Sail Talk Travel

Sail-Talk.com: DISCOVER ANCIENT TURKEY ON AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL CRUISE

Save up to �400 on some exceptional archaeological tours in Turkey this autumn. We have just a few places left on three luxurious cultural trips. Relive history sailing on a traditional wooden gulet with Peter Sommer, a British archaeologist, documentary maker and tour guide who will take you back in time with the passion and expertise of a master filmmaker.

From Halicarnassus to Ephesus September 3 � 17 reduced from �1895 to �1495
Cruising the Carian Coast September 17 � 30 reduced from �1845 to �1595
Sailing the Lycian Shore October 8 - 21 reduced from �1845 to �1595

"We have just a few places left on these exceptional holidays of a lifetime, so these special offers are a tremendous opportunity to discover the ancient wonders of Turkey" says director, Peter Sommer. "Only a couple of cabins remain on these fascinating escourted cruises. Each tour is a magical two week trip � that offers peaceful relaxation, wonderful Turkish food, and superb swimming. With some of the most enchanting ancient sites in the world thrown in to the mix, they�re a real archaeological adventure"

These three vacations explore three different sections of Turkey�s wonderful south west coast.

From Halicarnassus to Ephesus � visits some of the very biggest and best preserved ancient cities in the world, including Ephesus, Didyma, Miletus, and Priene - http://www.petersommer.com/halicarnassus.html
Cruising the Carian Coast � a journey on a breathtaking undeveloped coastline with spectacular sites to see including Rhodes, Caunos, and Knidos - http://www.petersommer.com/carian.html
Sailing the Lycian Shore � explores a virtually untouched turquoise coast, littered with some of the most fascinating sites of antiquity, including Arykanda, Phaselis, and Olympos - http://www.petersommer.com/lycian.html

Once a day we visit one of the antique cities that adorn this timeless coast. We stroll along ancient roads lined with wild herbs, or through olive trees strewn with rock tombs. We have the chance to snorkel over sunken harbours, and climb rocky fastnesses for unrivalled vistas. From mighty theatres to churches floored with mosaics, each site is an archaeological adventure, part of a historical puzzle that reveals a remarkable story of human civilisation.

Info: Price includes full board accommodation, local transfers, all entrance fees and guide services. Price excludes flights and travel insurance. Maximum group size is 14.

Peter Sommer Travels: is a UK-based specialist tour operator offering archaeological cruises and historical tours for small groups around the ancient sites of Turkey. A British archaeologist and filmmaker, Peter Sommer has been organising and leading archaeological tours since 1996.

You can find our more about these cruises and our other tours on the Peter Sommer website, http://www.petersommer.com or email � info [at] petersommer.com or Tel +44 (0)1600 861 929

Sail-Talk.com: Anchoring Methods

Chartering a boat is all well and good, but you need how to stop (anchor) and how to go (sail).

The basic anchoring method consists of determining the location, dropping the anchor, laying out the scope, setting the hook, and assessing where the yacht ends up. After using the chart to determine a desirable location, the crew needs to actually see what the situation is like; there may be other yachts in the vicinity, or weather conditions may be different from those expected, or even additional hazards not noted on the chart may make a planned location undesirable.

If the location is good, the location to drop the anchor should be approached from down wind or down current, whichever is stronger. As the chosen spot is approached, the yacht should be stopped or even beginning to drift back. The anchor should be lowered quickly but under control until it is on the bottom. The yacht should continue to drift back, and the cable should be veered out under control so it will be relatively straight.

Once the desired scope is laid out (a minimum of 8:1 for setting the anchor, and 5:1 for holding, though the preferred ratio is 10:1 for both setting, and holding power), the yacht should be gently forced astern, usually using the auxiliary motor but possibly by backing a sail. A hand on the anchor line may telegraph a series of jerks and jolts, indicating the anchor is dragging, or a smooth tension indicative of digging in. As the anchor begins to dig in and resist backward force, the engine may be throttled up to get a thorough set. If the anchor continues to drag, or sets after having dragged too far, it should be retrieved and moved back to the desired position (or another location chosen.)

With the anchor set in the correct location, everything should be reconsidered. Is the location protected, now and for the expected weather? Is the bottom a suitable holding ground, and is the anchor the right one for this type of bottom? Is there enough depth, both now and at low tide? Especially at low tide but also at all tide states, is there enough room for the boat to swing? Will another yacht swing into us, or will we swing into another yacht, when the tide or wind changes?

