Sailing at anchor

[RopeBurn]

How does one prevent their boat from sailing back and forth at anchor?
Thomas

[cgcooke]

Depends -
1) do you have a sail up?
- let the mainsheet go
sail will flap - you''ll go nowhere

2) No Sail up -
boat just "waving" 30 deg. back and forth

Not much you can do - if anchored from bow
Try anchoring with a bridle from the stern
This should keep her straight.

Geoff Cooke
MEANDER
Bristol, RI

[hamiam]

You can fly a special sail that will help with the back and forth motion. Talk to your sailmaker buy it is a v-shaped sail that attaches to the back stay and then led forward so that the open end of the v faces the bow. Its hard to explain but I hope you get the gist.

[RichH]

Try anchoring from the stern or raising an ''anchor riding'' sail.
Other: remove the furled/rolled jib.

;-)

[RobHoman]

Go to www.sailrite.com and check their online catalogue. They sell both a kit for an anchor riding sail and a finished one.

[SHIMSHON]

You have several options:
--use an anchor riding sail on the backstay
--put out a second anchor
--if a ketch just fly your mizzen sail
--using an all chain rode will help a bit

[paulk]

Sometimes we find that setting the wheel over to one side helps balance out the forces and steadies the boat at anchor without a riding sail.

[RopeBurn]

Thanks for the replies. I appreciate it. I''m also glad to know it is more normal than not.

[BigRed56]

Ahoy Ropeburn, ever try running hard a ground? It has worked for me on many occasions. HA Ha Big Red 56.

[MikeMoss]

Some boats like my old Cal 25 are really bad. Others can become worse from big roller furling head sails.

Tie the pennant as close to the centerline as you can.

Don''t use "riding sails" something will go wrong.

If you are in a tight anchorage two anchors off your bow at an angle to each other will stop sailing.