What is a safe anchorage?

[rhsanborn]

We just bought our boat last summer (Morgan OI 30) and only sail it form port to port where there is a nice, safe, dock we can tie to. But I like the idea of floating on the hook. So, what do you look for when you are going to anchor?

We are on Lake Huron, Michigan side, Saginaw bay area. Do we need to look for a really tight cove to avoid waves? I know most of the lake has a flat, exposed shoreline. Unfortunately, I have seen plenty of articles and chapters in books on how to anchor, but haven't seen much by way of choosing where to do so.

[BubbleheadMd]

Sometimes anchorages are listed on charts. If you find it on a chart, then it's usually safe to anchor there. Make sure to read any special notes on the chart about the anchorage.

A safe, unmarked anchorage will basically provide shelter from the wind, and have little to no fetch where the waves can build up. What is "safe" from one wind direction, may be a disasterous anchorage when the wind shifts. A cove is great because it may provide cover from about 270 degrees of wind direction.

Then you also have to worry about things like depth, and whether or not you're going to wake up on your side when the tide goes out.

[jackdale]

These are what I look for

Protection from wind, waves, current and wake from passing vessels.

Sufficient depth - shallow enough for the amount of rode you carry, deep enough that you will not find yourself on the bottom during low tide.

Swing room - If the wind shifts, you can avoid rocks, shallows and other hazards. You also need to avoid other vessels.

Appropriate bottom to match you anchor - I like mud. Sand is OK. Rocky and weedy bottoms are to be avoided.

Proximity to nearest pub.

[Faster]

Originally Posted by jackdale

These are what I look for.....
Proximity to nearest pub.

That's the LAST condition, Jack????

Last but not least....

Seriously the previous posters have it right.. you'll soon get an idea of what works for you.. sometimes you'll need to choose between ideals.. with good holding avoiding seas or wash may be more important than avoiding wind.

Lastly, just move to BC where most every night in summer the wind turns off... and there's no shortage of good candidates for anchoring.

[jackdale]

Originally Posted by Faster

That's the LAST condition, Jack????

Too close may be too loud. Too far may be untenable.

My favourite anchorages such as Potts Lagoon, Princess Bay (Wallace) do not have pubs. But Lyall Harbour does, and I anchorage at the east end away from the ferry dock and pub.

[SlowButSteady]

It's always prudent to judge both the wind direction when looking for an anchorage, AND the potential for a wind shift in the middle of the night. A nice, safe, quiet anchorage at 6 pm can be on a lee shore at 3 am.

A cruising guide specific to your area should detail all the pros and cons to each anchorage. While never perfect, such a guide (coupled with a short-range weather forecast) can be a good reference.

[deniseO30]

I'd suggest you get proficient with using the anchor. how to set, retrieve, who or how the boat is handled solo or with crew.

Many of us have seen so many couples, often a man at the wheel screaming at spouse who is desperate and or clueless on what to do and how to do it while up on the bow. This is very painful to watch when I see mature couples locked in this "dance". Anchoring, like docking, tacking, coming about, motoring..needs to be practiced. Sadly the time to "teach" the person on the bow is not when it's time to actually anchor. It should be during practice. Like one night, we all went upriver for the 4th of July fireworks.. I asked 2 friends sitting on the bow to drop the anchor..later; we were drifting...???? !!! They were stoned and forgot to tie the anchor line to the cleat.. who's fault? Mine of course!

My girlfriend and I use hand signals rather then yelling. A Headset intercom is a good idea also.

[SlowButSteady]

Originally Posted by deniseO30

I asked 2 friends sitting on the bow to drop the anchor..later; we were drifting...???? !!! They were stoned and forgot to tie the anchor line to the cleat.. who's fault? Mine of course!

Don't feel too bad. I caught a ride out to Santa Cruz Island once on a Navy crew boat and saw the deck crew do the exact same thing with the dock lines when they tried to tie up to the pier at Prisoners Harbor. Fortunately the CPO hadn't turned off the engines, so it wasn't that big a deal. But I wouldn't have wanted to be those seamen on the ride back to Port Hueneme.

[jackdale]

Originally Posted by SlowButSteady

It's always prudent to judge both the wind direction when looking for an anchorage, AND the potential for a wind shift in the middle of the night. A nice, safe, quiet anchorage at 6 pm can be on a lee shore at 3 am.

A cruising guide specific to your area should detail all the pros and cons to each anchorage. While never perfect, such a guide (coupled with a short-range weather forecast) can be a good reference.

A knowledge of land (offshore) and sea (onshore) breezes also helps.

[SlowButSteady]

Originally Posted by jackdale

A knowledge of land (offshore) and sea (onshore) breezes also helps.

Point taken. But those tend to be weak enough (in most of SoCal, anyway) to be less of a concern. Around here the real PsITA are cut-off lows and Santa Ana winds.