Photos of Anchors Setting

[cwyckham]

Originally Posted by noelex 77

... One mistake I see people making in these sort of anchorages is boats cruising around looking for a relatively shallow spot to drop their anchor. They seek out the spot that is 5m deep not 8m. Often they do not consider that they are also inadvertently selecting the areas built on rock.

In this anchorage I suspect a lot of the sand patch areas have rock not far underneath hence the unusual anchor performances I am seeing. Nevertheless, if there is enough sand on top of the rock you can get a reasonable grip. The deeper spots are actually the preferred drop point.

Also, if you set in a small valley, your anchor will always be pulling uphill, giving it better "virtual scope." You get the opposite effect on the peak of a hill.

This can be a huge effect.

[monte]

Kobra 25kg with a nice fast set at 5:1 in 5m at st George's grenada. Could use more digging in. In the harder substrates like this (coral/sand) engine reverse isn't enough sometimes. It starts to dig but the force required to bury it isn't enough from engines alone. Even though it's not as pretty as a fully dug in anchor I'm confident any additional force from the wind will only bury it further. Unfortunately our windlass doesn't have a quick release mechanism to allow us to let the anchor free fall to break the crust. In cases like this it might help.

[noelex 77]

This was a Rocna dropped by a private cruising boat in 10m @ 4:1. Their first drop failed to set. This is very unusual for the Rocna. Both my Rocna and Mantus have had a very high record of holding on the first drop.

The Rocna has done well in this atypical anchorage, although it has set with more of list than is normal for this anchor.

It has set quickly in only a few feet as usual, but if you look closely at the mark in the sand you can see the anchor has dug in, then become a bit shallower before digging in again. Once again this very unsual for the Rocna which nearly always shows a nice progressive burial as it sets.

The most likely explanation is that the anchor has encounted an isolated rock under sand, and given a partial skip before digging in properly. Signs like this are subtle, although they are easier to see in real life than in the photo, but they do provide a clue that all is not well with the substrate.

[noelex 77]

Originally Posted by cwyckham

Also, if you set in a small valley, your anchor will always be pulling uphill, giving it better "virtual scope." You get the opposite effect on the peak of a hill.

[Sun and Moon]

Noelex,
If I've been following correctly you've been in this difficult anchorage for quite some time now. Has your Mantus dug in any better over time?
THX

[ImaginaryNumber]

Originally Posted by noelex 77

...Once again this very unsual for the Rocna which nearly always shows a nice progressive burial as it sets.

The most likely explanation is that the anchor has encounted an isolated rock under sand, and given a partial skip before digging in properly...

Noelex, have you considered carrying a thin rod with you when you dive to photograph anchors? With it you might be able to probe the substrate in suspect areas and determine if there was in fact a rock close to the surface. Since I understand you dive with weights, the weight of the probe could be balanced by reduced dive weights, so as not to change your buoyancy.

[JPA Cate]

Originally Posted by ImaginaryNumber

Noelex, have you considered carrying a thin rod with you when you dive to photograph anchors? With it you might be able to probe the substrate in suspect areas and determine if there was in fact a rock close to the surface. Since I understand you dive with weights, the weight of the probe could be balanced by reduced dive weights, so as not to change your buoyancy.

Yeah, paint it black or navy blue, with white marks every 25 cm or so, eh?

Cheers, guys.

Ann

[noelex 77]

Originally Posted by Sun and Moon

Has your Mantus dug in any better over time?

Hi Sun and Moon

The Mantus has dug in a little more and levelled out, but the difference is only slight. If there is any chance of change, I always take a look at our anchor at least from the surface, but there is no point taking lots of photos of the Mantus looking the same.

I will show a photo shortly of the final result.

There have been so many anchors at this anchorage that I am a bit behind. We actually left the anchorage a few days ago, but there are still a few anchors to show.

[noelex 77]

Originally Posted by ImaginaryNumber

Noelex, have you considered carrying a thin rod with you when you dive to photograph anchors?

I previously poked and prodded the substrate with a lot more care. You can tell a lot by just trying to push a dive knife or even your hand into the bottom. With more unusual substrates I have used a stainless steel ruler.

However, since I started taking the photos I have stopped commonly doing a detailed analysis. It a cumbersome diving with the camera and a ruler. To get a feeling for the bottom the ruler needs to pushed in at a few spots and it takes a few dives each time to push the ruler in as far as it will go.

Here are some photos I look almost 12 months ago. This is very time consuming and I haven't done this for a while. This was me pushing in the ruler:



This was a photo of my Mermaid pulling out the ruler. I did not frame it very well and missed her hand and the ruler, but it is nice photo anyway:

[hoppy]

Originally Posted by noelex 77

This was a photo of my Mermaid pulling out the ruler. I did not frame it very well and missed her hand and the ruler, but it is nice photo anyway:

Is your mermaid diving in underwear or a swimsuit?



Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[kas_1611]

Hoppy, does it matter? A bikini is only a bra and pants for the beach

[goat]

A 'Victoria's Secret' weight belt?


goat

[Tayana42]

Thanks Noelex. Nice photos. Nice mermaid.


S/V B'Shert

[hoppy]

Originally Posted by kas_1611

Hoppy, does it matter? A bikini is only a bra and pants for the beach

Incorrectly purposed does make it interesting

[noelex 77]

Originally Posted by hoppy

Is your mermaid diving in underwear or a swimsuit?

Mermaids are normally au naturel. I have enough trouble getting her to wear anything when swimming .