BLUEMOMENT

There's a chippy "discussion" on TOP about rode lengths. I have no intention of joining, but I just want to record my annoyance of boats from "other parts of the UK" putting out far too much chain in smaller anchorages.

Three times this summer I've arrived in sheltered spots known for good holding, placed myself a respectful distance from other yachts, and put down between 3 and 4 times depth at high tide. With modern anchors in calm conditions I consider this sufficient. Cue a wind change overnight, I can hear voices of anxious crews on other yachts who have 8 times scope out (just to be safe) and have now swung within a boat length of my bow.

Am I being unreasonable, or is it unacceptable to pit out so much chain as a matter of course?

A gripe of mine too. You are not unreasonable. Anchor buoys are a clue to what scope they have laid. At what time of day do they drop their hooks? They are always there before me.

Many of us might have learned decades ago the rules of thumb, 3 x chain, 6 x times warp, or mixed rode. It worked then, even using CQRs. Today, it is usually 4 x for chain and 7 x for mixed rode with massively improved anchor reliability, so I don't understand the need to go for more rode length. Even in strong winds, when more rode is needed to reduce angle at the shank, seabed angle hardly changes after 8:1 rode ratio, so what is the extra rode doing beyond that? In strong winds catenary is mostly pointless when anchor rode approximates to a straight line? That puts to bed that "it's no use in the locker" argument, as far as I am concerned: NGA and 3 x depth is even more reliable than it was back in the day!

I don't know if folks are using more anchor chain these days, but if you guys think so, then I can accept that. Also, I can accept that understanding changes with time, and more experience, but only if one is prepared to think critically rather than blindly accept advice. I guess we have experience that only years of sailing brings and newbies are now exposed to the opinion of the whole world based on their algorithms and size of the boat babes boobs. (-;

It is unacceptable to put out long rode lengths just because you can. It is selfish, but likely down ignorance of the skipper.

marisca wrote: ↑Thu Jul 09, 2026 11:20 am At what time of day do they drop their hook? They are always there before me.

Me too. They've usually motored past me an hour or so before while I persevere with a dying wind, and nab the best spots.

Too much chain out is that old blowhard Tom Cunliffe's fault. He never balances need to be secure with need to share the anchorage.

Maybe the CCC should add something to the pilot books about etiquette in tight anchorages