Anchoring Tackle

Late afternoon in Isla Testigo Pequeño (Los Testigos, Venezuela)

As most pieces of gear on a boat, each anchoring element has one or more function(s), and must meet several requirements. Let's list them as references for the following pages:

• Function: The anchoring tackle is intended to temporarily "tie" the boat to the seabed.
• Req. 1: A perfect anchoring tackle should hold the boat whatever the predictable local wind and sea state. It should withstand the corresponding efforts without damage (working load limit).
• Req. 2: Setting as well as weighing the anchor should remain easy.

As far as anchoring safety is concerned, the anchor and the rode are the weakest elements. Moreover, they are difficult to select and size according to the surrounding conditions; e.g. the rode length that needs to be adjusted "in the field" and "in real time"!

Other components, either essential (anchor rollers, shackles, bollards, etc.) or optional (windlass, swivels, etc.) can be chosen once for all (see the Accessories chapter).

Anchor

• Function: The anchor is the "fixed point" of the anchoring.
• Req. 3: An ideal anchor should "hold" (= remain in the same place) whatever the direction and magnitude of the forces that act on the boat.

A real anchor will hold under 2 external necessary conditions:

• The anchor has been correctly set.
• The rode pulls the anchor in an appropriate direction (see Req. 4 below).

More on that in the Anchor chapter.

Rode

• Function: The rode acts as a link between the anchor and the boat.
• Req. 4: The rode should pull the anchor in a direction that allows it to offer the required holding force.
• Req. 5: The rode should be easy to stow, wind and unwind aboard.
• Req. 6: The rode should reduce the tensile stresses caused by gusts/waves on the anchor and boat accessories.

Req. 4 and 5 are dealt with in the static behavior chapter. Req. 6 is studied in the dynamic behavior chapter.

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