Anchoring & Mooring Archives

Anchoring a Sailboat Tip 2

February 21, 2019/by Grant Headifen

This is a follow on article on request of one of our students after reading Anchoring a Sailboat Tip 1 WHERE TO ANCHOR YOUR SAILBOAT IN A BUSY HARBOR Great question and we’ve got an awesome answer. The answer is a bit of a secret so don’t tell anyone otherwise they will start using the […]

How to Pick the Right Spot to Anchor

February 8, 2019/by Grant Headifen

The seafloor type is a critical factor. Certain anchors hold better in certain bottom types. Look on the chart to find out the seafloor type where you are anchoring…

Monitoring your Anchor Set

April 7, 2016/by Grant Headifen

After the anchor has set and adequate rode has been paid out, take time to ensure you are not drifting. And considering changing winds and tide height and tidal current, it is important to periodically monitor how well your anchor is set. Check your anchor set manually and electronically. Do this manually by sighting bearings […]

Anchoring a Sailboat when Chartering

June 17, 2014/by Grant Headifen

Anchoring an unfamiliar boat Most charter boats use all chain anchor rode. The rules of anchoring say with chain you should use a 5:1 ratio. For example, for an overnight anchorage at a 4 meter depth plus 1 meter from the water line to your boat you should use 5×5 = 25 meters. If you […]

How to do a Mediterranean Mooring

July 17, 2013/by Grant Headifen

How to do a Mediterranean Mooring with skills learned from our Maneuvering Under Power Course, now much simpler and less intimidating.

Anchoring and going to the potty HTML5 animations

July 19, 2012/by Grant Headifen

Anchoring and going to the head animations With the introduction of iPad technology into the eLearning arena, animated gifs and flash files don’t work anymore and so we’re learning to use HTML animations and simulations instead and embed into our courses. The animations are fun to build but they do take a long time to […]

Check Your Anchor Rode

July 7, 2012/by Grant Headifen

Checking your anchor rode is a critical safety item that needs to be addressed by every boat owner at least once per season.

Anchoring in a Regatta Race

May 27, 2012/by Grant Headifen

Best tactics and practices for properly anchoring while in a regatta race.

Types of Anchors and bottom types that they are best suited.

July 6, 2010/by Grant Headifen

As you learn to sail, you should be also learning about anchoring. There is more to tossing the hook so to speak. After doing some research on the internet and looking at some of the tests performed on holding power, I’ve made a quick summary of what I learned. Anchor types are selected based on […]

Mooring Accident

April 23, 2009/by Grant Headifen

While it is generally accepted that mooring is safer than anchoring, there are still some considerations. The following photo from Waiake beach in Auckland, New Zealand is proof of this. Whilst visiting New Zealand for the purpose of spreading the NauticEd word, we came across this early in the morning after an overnight mild storm. […]