How to ANCHOR – Sailing School Spain

More on Ground Tackle here

1. Discuss with your crew which procedures you plan to use, and who is going to do what.

2. Decide on which hand signals you will use to communicate with your crew. (No, not that hand signal!)

3. Get the anchor out on deck and lay out the anchor line. Make sure that it’s not snarled and is ready for deployment.

4. Make sure the line is securely attached to the anchor.

5. Approach the spot where you are going to anchor with your bow going up into the wind.

6. Stop the boat over your selected spot and lower the anchor straight down to the bottom.

7. Back off slowly down wind, deploying about 1/2 the needed scope.

8. Stop the boat. Snub off the line on a cleat and back off slowly. The boat should come to a stop as the anchor bites in and sets. Let out the rest of the line and secure it.

9. Find a prominent landmark on shore and make sure the angle between it and you does not change. By doing this, you’ll help make sure that the anchor is holding.

10. When you are ready to leave, start your engine and slowly approach your anchor, following the hand signals of the crew retrieving the line.

11. When the anchor line is straight up and down, the anchor should come free from the bottom. Get the anchor aboard, being careful not to let it bang against the boat.

12. If the anchor is stuck, try moving everybody as far forward as possible, and then snub off the anchor line. Then have everybody move to the stern. This should pop the anchor out of the bottom.

13. Make sure the anchor and the line are clean before you put them away.

Tips:
Never throw an anchor. Not only is it dangerous, it makes the “thrower” look like a jerk.
Watch those fingers when deploying the anchor line or snubbing it off on a cleat! A boat exerts a lot of force.
Make sure nobody’s feet or legs are caught in or on the anchor line as it’s being deployed.
Check the condition of your ground tackle often. Rocks or shells on the bottom can easily damage and weaken your equipment.
If possible, your boat should carry a second anchor that you can use to keep your boat from swinging too far.