N. Cornwall coast - how much anchor line

[Hatbat]

Hi all,

Can anyone offer advice on how long an anchor line I should have on a 6.5m RIB that will mainly be used for coast hopping on the North Cornwall coast, with the occasional longer trip. The anchor will be used when swimming into the beach for a bit, perhaps a bit of fishing, and for emergency use if we break down. I do not intend to ever leave the boat on the anchor overnight.

I was thinking of 50 or 60m + 6m 8mm chain with a delta type anchor (assuming I can fit it in the locker, otherwise a folding delta of some kind I guess).

Any thoughts?

Thanks
Kate

[ppenman]

The RYA quotes :

Use a scope of anchor cable of at least 4 x the depth for chain and 6 x for rope/chain combinations.

If warp is used, ensure 5-10m of chain is connected between anchor and warp. The chain acts as a cushion, helping to reduce the action of the boat pulling the anchor free.

The following link may help you.

Anchorage | Cruising | RYA

Good luck,
Peter.

[Ribochet]

Originally Posted by ppenman

The RYA quotes :

Use a scope of anchor cable of at least 4 x the depth for chain and 6 x for rope/chain combinations.

If warp is used, ensure 5-10m of chain is connected between anchor and warp. The chain acts as a cushion, helping to reduce the action of the boat pulling the anchor free.

The following link may help you.

Anchorage | Cruising | RYA

Good luck,
Peter.

All very good advice - this is also what the RNLI recommend

[treerat]

It'll depend on where along the North Coast, I carry 30m of rope and 10m of chain and have never yet had an issue. More of a concern is most of the bays will dry out, or get very deep very quick on the incoming tide.

Thinking of your location is quite key. I carry a drogue for the deeper areas and will put down the pick once in shallow enough water.

Some of the bays are sand, others huge rocks where I just wouldn't want to put the thing on teh bottom as getting it back would be fun. We struggle with a shot line in some areas and that's just a weight!!

[Hatbat]

Thanks Andy, it'll be based at Rock/Padstow so quite close to you. A drogue is a good idea.

On a previous boat we broke down out past the mouth of the Camel estuary and were very very glad to have enough anchor line - my Dad wasn't impressed when I commented how "lucky" that was!! We had to do the "falmouth coastguard, falmouth coastguard, falmouth coastguard" thing, a local fishing boat towed us in :-(

[treerat]

Originally Posted by Hatbat

Thanks Andy, it'll be based at Rock/Padstow so quite close to you. A drogue is a good idea.
(

Closer than you think, we're just outside Bude at regularly launch mine or the club boat at Port Gaverne.