|
You need to anchor your boat for two main reasons. It may be because you need to stop for lunch, catch fish, swim or stay for night. Anchoring is also required to avoid being grounded by a big storm or in case of engine failure. In order to sleep soundly at night you need to make sure that your boat is properly anchored. And when you leave at the marina with everyone ashore, proper anchoring techniques will ensure that the boat will still be where you left it. But many boaters don't enjoy anchoring for a number of reasons. Some are scared that their anchors would start to drag. Others are afraid of the darkness surrounding a vast ocean at night. Other boaters just do not have appropriate ground tackle which consists of all the tools and equipment used for proper anchoring such as the anchor, anchor chain, cables, anchor windlass and other connecting devices. Simply put, the biggest factor boaters miss this great opportunity to enjoy nature in this way is the lack of proper know-how in anchoring. If you have the right equipment and if you follow these useful tips, anchoring can be really simple. 1. Pick your anchorage in advance. You can do this using an updated chart. Pay close attention to the weather condition, wind direction and speed, tidal or other currents. You should be aware of the possibility of a shift in wind speed and direction. Otherwise, your boat is likely to be pulled in another direction at night due to a reversed wind or tidal current, causing the anchor to be pulled out. For this reason, the ideal anchorage location should be protected from strong winds and waves. It should not be against the lee shore or the side of the vessel where the wind blows towards it. Choose an ideal holding ground which is either mud or sand. Avoid rocky, grass or heavy seaweed anchorages. 2. Make sure that you are equipped with the right type of anchor. There are basically three common types of anchor. First, the deep penetrating, light and pivoting flukes such as the Fortress or the Danforth which are known to have the best holding power among other styles of anchors. Then, there are the plow-type anchors which have excellent structural strength and sets more easily because of the increased weight. Finally - the specialty anchors designed for various bottom types. Make sure that you check your entire anchor system frequently for loose shackles, chafe and bent flukes. 3. Slowly approach your anchorage spot into the wind. You may need to anchor under power. Doing so will give you more control should there be a need for any last-minute maneuver. Remember to closely monitor your depthfinder or the chartplotter to make sure that you are where you should be. As you approach the right spot go slow to enable the vessel to stop smoothly to coast. If you do this in a hurry and you use the engine in reverse just to stop, the boat is likely to pivot or turn causing the boat not to pull directly back on your anchor. Make sure that you're not too close to other boats. Now that you know how to properly anchor your boat, its time to enjoy sailing! If you're after more information about sailing in the Whitsundays, visit the Cumberland Charter Yachts website by clicking on given the hyperlinks. When you do, be certain to discover more about Whitsunday private yacht charter. http://www.ccy.com.au/
Related Articles -
sailing in the Whitsundays, whitsunday private yacht charter,
|