And, finally, take a sight and triangulate your position with landmarks such as trees, mountain tops, beacheads or tall buildings, NOT with moveable objects such as cranes etc. Set up an anchor watch and check your position regularly.

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Discover ancient Turkey on an archaeological cruise:

Last minute special offers from Peter Sommer Travels

Save �250/$450 on some exceptional archaeological tours in Turkey this autumn. We have just a few places left on three luxurious cultural trips. Relive history sailing on a traditional wooden gulet with Peter Sommer, a British archaeologist, documentary maker and tour guide who will take you back in time with the passion and expertise of a master filmmaker.

* From Halicarnassus to Ephesus September 3 � 17 reduced from �1895/$3575 to �1645/$2995
* Cruising the Carian Coast September 17 � 30 reduced from �1845/$3399 to �1595/$2925
* Sailing the Lycian Shore October 8 - 21 reduced from �1845/$3399 to �1595/$2925

�We have just a few places left on these exceptional holidays of a lifetime, so these special offers are a tremendous opportunity to discover the ancient wonders of Turkey� says director, Peter Sommer. �Only a couple of cabins remain on these fascinating escourted cruises. Each tour is a magical two week trip � that offers peaceful relaxation, wonderful Turkish food, and superb swimming. With some of the most enchanting ancient sites in the world thrown in to the mix, they�re a real archaeological adventure�

These three vacations explore three different sections of Turkey�s wonderful south west coast.

* From Halicarnassus to Ephesus � visits some of the very biggest and best preserved ancient cities in the world, including Ephesus, Didyma, Miletus, and Priene

* Cruising the Carian Coast � a journey on a breathtaking undeveloped coastline with spectacular sites to see including Rhodes, Caunos, and Knidos

* Sailing the Lycian Shore � explores a virtually untouched turquoise coast, littered with some of the most fascinating sites of antiquity, including Ayrkanda, Phaselis, and Olympos

Info: Price includes full board accommodation, local transfers, all entrance fees and guide services. Price excludes flights and travel insurance. Maximum group size is 14.

You can find our more about these cruises and our other tours on the Peter Sommers Travel website - http://www.petersommer.com or email � info@petersommer.com or Tel +44 (0)1600 861 929

Sailing through History: Cruising in Turkey by Gulet

Rain was smacking against the window. It was icy cold. Sitting in the dark depths of a British University�s library in 1994, I was gazing out dreaming of somewhere warm and exotic. Turkey was the place that lit up my imagination.

Three great things embody this country. Just four hours flight away from international London, it has a culture which is profoundly different, distinctly unfamiliar. A land on the very cusp of Europe and Asia, with two heads simultaneously facing both east and west, it embodies the magic and mysticism of the orient. Once nomads from Central Asia, the Turks were for centuries the middlemen of the world, famed merchants uniting three continents - Europe, Africa, and Asia, as far east as China. Today, its people are famed for their warmth and hospitality, a gift of their nomadic ancestry and Islam�s code of respect for strangers in a strange land.

The second great thing about Turkey is its age. The place is steeped in history. It�s the site of some of the very earliest cities, like �atal Hoyuk, stretching back 10,000 years. Ever after it was a veritable crossroads of civilisations. When archaeologists dig in Turkey they are confronted by layers upon layers of peoples and cultures, from Hittite fortifications to Byzantine churches. Before I�d even set foot there, Turkey conjured up images of all the things that I longed to see, great sun-burnt plains on which ancient battles were fought, theatres where Greek philosophers declaimed, and the marble clad ruins of Rome�s imperial ambitions.
It�s widely said that Turkey has more and better preserved Greek and Roman archaeological sites than Greece and Italy combined. The landscape is simply riddled with ruins, many of which are virtually untouched. You can literally stroll through an olive grove and stumble upon a Greek temple still standing proud, and have the place all to yourself. Many people say part of Turkey�s charm is that it is like Greece was thirty years ago.

The third fantastic thing about Turkey is the landscape. About three and a half times the size of Britain, it has almost the same population, leaving vast areas wide, empty, and pretty much as nature intended. Add to that soaring mountain ranges, brilliant white sunlight, and a vast coastline stretching along three seas, the Black Sea, the Aegean, and the Mediterranean, and you have a truly marvellous holiday destination.

