Sail on a closed reach, and use the “Spill” and “Fill” techniques (described in more detail in class) to reach your anchoring spot.

Drop the foresail. Make sure the anchor is ready with the correct amount of rode.

Stall the boat by heading up into the wind. As soon as the boat stops, lower the calculated amount of rode required from the bow to the seabed.

As the wind and the current drive the boat backwards (assist by back-winding the mainsail if necessary), layout the rest of the rode (you should feel the anchor bite, then allow the rode to slowly “ease” out of your hand).
Tie the rode off to a cleat, before you meet the end of the measured amount.

The boat's momentum should set the anchor. You can check the set by sailing the boat back and forth on the end of the anchor — or by dropping the mainsail, picking up the rode at the bow, walking it back until you are standing right above the keel (rode running off a beam), and pulling. If you are doing this correctly, you can both set the anchor and/or check the set.

Picking Up the Anchor Under Sail
Prepare the boat for sailing. Pull in the anchor rode until the boat is sitting above the anchor. Raise the mainsail sails. Make a final check, then raise the anchor.

Tip: If the anchor is stuck, raise the jib and sail the boat to pull the anchor out. Each time you tack, the anchor will loosen up as it is on a really short rode. Raise the jib. Harden the sheets and sail off.

Full anchoring techniques are covered in our Basic Competent Crew workbook. Advanced techniques are covered in Coastal Skipper, including the Med Moor, double anchors and Bahamian anchoring.

See our website at www.ispa.com for more information.

About ISPA

ISPA has an Internationally recognized sail and power boat training program with Instructors and schools worldwide. New Instructors and schools always welcome. The ISPA syllabus has since 1994 provided a range of International Certificate of Competency certificates from Competent Crew up to and including Yachtmaster Offshore, and Instructor courses from Day Skipper Instructors up to and including Instructor Evaluator Ocean.