[C320-list] C320 Behavior at Anchor

[Scott Thompson]

I have a wing keel and have never noticed substantial sailing at anchor. 
I'm sure it is a matter of degree. Maybe the dodger and bimini help, and 
I suspect having a traditional main rather than in-mast furler also 
helps. I also keep the rudder locked center line while at anchor. I've 
never felt a need for a riding sail.

I haven't sailed a Catalina 27 in years but back in the day when I raced 
on one I recall it was an adventure to sleep in the v-berth at night at 
anchor when the wind was up. The boat was all over, with substantial 
acceleration first one direction and then the other with a fairly sharp 
turn at each end. It was a bit like trying to sleep on a roller coaster. 
It was probably more uncomfortable in the v-berth than in the back 
because of the lateral acceleration when the the bow pulled up tight on 
the rode at the end of each "reach" across the anchorage, causing the 
boat to "tack." Relative to that experience the 320 is solid as a rock.

The most wind I've seen while on board the 320 was about 45-50 knots for 
a brief period during a thunderstorm. At the time we were anchored in a 
river fairly close to shore with the near shoreline directly to windward 
so the water stayed relatively flat. I believe we were in about 10' of 
water with 15' of chain and probably another 50' of rope. The boat moved 
around some, but not in any dramatic fashion, at least until the wind 
backed suddenly at the end of the storm and the windward shore suddenly 
became a lee shore.

On 8/1/2013 2:16 PM, Chris Burti wrote:
> We have 25 feet of chain and never had the rode wrap around the wing
> keel.
>
> She sails considerably at anchor, so we tie a bucket to a pennant off
> the transom and it moderates the swing significantly, but still swings
> more than I care for in a tight anchorage.
>
> I plan a modifying part of an old jib into a riding sail for the
> backstay.
>
> Thanks, Chris Burti From: millers1 at aol.com
> Sent: 8/1/2013 11:06 AM
> To: C320-List at catalina320.com
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] C320 Behavior at Anchor
>
> I have only owned a 320 for a season but there are many factors
> involved in responding to
> your question:  --- fin or wing keel?
> --- length of chain used? type anchor, I do not think influences swing
> that much??
> ---  scope you might set??
> I have a wing keel, use 36' of chain and normally try to set a min. of
> 7:1 scope.
> Highest winds were 25, gusting to 30mph.  moderate sea state.  She rode well. I
> didn't consider the swing excessive and seem similar to other sailboats nearby.
> My only problem anchoring, has been to anchor on a windless night and have the
> rode take a wrap on the wing with the shift in tide.  I may need to use a
> Kellet or similar device???
> I would like to expand this thread to also include how people prevent the rode
> hang up on the keel (wing??).
>
> Art,   #680
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dennis Harris <dharris02 at suddenlink.net>
> To: C320-List <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
> Sent: Thu, Aug 1, 2013 9:37 am
> Subject: [C320-list] C320 Behavior at Anchor
>
>
>      Just curious as to how the C-320 handles at anchor in a storm.
> Does it tend
> to sail about a lot or stay relatively calm downwind of the anchor.  If it
> misbehaves, how do you deal with it?
>
> Dennis Harris
> C-320 #694