While anchoring your vessel, when is the...

🔍 Key Concepts

• Anchoring while making way – how the vessel’s motion over the ground affects anchor holding and gear strain • Ahead vs. astern movement – what happens to the cable and anchor if you drop while going ahead versus astern • “Dead in the water” – advantages and disadvantages of having no way on when letting go anchor

💭 Think About

• Think about what you want the anchor and chain to do immediately after it hits the bottom: should it drag, snub tight, or lead in a certain direction? • Consider which situation puts the least shock load on the windlass, chain, and anchor when they take the strain. • Ask yourself how you normally control the vessel’s position over the ground during anchoring: is a little sternway helpful, harmful, or unnecessary?

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify which option gives controlled, gentle tension on the cable instead of a sudden jerk. • Check which condition helps the anchor set in the seabed rather than skip or skate along it. • Eliminate any options where vessel speed would cause excessive shock load on anchor gear or poor control of position.

While anchoring your vessel, when is the best time to let go the anchor?

When the vessel is moving fast ahead over the ground

When the vessel is moving fast astern over the ground

When the vessel is moving slowly astern over the ground

When the vessel is dead in the water

🔍 Key Concepts

💭 Think About

✅ Before You Answer