I first went to Turkey eleven years ago, on a 2,000 mile walking adventure, to retrace Alexander the Great�s footsteps from Troy to the battlefield of Issus, where the epic warrior defeated the Persians for a second time. A five month journey took me down the western Aegean coast past some of the giant cities of classical history, like Ephesus, Priene, and Miletus; deep into the interior through tiny farming villages where I was feted as an honoured guest; and south through the peaks and valleys of the Taurus mountains, where donkeys are still a favoured mode of transport.

A decade later and my love affair with Turkey still beats strong. While it was walking that brought me to Turkey, today I prefer a very different way of travelling: sailing. With some 5,178 miles of coastline, Turkey is a paradise for cruising. Its south and west coasts offer perhaps the most spectacular sailing in the Mediterranean, full of craggy coves and sleepy fishing villages, bustling harbours and deserted bays shaped like giant theatres with breathtaking vistas. Littered with antiquities, protected by law, large sections of it have remained undeveloped, still lapped by the clear waters on which the giants of ancient history sailed: Achilles, Cleopatra, Julius Caesar.

In places, mountains of limestone drop sheer into the sea, elsewhere pine forested peninsulas stretch out like sinuous fingers hiding a cornucopia of golden beaches, deep gulfs, and tiny offshore islands. With such a stunning everchanging backdrop, I can�t think of a better way to see Turkey, to explore its culture, discover such rich ruins, and drink in the landscape, than to set sail on a gulet. Spared the need to constantly pack, unpack, and change hotels, instead one travels in luxurious style. Perhaps the key thing for me is that it�s travel the way the ancients usually did. It makes thinking about the past altogether easier. Out on the waves, time can literally dissolve in the water, two millennia can disappear from the mind.

A mad keen sailor, Peter Ustinov once wrote: �The sea not only sharpens a sense of beauty and of alarm, but also a sense of history. You are confronted with precisely the sight which met Caesar's eyes, and Hannibal's, without having to strain the imagination by subtracting television aerials from the skyline and filling in the gaps in the Collosseum�off the magical coast of Turkey you rediscover what the world was like when it was empty�and when pleasures were as simple as getting up in the morning�and every day is a journey of discovery."

Gulets are really the vessel of choice for exploring the Turkish coast. Handbuilt from wood, usually pine from local forests, they�re often as much as 80 feet long and sleep between six and 16 guests in attractive double or twin cabins. They tend to have three or four capable and helpful crew members, captain, cook, and one or two mates, who do all the work allowing passengers to relax. Most gulets have a spacious main saloon, a large rear deck where meals are served, and sun loungers on the roof at the front. The majority operate for the most part under motor, but some are also designed for proper sailing. When the sails go up, and the engine turns silent, you have the same soundtrack as Odysseus on Homer�s �wine dark sea�, the slapping of water on the side of the ship, and the wind rushing through the canopy.

Aboard a gulet, one travels in the footsteps of ancient Greek pilgrims en route to an oracular temple like Didyma, or in the wake of Byzantine merchants carrying a cargo of glass, like the Serce Limani shipwreck now in Bodrum museum, or like Roman tourists on their way to see the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, one of the seven ancient wonders of the world.

I remember the first time I visited the ancient city of Knidos, a sensational site for maritime trade perched at the very tip of the Datca peninsula, between Bodrum and Marmaris. We sailed and moored up in the city�s old commercial harbour, just as merchants from Athens, Rhodes, and cities right across the Mediterranean would have done over 2,000 years ago. My fellow travellers and I gawped in wonder, as we eased into the ancient port, and its monuments took shape: the small theatre, the rows of houses, the miles of fortifications climbing up a steep ridge. We anchored where countless vessels had previously � large cargo ships, local fishing boats, perhaps even some fighting triremes. Even today the ancient mooring stones where they tied up are still visible, projecting out from the harbour walls.
One of the defining characteristics of a gulet trip is the back to nature appreciation of the simple things: the clean fresh air, the canopy of stars at night, the time to lounge about and read. Swimming in the crystal waters of the celebrated turquoise coast is of course one of the frequent highlights, and there are usually windsurfers, kayaks, and snorkelling gear available for the slightly more adventurous.

Alongside the archaeology and the relaxed atmosphere, one of the greatest delights is the food. Turkish food is justly famed, often ranked as one of the three pre-eminent cuisines in the world alongside French and Chinese. The focus is all about simple but incredibly fresh local ingredients, often grown organically or raised free range. You only have to taste a tomato in Turkey to see the difference. It�s surprising how even on the smallest gulets, out of the tiniest of galleys, the boat�s cook can produce such a variety of fresh local delicacies.

