Smart Anchoring Tips Part 1

In anchoring tips part 1 we cover choosing the right spot to anchor.

Let's face it. Most of us who cruise around Pittwater tend to pick up a mooring buoy when we stop for lunch or overnight. It's easy and convenient there are usually plenty of moorings to go round.

But what if there are no moorings free in your favourite sunset spot? Are you confident you can anchor for the night instead?

And what if your engine fails and you find yourself drifting towards a lee shore?

Could you anchor quickly and confidently while you wait for help to arrive?

At SmartBoating your safety during your yacht charter is our top priority. And we think it's vital that every skipper can anchor with confidence.

To make life easy for you all our yachts have a bow (usually plough) anchor with electric windlass winch. Our anchors are designed to hold well in the mud or sand typical of our Pittwater bays. All our anchors are the correct size for the boat and the chains are marked for you.

The first thing to get right is to choose a good spot to anchor. Here's some things to think about...

Consider the sea bed. Sand is ideal and firm mud is OK. Obviously you need to avoid rocks. If you haven't anchored in a bay before... check the chart to see what's at the bottom.

While you're checking the chart look for cables and no anchoring zones. You need to be sure you are anchoring in a suitable spot.

Next have a think about the weather. If you are anchoring overnight you'll need to check to see what the wind is going to do. If the wind is due to change direction overnight you don't want to wake up and find yourself on a lee shore.

Have a think about the tide. We get a bit spoiled in Pittwater. The bays are very sheltered and there are relatively small tide variations. But if you plan to charter a yacht in the Whitsundays you'll need to consider the tide carefully.

You must have enough water under you for when the tide drops. So if it's high tide and there's a 2m tide variation you would want at least 4m under the keel. As a guide in Pittwater try to anchor between 4m and 10m.

Finally in anchoring tips 1, look at the other boats around you. Which way are they facing? Where is their chain likely to be?

In general try to anchor near similar boats to your own boat - they are likely to have similar chain length out and they will be affected in the same way by the tide and wind. Avoid anchoring near moored boats - they have a much shorter swing.

Here's Anchoring Tips 2 Setting Your Anchor

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