Remarkably Poor Anchoring Advice from the RYA

[Dockhead]

I was quite surprised to read this:

A secure anchorage? | Anchorage | Cruising | RYA

On the RYA's voluminous and usually authoritative website.

Here is how they suggest that the anchor should be set:

"Once the anchor is laid and the cable secured, momentarily engage tick-over astern to ensure good holding."




"Momentarily engage tickover"???

I wonder how many boats have ended up on the beach because of this advice? I think I'll write to them.

[DoubleWhisky]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

I was quite surprised to read this:

A secure anchorage? | Anchorage | Cruising | RYA

On the RYA's voluminous and usually authoritative website.

Here is how they suggest that the anchor should be set:

"Once the anchor is laid and the cable secured, momentarily engage tick-over astern to ensure good holding."




"Momentarily engage tickover"???

I wonder how many boats have ended up on the beach because of this advice? I think I'll write to them.

Dockhead, what is so strange to You?

Brits are commonly using CQR's and Deltas, so anything more than "momentarily engaged tickover" can break out their anchors

[DoubleWhisky]

By the way, I decided to start Med mooring thread after reading the article in Yachting Monthly, regarding this. I do not remeber the title, but the proper title shoul read "How to assure You will hit the wall after the first gust in the harbour"

[IdoraKeeper]

Dockhead, the advice seems right inline with what Boatman has to say about his technique. I use a CQR and he prefers a Bruce. Perhaps there is something to the yanking out business.

[maxingout]

On my seventy pound buegle anchor, I put two engines in full power reverse, and if it holds under those conditions, I sleep tight.

[MarkJ]

'Momentarily engage tickover' is damn advanced for Royal Navy sailing ship days so they probably think they are well advanced.

I hit about 2/3rds full revs. When my baby goes in she goes IN!

[Matt Johnson]

That is still much more than I typically see done while anchoring. Most drop anchor while still moving forward, turn off engine and jump in dinghy for shore.

Matt

[NornaBiron]

I think that's been translated into several different languages and distributed all around Greece, everyone who's come into the bay this morning has anchored just like the RYA recommends!

[Hydra]

At the bottom of the page on RYA website, there is a link for contacting them. Maybe a real anchoring expert on CruisersForum should contact the RYA and suggest a change in this page.

Alain

[GregoryK]

One might think that prior to the advent of steam powered ships they never could properly set an anchor.

I do wonder what they used all those admiralty pattern anchors for before they could back down on it.

[btrayfors]

I use the "300-300-3000" technique:

1. drop 300 pound anchor in not more than 10' of water;

2. run out 300 feet of chain; and

3. throw engine in reverse and rev her up to 3,000 RPM.

This gives me about 6 knots in reverse and 300 feet to go before the chain tries to tear off my bow.

If the cleats hold OK, I can then sleep well for the night!

Jeez.......will we ever get this anchoring thing right?

Bill

[Randyonr3]

Originally Posted by btrayfors

I use the "300-300-3000" technique:

1. drop 300 pound anchor in not more than 10' of water;

2. run out 300 feet of chain; and

3. throw engine in reverse and rev her up to 3,000 RPM.

This gives me about 6 knots in reverse and 300 feet to go before the chain tries to tear off my bow.

If the cleats hold OK, I can then sleep well for the night!

Jeez.......will we ever get this anchoring thing right?

Bill

DO WHAT? - I hope to hell, you're kidding..

[btrayfors]

Yeah, sorry.

Just had another of these "if I ever see another anchoring thread I'm gonna scream" attacks :-)

Bill

[OldFrog75]

I had to google "tick-over". That done, I've never heard of setting an anchor with the engine only idling.

[Orion Jim]

The RYA published this hoping the Yanks would fail to see the humor in the advice and actually use it. Gotta love the dry British sense of humor.