A Turkish breakfast typically consists of bread, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, cheese, eggs, yoghurt and honey. Lunch and dinner are usually one or two main courses, accompanied by salads and mezes, Turkey�s speciality starters, including cacik (a garlic and cucumber yoghurt), biber dolma (stuffed peppers), and sigara borek (white cheese and herbs in a cigarette shaped filo pastry wrap). Fruit is a mainstay item, and ranges through the seasons from cherries and strawberries, to melon and figs.

But with so many miles of coast where do you choose to sail? Three areas are particular favourites of mine. First is the ancient region of Lycia, a giant bulge into the Mediterranean on Turkey�s underbelly. Situated between Fethiye and Antalya, it�s an area oozing with myths and brimming with archaeology. Here, behind the soaring Taurus mountains, an extraordinary culture and a fiercely independent people developed. Their funerary architecture, unlike anything else in the world, still litters their once prosperous ports.

This was the fabled land of the Chimaera, a dreaded monster from Greek mythology, described as early as Homer: �She was of divine race, not of men, in the fore part a lion, at the rear a serpent, and in the middle a goat, breathing forth in terrible manner the force of blazing fire.�
The legend probably owes its origins to an extraordinary site high up in the hills. Sacred since time immemorial, it was the main sanctuary of the port city of Olympus. Here flames leap out of the ground, a phenomenon arising from a subterranean pocket of natural gas which spontaneously ignites on contact with the outside air.

Not only is a gulet cruise the best way to explore such an essentially maritime civilisation, sometimes it�s the only way. Even now, there are tiny coastal villages which are accessible only by sea. One favourite is the sleepy hamlet of Kale, on the southern tip of Lycia. Above a few piers where small fishing boats jostle, rises a ramshackle series of houses made from ancient stones. Dominating the entire scene is a mighty Ottoman fortress built 550 years ago to overpower the Christian knights of Rhodes and secure the all important sea lanes between Constantinople and Jerusalem. The castle, however, was a latecomer. 1,800 years before, a small town called Simena was perched here. Its small Greek style theatre sits slap in the middle of the Ottoman castle, and all through the village are tombs hewn into the rock, and sarcophagi standing ten feet tall.

A second great area for sailing is west of Lycia, the ancient region of Caria, between Bodrum and Fethiye. This was the ancient realm of Mausolus, a powerful dynast 2,400 years ago. A strategically vital region, densely pack in antiquity with rich cities, it was jealously guarded and sought after. Alexander the Great liberated it from Persia, Rhodes sought to annexe it into her own empire, and the legacy of Crusader castles still speaks of the epic battle that raged along this coast between rival religions, Christianity and Islam. Today, there remains a wonderful blend of architectural and historic marvels. The exquisite temple tombs of Caunos, carved into a cliff face by masons dangling from ropes; the monumental city of Knidos, famed for Praxiteles� infamous statue of Aphrodite, the first female nude in history; and Halicarnassus itself, site of the fabled mausoleum and the mighty fortress of St. Peter.

A third glorious area for cruising, is ancient Ionia, to the north of Bodrum. Along this stretch of coast developed a civilisation of quite exceptional brilliance. In the centuries before Alexander the Great, the dynamic cities of Ionia helped lay the foundations of Greek literature, science, and philosophy, never mind architecture.
Under Rome, these cities became ever more rich, prosperous, and beautiful - full of the finest temples, theatres and markets that money could buy. The highlights are plentiful: from the pretty little harbour of Myndos, where Cassius fled after murdering Julius Caesar; to the marvellously preserved Hellenistic city of Priene, where the houses, streets, and public buildings are laid out across a hillside in a perfect grid; and of course, Ephesus, capital of Roman Asia. This was one of the very first cities in the world to have street lighting. The site is magnificent, a cornucopia of colonnaded streets, agoras, baths, private villas, a theatre for 28,000, and an extraordinary library.

If you fancy exploring some of the world�s finest ancient wonders, spring or autumn is the best time to go. April and early May sees Turkey decked out with a stunning display of wild flowers. From the end of May through the start of June the sea becomes swimmable before the summer heat scorches, while September through October is perfect for leisurely bathing.

