Singlehanded anchoring concept

Eric Pederson (eric@winternet.com)
Tue, 10 Aug 1999 16:05:13 -0500 (CDT)


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West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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I don't know if this is a new idea, but I've never heard it expressed
before. I don't know how well it would work for a P-15, but I think it
would be quite useful for a P-19.

If a singlehander wants to anchor, why not simply heave-to, then go
forward and deploy the anchor? The boat will drift with the wind,
providing the necessary pull to set the anchor.

When desiring to weigh, raise the sails and let them luff. Go forward
and take up all the slack in the rode, then cleat. Backwind the jib and
set the main and tiller so the boat is, in effect, hove-to at anchor.
Go back forward and complete weighing. With such little scope, the
force of wind on the hove-to boat may well assist in breaking the anchor
out. Secure the anchor loosely, return aft and get the boat underway.
Once you have a comfortable amount of searoom, return forward and
properly stow the groundtackle. You could again heave-to before going
forward.

Obviously, you must have enough room to leeward for some drift, especially
when weighing. Best of all, no motor required.

What do you think of this idea?

-- 
Eric L. Pederson
P-19 #970, Necessity
Bloomington, MN