Mariners do not always outfit with an anchor sized large enough for harsh weather, often because they do not have a manageable way to deploy or retrieve an anchor of this size.  Thus, they must cope with sleepless nights worrying that the boat might drag, or worse, a boat that does drag.

For those boats that are not set up to accommodate “storm-size” anchors, handling these awkward anchors often requires special arrangements, retro-fitting, even innovation, but it is well worth the time and expense to do so.

As an example, you could outfit with a large take-apart anchor, such as a Luke 3-piece fisherman-style anchor. The individual pieces are much easier to manhandle around, and to stow than one large assembled anchor.

Once the pieces are moved to an area of the deck where the anchor can be assembled, a variety of mechanisms that were previously installed, either permanent or removable, such as a boom, davit, or cathead, in conjunction with tackle, or an electric or hydraulic winch, can be used to get the anchor overboard.

Once overboard, the rode, if not already there, can then be lead fair to its belaying point; for retrieval, the process is reversed.

For an anchor of a size that retrieval can require more than a minute or two, after the weather moderates, the main bower can be deployed to hold the boat in position while the “storm anchor” is recovered.

All arrangements for storing, deploying, and recovery should be made ahead of time, long before it becomes necessary to be done for real. Suitable arrangements to the dinghy should also be made as the dinghy is often instrumental in getting these anchors out to where they need to be set.

One advantage to having that “large-enough-for-storms” anchor onboard is that it provides for a peace-of-mind that cannot be obtained by any other means.

About the Authors

Rudy & Jill Sechez, authors of "Anchoring: A Ground Tackler's Apprentice," (available in both print and digital editions) first began cruising in 1997 aboard a 36-foot wood, cutter-rigged sailboat that they built in a small backyard. They currently live and cruise aboard a 34-foot sail-assisted wood trawler, which they designed, then built under the trees out in the woods. Relevant to this book, they have seen their boats successfully through seven hurricanes, anchoring through five of them, in addition to numerous tropical storms and countless gales. They cruise primarily the east coasts of the U.S., Gulf of Mexico and the Bahamas, with a trip to Bermuda along the way.