Copyright Peter Sommer 2006
Peter Sommer runs a specialist travel company, Peter Sommer Travels offering archaeological tours and cruises as well as crewed yacht charters in Turkey. The gulets he uses are all handcrafted from wood in Turkey:

AAn archaeologist and documentary producer he has worked on many acclaimed BBC/PBS/CNN TV series including In the footsteps of Alexander the Great, and Commanding Heights: the battle for the world economy. His most recent series, Tales from the Green Valley, about life on a Welsh farm in the year 1620, was shown to rave reviews on BBC2 in the UK in 2005.

Peter Sommer has had travel articles published in newspapers incl. The Times (UK), The Brisbane Sunday Mail & The South China Morning Post, & magazines incl. Cruise Magazine, Good Holiday Guide, Yacht Vacations Magazine, The Travel Magazine, The European Magazine etc. He is a member of the Outdoor Writers' Guild, the UK's best established guild of professional outdoor & travel writers.

To contact Peter email info[at]petersommer.com or Tel +44 1600 861929

Rigging Week on the Schooner Trinovante

Last years rigging week was an occasion for factor 25 sun cream which wasn�t the case this year but that didn�t stop us enjoying ourselves and cracking a few beers on the job.
Having designed and rigged Trinovante ourselves its great if we get the opportunity to share some of the things we have learnt along the way.
Rigging week was all about just that. How to bend on gaff sails and the theory surrounding tackles and purchases, it�s also a good chance to have a go at seizings and whippings and the odd less well used knot like the bunt line hitch.

If you are really enthused here are a few books on the subject:

The Complete Rigger Wire and Rope by Brian Toss: The first few chapters are a good intro to basic rope working skills.
Hand, Reef and Steer by Tom Cunliffe: Good first book on traditional rig.
Admiralty Manual of Seamanship Volume 1: Best to find an old copy in a second hand book shop. A bit more advanced and geared towards small ships.

Sue and John

Visit Schoonersail and the Trinovante

Sailing On A Tall Ship Again

Sailing on Trinovante recently gave me the chance to be reacquainted with the excitement of Tall ship sailing. After a break of 10 years I was feeling a little apprehensive at the prospect as I neared Brightlinsea.
My mind was thinking back to the previous trips and the highs and lows that had blown up around the Irish Sea. The majority of my memories were good, but I couldn�t help remembering those situations with lots of bits of string to pull and crew that can�t remember which, or the slightly military feel to the whole week.
In the end after spending a week aboard Trinovante there was no need to waste time on such thoughts. The week was excellent.

The relaxed adult atmosphere was far removed from the visions I had from previous Sail training.

So I got thinking how is this different? What is sail training for? Why are two boats so different? There is no doubt that sail training has a valid part to play in the development of young minds. It offers excitement, responsibility, lessons on getting on with others, sharing and living together in close proximity. It also offers people an opportunity to appreciate the simpler things in life that are often forgotten. But being a little older and feeling that I had grasped the basics of the above, I didn�t really need this reinforcing.
Sue and John are excellent teachers and hosts. After a week the rudiments of working the rig and sails is easily grasped unlike a larger vessel with more �knitting and string to pull� Yes - the sail handling is more involved than a yacht, but this too can work as an advantage to those who
are more active and don�t want to just sit in a plastic cockpit wrapped in oilies for a week.
Sat in a snug cabin with a beer in hand after a days relaxed sailing around the beautiful East coast - what could be better than that?

Dave Pridmore

Visit Schooner Sail

Jost van Dyke updates

Jost van Dyke is one of the must see islands to visit during a BVI sailing charter. The world famos beach bar Foxy's attracts thousands of sailors every year. The only downside is the poor anchorage at Great Harbor.
The available anchor space has now got even smaller since the authorities installed bouys to mark the access channel for ferries. A good alternative for safe anchoring is Little Harbor where you can find overnight moorings and even some great lobster restaurants that refund your mooring fee if you eat there.
Take a short taxi ride to Great Harbor to visit Foxy's and you will not need to worry about your anchor at night.
Good news: At the right side after the reef entrance at White Bay there are now also overnight moorings available, which make this beautiful but tricky and narrow anchorage now easier to visit. For a fun ride ashore try the new ATV rental at White Bay.

