Photos of Anchors Setting

[hoppy]

Originally Posted by NornaBiron

We know this anchorage very well, having spents lots of nights there. The anchor never digs in but the shelter from the north is excellent so, with enough chain out and the anchor alarm set, we've always slept well here.

We normally manage to get half a shovelful of sand on top of the anchor after dragging it back for a while.

I wish I knew about that place last year. I made the mistake of trying to stay the night in the bay by Pedrikas on Aigina. I was expecting light winds from the NW which was perfectly fine during the day when swimming and even in the evening it was ok, but obviously to the NW of me there was much stronger winds throwing a 1m swell into my bay. I up anchored at 1am and ran back to the bay near Poros where I was the night before. Metopi would have been a better stepping off point for Corinth. There were two other yachts when I left.

I was happy that my Rocna was holding me during the rollercoaster ride

[noelex 77]

The wind at this anchorage was switching around, as seems common in this area.

One danger with swirling winds like this is that the chain can get caught around the anchor. The risk is greater if you don't set the anchor well (either because you don't apply much setting force, or as in this case because of a difficult substrate).

This is one area where the Rocna and Manson Supreme have a quite different design to the Mantus. Both the Rocna and the Manson Supreme have skids that project below the fluke. The main purpose of the skids is to force the anchor to adopt the correct setting position, but they also help reduce the chance of the chain from getting under the fluke, providing the back of the fluke is almost buried. On the other hand perhaps these skids are also more likely to trap the chain and prevent it pulling free? It is difficult to know, as the chain wrapping around the fluke is not common.

The wings of the Mantus force the anchor into more aggressive setting position, which I think is one of the major factors leading to its excellent performance, but they sit slighter higher above the substrate, so if the wind swings around and the anchor is not deeply set, they are an easier target for chain to get caught under the fluke, especially as the anchor is wider than other models. I think the Mantus is a little more prone to this problem than other roll bar anchors.

Just as we were about to leave this island due to the forecast, the wind swung around 270° to an onshore breeze and this is what occurred:






This is an old photo but it shows the skids on a Rocna. The Manson Supreme is very similar. When the anchor has a high list like this Rocna, the skids do little good in deflecting the chain. However, if the fluke is almost buried the skids together with the rollbar help steer the chain over the top of the anchor.




Interestingly, Ultra have obviously tried to address the issue of chain catching on the anchor. They have fitted a "non foul chain bar" . This is a sort of mini roll bar. Its sole purpose seems to be to deflect the chain over the shank rather than to serve any purpose in helping the anchor adopt the correct setting position like a normal roll bar. However, the bar does not help reduce the chance of the chain going under the fluke, although the Ultra also has some small setting skids.

[noelex 77]

Modern GPS units give a wealth of information about what is going on with your anchor. When anchoring, I don't think cruisers utilise this information as well as they could do.

Here are some images showing a normal trace and the type of trace you might get if the chain is caught around the anchor or the more common situation where the chain is tangled around a rock or some debris.
Note: the black track is genuine the other colours are my drawings. Also note that in light wind you commonly get these traces when the chain is just caught on small lump of weed etc. It is only of concern if the wind is strong enough that it should have stretched out the chain.

You can use the GPS, not just as an anchor alarm, but to reveal these sort problems. It is also helpful to keep track of where your anchor is located relative to your boat.

[hoppy]

I keep my GPS zoomed right in if I have any reason to be concerned if I was to drag.

This is the past 24 hrs with winds up to 30 knots






Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[noelex 77]

Probably our worst anchorage ever in Greece .

No, it's not the set,the substrate or the protection, but the jet skis, the loud music from the beach tavernas, the traffic. Yuk. We broke our normal tradition of trying to avoid anchorages listed in the pilot book. This one did rate a mention, although it did not sound inspiring:

"The holding in both of these coves has been reported suspect in places. The bottom is hard sand and rock, good holding once the anchor is in though this can prove difficult."

Normally we ignore these sort of annotations. There are so many reports of anchorages that have poor holding that are inaccurate. I suspect the author of the local pilot book/cruising guide had a CQR .

Anchorages listed with notations like "poor holding" or "not suitable for overnight" are music to our ears. With a modern oversized anchor these locations are still normally very safe and the notes put other boats off. Many people are not prepared to stay overnight in anchorages like this.

However, the experience in the last anchorage suggests that this is an area that has rock substrates in some places and this can defeat even the best anchors.

7m @ 6:1. The Mantus has set reasonably: very rapidly as usual, but with more list than normal and the fluke while OK was not as well buried as it normally is. Was there some rock under the nice looking sand? Frankly I have no idea. The constant buzz of jet skis and RIBs rather put us off diving any more than absolutely necessary. Besides, there was an intriguing "clump of weed" attached to anchor float that grabbed our attention. Any ideas what this is?

[sanibel sailor]

Mr Octo

[noelex 77]

Originally Posted by sanibel sailor

Mr Octo

Bingo

[noelex 77]

Octopi are true anchorhollics .

I think this one has fallen in love with our underwater anchor float. Where is that tentacle going

[JPA Cate]

WOW!!!

Great octopus pics! Congratulations! I just interrupted Jim to make him look.

Thanks so much,

Ann

[sanibel sailor]

a new genre - octoporn!

[Tayana42]

My wife and granddaughter both enjoyed the photos even though they usually show an interest in anchor threads.😉


S/V B'Shert

[noelex 77]

This Kobra was dropped by a private cat. 3m @ 5:1.

They stayed the night, but strangely moved location just before dark. Perhaps they too dived on the anchor and were unhappy with the result? The came in under sail and put very little force on the anchor with the boat. However, a reasonable wind sprung up just after they anchored and this would have provided a moderate setting force.

The wind was gradually changing direction. The effects of this can be seen with the curved setting mark.

The anchor was a fair distance from us and the substrate is quite different to where our Mantus is located. It was a gravelly/pebble bottom quite different from the usual sand, but the Kobra has set in the typical manner I have photographed so often with other convex plow anchors. Most of the back of the fluke is exposed and much of the burial is simply heaping up of the substrate.

The Kobra might have set better if the wind was stronger or if the direction had been more constant (anchors like to set in a straight line). It was also an atypical substrate.








This game fish had decided the Kobra fluke was a good home. He was not leaving for anyone despite the camera getting very close.

[Don C L]

A gentleman came in to the anchorage the other day where I was.. very experienced guy with a nice big Catalina... singlehanding, and he put down Deltas bow and stern. The water was clear and I paddled over to see how they were. The bow was set better than your first shot in previous post, seemed to be fine... not totally covered but seemed to be digging in... but it was shallow and there were no swells or wind to speak of. I didn't feel it neighborly to ask him if he had really had them out in more trying conditions... or to ask if he has seen this thread!

[noelex 77]

Originally Posted by Don C L

or to ask if he has seen this thread!

Skippers assume that if their anchor is holding the boat in moderate winds it must be doing a good job.

In truth, it takes very little grip for the anchor to hold the boat in say 20-25 knots of wind. Many people are surprised to see how poorly their anchor is performing especially in comparison with some of the better models.

It is a pity that in many locations it is not practical for people to see their anchors first hand. Hopefully this thread gives cruisers some idea what it happening on the seabed.

[noelex 77]

We took a look at the anchor the next day. Sadly the octopus having enjoyed his 15 minutes of fame had moved on. So here are some better photos of the set. Not the best bury by Mantus standards, but I don't think it is the greatest substrate: