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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Anchor Riding Sail

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Bill Holcomb
Admiral

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USA
769 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/27/2009 : 05:44:01

Hi All,

From time to time, folks have written in with questions about how to stop their 25 from "sailing" back-n-forth while at anchor or on a mooring. Often the response is to rig a "riding sail" - a small sail rigged to the backstay. I've thought for some time now that rigging a storm jib in this fashion would work great. AND, I wouldn't have to buy or make a riding sail.

This weekend I had the chance to try the storm jib idea and it DOES work great. I hanked the storm jib onto the backstay. Rigged a line from the traveler bar on the transom to the tack corner of the sail - - - the tack corner if the sail were on the forestay. The tack corner was adjusted so that it was about even with the boom. I raised the sail with my adjustable topping lift (although the main halyard would have worked too). And ran one of the permanently attached sheets forward to the bail that I have for the boom vang (the base of the mast).

Instead of Snickerdoodle zig-zagging back-n-forth all night, she stayed pointed bow into the breeze. If the breeze changed, the storm jib would move the back of the boat and we'd be back bow-to-wind.

I think that a small dinghy sail would work too (Walker Bay, Fatty Knees, etc.).

So, next time you're anchoring out for the night, consider rigging your storm jib.

Bill Holcomb - C25 Snickerdoodle #4839

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 07/27/2009 : 06:09:52

Sounds like a winner, Bill... Now do you have any ideas for me?

Edited by - on

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 07/27/2009 : 10:02:37

Bahama anchor with 2 anchors also works. Makes me sleep better also.

Edited by - on

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 07/27/2009 : 10:14:21

One on each tack
You'll never go back

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 07/27/2009 : 10:32:34

Could be true. Now let's see... As the boat pivots in a tide or wind change, I guess you'd want to leave enough slack between the two rodes (also allowing for high tide) so that as the boat turns against one rode, the other rode won't wrap on your keel and rudder. That suggests there still could be some hunting.

Edited by - on

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 07/27/2009 : 12:03:58

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Dave Bristle
 Sounds like a winner, Bill... Now do you have any ideas for me?

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Dave, you just need to do what the little trawlers do and rig a short mast from the cabintop and attach a riding sail to that. Seen many of them turn into sailors at night. Or so it appears when entering a crowded anchorage in the dark.

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redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 07/27/2009 : 12:11:30

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by redeye

One on each tack
You'll never go back
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

OH good golly... The angles are a bit tight and the position of the vessel is wrong. The idea is that you are hanging on either one hook or the other as the tides or winds change. Those sharp angles are certain to NOT be forgiving and soon enough they will both drag and become one big clump of stuff dragging across the bottom. Better to have a 90-100 degree spread if you have prevailing winds, i.e hanging on both potentially - OR as Dave suggests a lot of slack on one such that the rode can swing under the rudder and keel. I've seen people make a complete mess out for this and two of them cut their hooks after they wrapped around so tight that he could not work anything out even with help.

AnchorSten

Edited by - on

keydup
Deckhand

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10 Posts

Response Posted - 07/27/2009 : 16:55:58

Would an old sunfish sail be too large to try for this?

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Bill Holcomb
Admiral

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USA
769 Posts

Response Posted - 07/28/2009 : 06:55:24

An old sunfish sail would be about the right size. Although because the sunfish has a lateen sail you'll have to play around a bit to get the height above deck right.

Bill Holcomb - C25 Snickerdoodle #4839

Edited by - on

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 07/28/2009 : 07:25:26

I thought Dave had asked what might help him with his power boat fishing at anchor. What works for me is 2 anchors out to each side as far out as I can get them. I've got one boat that is kinda similar to what Dave has but I'm usually in one of the bays in the Gulf of Mexico.

I use 2 on deck.

The anchor on port has line through the hawser into the anchor locker with lots of line. I drop it and motor strbrd letting the line feed out by itself. I kill the engine and go fward through the front hatch and drop the strbrd anchor and all it's line. Then I pull in the port anchor line, attempting to get them 180 degrees apart with varying success. I'm often anchored in sand, at a depth of 5-15 feet, as my boat draws 2 feet. Often my depth is dictated by how far away from the shore I think the bugs will go.

On my Catalina 25 I use 2 anchors, and I'm anchoring in a lake with a hard clay bottom with stumps or sand or mud. Often there is a 20 degree grade to the shore. I drop a Navy anchor and let it pay out with as much anchor rode I feel is necessary for the depth and conditions, and then I let the boat swim to one side and then I drop a mushroom anchor, throwing it out in the direction the boat was swimming. I leave this anchor down with very little line and it keeps the fishing down and usually keeps the boat in one area. The mushroom may drag a little but often the conditions don't worsen and it will stay put. Both lines stay separate and neither gets caught on the keel. If they do get together, one works as a kellet for the other.

This works for me. Placement of anchors depends or the conditions I expect and usually the weather predictions are pretty accurate. When I have changing tides and winds both of these anchor setups usually stay in place. The mushroom drags around but the line does not tangle, it may wrap but not more that once and usually it comes around close to the boat. When I bring the mushroom up I can bring it around the line.

If I find conditions worsen I drop yet another anchor, giving me three to keep me in place. I keep a big one in the aft locker with a lot of line.

It would be fun to hear about a mizzenmast that prevents fishing.

Thanks

Edited by - on

windsong
Captain

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USA
318 Posts

Response Posted - 07/28/2009 : 11:44:01

I took someone out last night to watch the sunset. Seabreeze was blowing 15-20 kts, and the boat just sailed back and forth on its anchor exactly as you describe. It felt like we sailed 10 miles in one place. It was dang annoying, as we were trying to watch the sunset. I love the riding sail idea. I've never heard of that. I don't have any extra sail lying around, so I'll have to buy something. I was thinking about an old jib that I could cut down. Thoughts?
I just located an old thread, so I'm on my way. Thanks, forum!

Edited by - windsong on 07/28/2009 11:47:06

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