You will always get the latest information from us for crewed yachts and bareboat charters at www.discountyachtcharters.com

cirali olympos chiemera kemer antalya turkei

In den ferien garantiere ich, dann sie sich in cirali sich wohlfuhlen werden,sie werden sogar uberlegen in cirali zu bleiben,woher wir dass wissen jahrlich kommen hunderte von menschen zu uns und sie sagen es ist schon hier wollen garnicht mehr zuruck wenn sie in cirali sind,mussen sie unbedingt eine yacht tur machen sazak,ceneviz,maden,boncuklu,kargili buchten werden sie im leben nie vergessen sie werden das nirgend wo anderes erleben erleben sie in der dunkelheid den brennender felsstein chiemera vergessen sie nicht dabei ihren wein und wurstschen mit zunehmen sie bei einem glas wein konnen sie dann in der vosel persvektive ins tal sehen es erwartet sie ein schoner blick Bis nach Phaselis sind es ca. 27 km, nach Adrasan ca. 30 km nach kemer ca. 35 km und bis nach Antalya ca. 85 km. sie konnen in cirali einen wagen mieten oder wenn sie wollen konnen wir auch sie durch die schone gegend fahren..

Choosing the RIGHT Boat Anchor

An essay on boat anchors by New Zealand boatbuilder, offshore cruiser, & consultant Peter Smith

Anchors are right at the heart of cruising. They allow remote and wonderful places to be visited, without the benefit of a solid dock or even mooring buoy. Put that notion with the recent comments from yachts surviving (or not surviving as the case may be) the recent spat of hurricanes worldwide, and it is clear one of the most important pieces of equipment onboard is your anchor, and associated gear. Here in New Zealand where the author resides, the majority of visiting cruisers still carry the older generation boat anchors such as plows (e.g. CQR), Deltas, claws (e.g Bruce), and flat-blade Danforth types. These boaters may not be fully aware of the benefits of the newer generation type anchors on the market � which have raised the bar somewhat in expectations of anchoring performance. Cruising can be something of a numbers game, and ensuring you have the best anchor possible is one way to stack the odds in your favor.

The author must confess at this stage to being the designer of the Rocna, a new boat anchor design which is receiving an excellent response from the international offshore fleet visiting New Zealand, with orders now also coming in from overseas. Rather than allow this article to deteriorate into an info-mercial for a particular brand, the differences between the older and newer designs will be discussed in general. Most testing (and yes, it is accepted that anchors are very difficult to test properly, but there do exist some informative comparisons) shows a big improvement evident in the new generation, which only reinforces what more and more cruisers are seeing for themselves.

Let�s discuss the common problems with the �old� generation of boat anchors. Specifically, we are talking about: Danforth-style flat-blade types, plows (CQRs and Deltas), and claws (Bruces). Practical Sailor has highlighted some of these issues repeatedly in their series of articles on anchoring. The author�s personal experience (his yacht Kiwi Roa used to carry a 110lb CQR, an 88lb Delta, and a 110lb Bruce) formed the primary motivation behind the development of the Rocna. Inherent problems with these now outdated anchor types include inconsistent setting performance (often not setting at all), poor holding in soft bottoms, and failure to penetrate in hard. There are type-specific issues also, such as the moving parts of hinged-shank plows, which can cause injury to crew as well as reducing strength; blade shapes designed to furrow (i.e. plow) through the ground (CQRs and Deltas), and the �hopping and skipping� behavior of claws (Bruces) together with their tendency to skip along the bottom rather than reset.

Inconsistent setting leads to unpredictably anchoring. Most boat anchors must be in a particular attitude (position and angle relative to the seabed) in order to set, and slight flaws in the design of the anchor lead to the attainment of this attitude being a hit-and-miss affair. The plow (particularly hinged-shank versions) is the worst offender. If a CQR, for example, lands with its blade in an upright position, it will usually set without problems, but if the blade (the actual plow part) lands on its side, with the shank rotated away, that anchor will be lucky to set at all. Commenting on the results of Danforth�s 1988 testing, Betsy Holman wrote �The 35-pound CQR alternatively bit and skipped along the bottom without getting a good hold. This would seem to be the nature of this anchor when it fails to bury.� On a hard bottom, it is not uncommon to drag a plow in this situation for 50 meters without a set � the only solution is to pick it up and try again, and hope that next time it lands on the seabed with the right attitude.
�� much of their popularity derives from the ease with which they stow on the stemhead. But their performance proved disappointing� the Bruce anchor�s reputation was founded on it being used to anchor oilrigs but a Bruce of dozens of tons is a very different animal from the ones we tested. In gravel these claws bounce about whereas in sand they lie down on their side and rarely exceed 200Kg of holding power.� � Antoine S�z�rat on the Bruce and its copies, writing for Voiles et Voiliers. He ranked the Delta �mid-field among the ploughs�, and also commented on Danforth-types. In short: �Tests show that their versatility does not put them on a par with the most radical plough anchors.� (Translated from original French)

