[paulk]

Because boats get narrow at the bow, there isn''t much area to hold up weight that is put there. This means that a crew member standing midships may make the boat sink in a half inch, but one at the bow could cause the boottop to be buried several inches underwater. Bows usually flare out rapidly in order to increase bouyancy as a wave approaches so the boat goes over,instead of through it. Putting weight on the bow pushes the bow down so a wider part of the boat has to push more water aside further for the boat to progress. This slows the boat down more than if a thinner part of the boat was cutting the water. There are also issues with keeping weight centered for speed. Spreading weight out may make for a smoother, more seakindly, ride (which may be desireable in certain circumstances, and which is actually designed in to some boats) but it sets up a rythmic pitching movement in the hull that a/causes the bow to dig in (which slows you down) and b/causes the stern to drag (which slows you down too). There are lots of books and articles on it, but that''s my understanding of it. I keep my anchor & chain low & centered, and send the smallest guy with good eyes up to the bow when I need to.