I took Watanga out today to trial the new anchor.
Test 1
Sandy bottom, Depth 8.5 m , Height to bow roller 1m. Scope 3:1 i.e. 30 metres of chain.
Dropped and backed down at approx 1 knot, Anchor dug in immediately and held boat at full reverse power.
Test 2.
I carefully turned the boat and reversed 180 degrees over the original set simulating a tide or wind shift. Again at a speed of around 1 kt. Didn’t feel the anchor pull out just came to a sudden halt, and remained so up to full power reverse. Anchor was clean on retrieval.
Test 3
Down near Sheps Hollow the seabed is clay. All other conditions the same. Backdown speed a little higher boat stopped very rapidly, no mistaking the dig and hold.
Test 4
180 degree reversal. Felt the anchor”pop” out but immediately dug in again with quite a snatch. . Clay on the anchor on retrieval. It looked to have only dug in about 2/3 rds of it’s length
Test 5
I wanted to try a gravel bottom, the best I could find was more of a course sand down near the white stone Pyramid. and very close in. Depth was only 1.8 m +1 to the bow, say 3m. So went for 10 m of chain to give same 3:1 scope. The set wasn’t quite as convincing and dragged at first but only for a couple of meters. I increased the scope to about 4:1 which was significantly better.
I couldn’t perform the reversal as the boat would have been on the beach by then. (I did say I was close in)
Conclusions.
Very happy with the performance of this anchor, I will have far more confidence in anchorages from now on.
4 Kidneys and a Wonky Leg 