Claws have a unique quirk in the form of hop-and-skip behavior. This is technically known as roll-stability (or lack of), and is seen when the anchor has a large amount of force applied to it. Any boat anchor, no matter how effective, will drag if you apply enough force to it, and its behavior beyond this point is particularly telling. The claw, once dragged beyond its yield, hops out of the ground, then skips along until it manages to dig in again. Unfortunately this process tends to continue since the boat, once dragging anchor, will tend to only gather speed, and the anchor becomes less and less likely to set once more. Why does it hop out in the first place? Because it is not roll-stable. Sand or mud tends to �ball� in the anchor, and does not flow evenly past the flukes. This, combined with the huge amount of torque applied to the anchor as it starts to move through the substrate, trips it � and it rolls out. A graph of resistance, or holding power, over time, usually shows a steady increase as more and more force is applied (increasing wind or tide for example), then a sharp drop off (as the anchor lets go), followed by a series of peaks and dips as the anchor bites sporadically, only to fail again and again. Even if the peak holding power of the claw was good (it isn�t), this behavior is unacceptable.

�� anchors which lie comfortably on a flat surface (principally the CQR and Danforth) are prone to skidding across the seabed and failing to find grip.� � Prof. John Knox considering the results of his own anchor testing for Practical Boat Owner. Knox also commented that �The SPADE was the best performer for a given weight. It was roll-stable and held extremely well. It was also the most deeply buried anchor. The Delta� and Bruce� gave about 60% of the SPADE�s hold.� This was before the Rocna was developed, and the B�gel was not tested.

Practical Sailor were quite explicit in their second round of testing, back in 1999. �Anchors that failed our 400-lb. minimum were the Bruce, Claw, Danforth�� they said. �Neither the Bruce, with an average holding power of 307 lbs, nor the Claw, which held to an average of 283 lbs, did anything to alter their reputations.� Poor holding power is the single most obvious potential issue with any anchor. (As an aside, although holding power is the ultimate factor, it is not the only one. An anchor with excellent holding power that never sets is of no use to anyone). Holding, or stopping, power mostly relates to a function of blade (fluke) area and configuration. All the old generation designs suffer from a basic lack of area � for any given anchor weight, there is simply not as much resistance as would be ideal. The claw, with the gaps between its �fingers�, is the worst. The plow is just that: its namesake is designed to drag a trench through the substrate, not generate resistance. Plows are also a subset of weighted-tip types, which require a percentage of anchor weight to be taken up in ballast rather than effective fluke area. Having said that, a plow tends to outperform a claw, and benefits from moderately better roll-stability. That means it is a little less likely to trip out � but, if it does, it frequently ends up in the attitude discussed above that prevents it from setting, which is very dangerous. The plow�s graph of holding power over time will increase steadily to a point higher than that of the claw, but if it rolls out, the graph will dive to practically nothing, and stay there as your boat drags the anchor along on its side.

These are the functional issues with the old generation designs. The new generation boat anchors address many of these issues, and mostly successfully. (The phrase �new generation� is a favorite of the author�s � and, while it is clearly something of a clich�, it is appropriate. Anchor design is something of an evolutionary process, with clear period distinctions � and the new generation is usually better than the old). They consist of the very basic German designed B�gel, known as the Wasi in the US, the French designed Spade, and the New Zealand designed Rocna, amongst others. The first two have been around for some time now, with their owners seeing vast improvements in general anchoring security.
�Ploughs are designed to divide the seafloor� the planar B�gel will resist more than a simple wedge and the concave shaped Spade will resist the most.� � Adrian Faulkner discussing which shape an anchor�s fluke should be, convex or concave, in Practical Boat Owner.

When asked if Mediterranean charter operation Yildiz Yachting had problems with holiday-makers dragging their anchors, Kees Verboom replied �We used to. We often had to repair boats that were damaged on rocks after anchor dragged. But since I changed the whole fleet over to German B�gel anchors, there�s been no problem.� Yet, as good as the B�gel (AKA Wasi) and the Spade are, there was room for improvement, and the Rocna in one sense represents the best of both. It has a roll-bar like the B�gel, which guarantees the anchor achieves the correct attitude every time it hits the bottom. It has a concave blade shape, like the Spade, aiming for the optimum resistance given by a spoon shape, which maximizes holding power once set. Setting is practically instant owing to the cutting edge chisel tip and general geometry of the design. Since there is no additional tip-weight (lead insert), every gram of the anchor is put to functional use, and the side-profile of the fluke is reduced, allowing ideal penetration in hard or weedy surfaces. This gives much better performance on a weight-for-weight basis.

