Anchoring Without Angst

2016, Rev. 7-28-2024

Not "is it going to hold?" That would supply fodder for an entire blog. There are published test results, but on what bottom, what rode, set how, through what conditions, with what boat?

Rather, I'm talking about inter-family angst. Sailing should be peaceful.

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Anchoring is straight forward for the solo sailor, when it's not crowded or blowing hard; stop, drop the hook, let the boat drift back with the wind, and power set when you get to it. If it is complicated, the solo sailor anchors further away. Planning, including alternatives, is the key. Generally very peaceful and always quiet.

The yelling and screaming, on the other hand, requires crew and poor communication. Something goes wrong and there's blame to be shifted. In extreme cases, marriages are strained, but it's silly to stew over a moment's frustration, but that's the way it is.

My family's moved past this; even when the bottom is uncooperative or the space is tight, we keep it quiet.

• We have a plan. While on the approach, we talk about where we are going to put the boat, the approach, and who's doing what. It's not so complicated that we have "surprises."
  
• Signals. Over the wind and engines little can be heard without yelling, and yelling always sounds like anger or panic, even when it is neither. Better to signal, since the messages are simple.

 We have since changed signals, just a little (different boat), but these worked for years. In standard OSHA crane operator speak, rotating a finger vertically or downwards means to use the winch on the crane, and could be mistaken for the windlass on a boat, but since the bowman always operated the windlass and the helmsman could hear it run, that never caused confusion for us.  [There was a windlass switch at the helm as well as the bow, but I only used it when singlehanding, so no hand signals!]

When first backing down, as the rode is laid out, I usually give a simple verbal instruction; astern at idle for 2-3 seconds only. Just enough to get the boat coasting backwards. After that I will use hand signals to direct power setting, if it is to be dune immediately; often in soft mud I will wait a few minutes to an hour before pulling hard.

Adapted from standard rigging signals, these are easier to see than the more popular hand-waving signals, which are often ambiguous if the signaler is turned, swaying, stooped over, and fooling with the anchor windlass. Our windlass controls are up front, so there is no need for raise or lower signals (our ahead and astern signals are used for hoist up and down when used with a crane). Often 2 signals are combined (ahead slow and port, neutral and port, astern and starboard, etc.).

 What's your plan? What's critical is to have a pre-anchoring discussion, and to have signals that are agreed and unambiguous.

PS. It's worth telling all aboard that a loud voice does not equate to anger or panic, only a need to be heard over the wind and engine.