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## Anchoring 

One other thing you might want to do is anchor your boat. 

This is another cooperative activity which works best when the team is coordinated. 

Usually the anchor is kept in a locker at the front of the boat. Many boats will have a powered anchor winch which requires the motor to be running to work. There will be a shackle or pin that secures the anchor to stop it falling our accidentally. This must be removed to lower the anchor. 

To anchor a boat : 

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1. Look for shelter from the wind, good holding ground, sufficient depth and room to swing 

2. One person goes to the anchor locker and frees the anchor shackle 

3. The skipper motors to your chosen spot slowly (boats don’t have brakes) 

4. When the skipper stops the boat, someone will ease the anchor down into the water 

5. You should let out about three times as much rope as you think you have water 

6. As the anchor touches down, the skipper motors back gently until the boat stops with a tug, this means the anchor has set. If it doesn’t set, raise the anchor and go back to step 1. 

7. Turn the motor off and ease out more rope, normally about 5 times the depth of water 

8. While someone makes the drinks, look at nearby boats and the land to determine if you are drifting 

9. Check your position over the next couple of hours to make sure you don’t drift 

If you drift you have a couple of options : try a different spot; let out more rope; or add another anchor. 

A boat at anchor swings. It rotates around the anchor depending on the wind. Make sure you have enough space around you so that you won’t swing into another boat or a rock. Normally boats swing together but at different speeds, so keep an eye on your neighbours. 

When raising an anchor you can’t just pull it in with the winch. You’ll damage the winch that way. You must motor up to the anchor so that the winch can pull it straight up. 

To raise the anchor: 

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1. One person goes forward to the anchor locker while the skipper starts the engine 

2. The person at the front points to where the anchor is (based on where the rope is running) 

3. The skipper motors slowly towards the anchor 

4. As the boat moves, the person at the anchor slowly takes up the slack in the anchor chain 

5. When the boat is directly above the anchor, the skipper stops the boat 

6. Once the anchor is up the crew secure it with a pin or shackle and the boat is free to depart 