The roll-bar, the most obvious feature upon first glance, allows the lack of a dedicated weight in the toe of the fluke. Plows invariably have some such weight. Some commentators incorrectly assume that a high tip weight is required to push the tip into the seabed, quoting specifications such as percentage-weight-on-tip (i.e. what percentage of the total weight of the anchor rests on the tip when in a setting attitude). However, the reality is that forces in the form of torque applied by the rode as your boat pulls on it are far more important than the relatively small amount of weight force present. Your anchor does not set itself when it is resting on the seabed, with no force on the rode. It is only as it starts moving that the toe begins to cut in, and, in the case of the Rocna, the mounting resistance on the fluke combined with upward resistance on the skids (mounted on the back of the blade) twists the anchor upright as it sets.
�It is unbelievable in 38 years of sailing I have never before felt an anchor set in such a powerful way. I've used Danforths and various plough-type anchors in the past. The Danforths picked up bottles and cans that caused the flukes to jam in the closed position so it would not set. The plough seemed to roll out as the yacht veered in a gust. The Rocna just digs in deeper and holds.� � Lou West, of Guardian Marine New Zealand, on his experiences with old and new generation anchors. West also produces the popular Anchor Buddy rode angel.

Fewer vessels will find themselves in trouble as these new anchors become more widely seen on bows. The author, together with his wife, has done 10,000 nautical miles now on his 50Kg (110lb) Rocna prototype, including a circumnavigation of New Zealand down to 47 degrees south, sometimes in extreme weather � hundreds of sets, and it never dragged, nor was it ever required to be set more than once. The B�gel is now very popular amongst cruisers in the Mediterranean. John Harries & Phyllis Nickel on Morgan�s Cloud recently wrote an article in Cruising World about their upgrade to two Spade anchors, saying they had effectively solved all their old anchoring problems in their high-latitude cruising grounds. American cruising guru Steve Dashew is using a Rocna on his new motoryacht Wind Horse. The trend behind these movements is a welcome one, and fellow cruisers should be encouraged to also consider upgrading their old generation hooks � or at least consider adding a new generation type to their inventory.

The failings of the older designs no longer need be tolerated, as the technology of boat anchors has simply evolved that little bit further. Far superior, and safer, anchoring performance may be expected. Of course there are, and will be, the inevitable variations and copies, which add gimmicks as sales ploys or take shortcuts to cut costs but do little to further the technology. With care however, and sensible buyer awareness, the new generation anchors can mean the old clich� that �newer is better� is, for once, true. That means better anchoring. And that means better cruising.

About the Author

Peter Smith is the original cruiser. He sailed competitively in his early days, as well as founding successful New Zealand production boat-building firm Cavalier Yachts in the 60s. He and wife Josephine left New Zealand in 1978 to go cruising onboard Apteryx, a Cavalier 39.

A professional yachtsman and boat-builder, Peter is back in New Zealand on his own custom designed and built 15m (50') aluminium sloop Kiwi Roa. He has spent thirty years engaged in professional sailing, yacht deliveries, and boat-building all over the world, including 10 years of running his own yard in Colchester, England � where Kiwi Roa was built.

Kiwi Roa is currently hanging out in New Zealand, with plans to head off again early next year, east-about this time, starting with Chile, Patagonia, and the Antarctic. In the meantime, his Rocna anchor design is being developed commercially, primarily for the cruising market.

More information about the Rocna anchor, and further discussion about Peter�s anchor philosophy and design, can be discovered online at www.rocna.com.

References

�Call of the B�gel� Editorial, Practical Boat Owner March 2004
�The Power to Hold� Betsy Holman and Miles Clark, Cruising World May 1989
�In Sand, the Spade and Bulwagga Rank at the Top of 15 Anchors� Editorial, Practical Sailor January 1999
�Will My Anchor Hold?� Prof. John Knox, Practical Boat Owner July and August 2002
�Comparatif: 20 ancres au banc d'essai� Antoine S�z�rat, Voiles et Voiliers May 2003
�Does It Dig In?� Adrian Faulkner, Practical Boat Owner July 1999
�How Anchors Work� Colin Thorne, Cruising Helmsman September 2002