Anchoring
Introduction to proper anchoring: why is it important?
Many boaters think that anchoring is just about throwing a piece of iron overboard and hoping the boat wakes up in the same place in the morning. Wrong! Proper anchoring is a fundamental skill that determines not only comfort and restful sleep, but also the safety of the entire crew. Who would want to find out in the middle of the night that the boat has decided to set off on a solo voyage towards a rocky coastline? Certainly not me.
Types of anchors and their use
An anchor isn't just a piece of iron, it's your insurance against adventures of the unwanted kind. Some of the most well-known types of anchors include:
- Fisherman (Admiralty anchor) - a beautiful classic, but a bit impractical for modern sailing
- CQR (plough anchor) - reliable and a favourite among experienced sea bass.
- Delta - ideal compromise between price and performance, popular especially in Croatia.
- Bruce - holds well in mud and sand, but occasionally fails in rocky bottoms.
- Danforth - light and easy to store, great as a backup anchor.
- Mushroom - more of a specialty for smaller boats or buoys
On charter boats, the main anchor is most often a Delta or Bruce, weighing around 10-30 kg. And believe me, this weight is quite enough to exercise your muscles.
How to choose the right place for anchoring
Not every bay is suitable for you to spend the night. So what to look for when choosing a place?
- Depth - Ideally 3-10 metres. In deeper places you need a longer chain than your boat has available. Anchoring in 30 metres of water with a 50 metre chain? That's like going to the Giant Mountains in the summer in flip flops - it's doable, but not sensible.
- Bottom substrate - Sand with clay or mud are best. Rock or thick grass is like an ice surface for an amateur skater: it slides and doesn't stick.
- Bay width - Expect the boat to turn at anchor. Narrow bays are beautiful for postcards, but when the wind pushes you to shore? It's not so romantic anymore.
- Wind direction - Wind blowing out of the bay = awesome. Wind blowing into the bay? Better get out of here fast.
And remember - always have a plan B! Not every place will welcome you with open arms.
Latest from Blog
Unforgettable Bora Bora cruise: cabin charter
Imagine you open your eyes in the morning and an endless turquoise lagoon spreads out around you. The sun gently caresses your face and the only sound you hear is the sound of the waves and the distant laughter of dolphins. No, this isn't a scene from a romantic movie - this is reality aboard a cabin charter around Bora Bora!
Yachting in the Baltic Sea
When I first announced to my friends that I was going sailing in the Baltic, they looked at me as if I had just said I was planning a holiday in a Siberian gulag. "The Baltic? But it's always cold there, it's windy and the sea is colder than relations between neighbours!" Yeah, classic. We're all fixated that a proper cruise has to be somewhere in the Caribbean or at least the Adriatic. But you know what? The Baltic has something going for it - and I'll tell you why.
Paddleboard, partner on the boat
When you say "yacht holiday", you usually think of sunshine, wind in your hair, bobbing on the waves and maybe the occasional sailor story. But what if I told you that there's one more little thing that can turn a boring lazy day of sipping drinks into an action-packed ride? Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce the paddleboard - the best boat mate ever!
