Anchor riding sail

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lavrendios
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Joined: 1/13/13
Posts: 20
Anchor riding sail

Hello to all,
Keeping a boat safe swinging at anchor in a 40+ kt. meltemi, the prevailing summer wind in the Aegean Sea is not uncommon.
Has anyone used an anchor riding sail rigged at the end of the boom? It seems there is not such a ready made sail available on the market.
Instead of proceeding along a touch-and-go basis, does anyone know which sail area would be best? Thank you in advance for your expertise.
Lavrendios.

Lavrendios

S/y RIPPAPAÏ,
C36 MK1, tall rig
Year 1993, # 1286

pkeyser's picture
pkeyser
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Joined: 5/18/13
Posts: 659

Lavrendios-
I don't have an answer, but maybe can offer a couple of things to think about. 

Our C30 anchor line consisted of a short length of chain and a large length of rope. When anchored in just 15-20kts of wind, regardless of scope, the boat would swing pretty dramatically. Our C36 anchor line is all chain. We hardly swing in the same conditions. The chain doesn't slide over the seabed the way line does. (We have a lot of kelp and rocks in the areas we anchor. I haven't anchored in sandy bottoms).

If you have an outboart motor hoist- you could probably make an "upside down" sail with the foot held in place by the lift arm and the head tied off to the lift base. It wouldn't be a very large sail, but at 20-40 kts, I would think it would reduce the swing.

Paul & Wendy Keyser
"First Light"
Rye NH
2005 C36 MKII #2257
Wing, M35B

lavrendios
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Joined: 1/13/13
Posts: 20

Yes indeed, chain makes a difference and hanging a weight to the anchor chain so it drags onto the sea-bed is still better but not enough in a strong wind. therefore a riding sail is both, more secure and more comfortable.
Thank you for the idea to use an O-B lift aft.
Lavrendios

Lavrendios

S/y RIPPAPAÏ,
C36 MK1, tall rig
Year 1993, # 1286

LeslieTroyer's picture
LeslieTroyer
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Joined: 3/13/16
Posts: 533

It doesn’t take much 12-16 sq ft.  Sailrite.com has a smallish one for $105 (this is a kit so you have to sew it up)

 

Les & Trish Troyer
Mahalo 
Everett, WA
1983 C-36 Hull #0094
C-36 MK 1 Technical Editor. 

Commodore

 

lavrendios
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Joined: 1/13/13
Posts: 20

Hi Les,
So you have made your own from the kit, I guess. Let me know if you are satisfied with a 12-16 sq ft only riding sail. Thanks.
Lavrendios.

Lavrendios

S/y RIPPAPAÏ,
C36 MK1, tall rig
Year 1993, # 1286

Channel Islander's picture
Channel Islander
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Joined: 10/8/11
Posts: 378

Hi Lavendrios,

Don't forget to search the site. Most questions have been asked and answered!

I searched 'riding sail' and got quite a few hits including maybe the best past discussion at /forum/sailing-discussion/riding-sail.

(PS I apologize that the search form was broken the last couple of days!)

- nick

Nick Tonkin
*Former* Website Administrator, C36/375IA
*Former* owner, C36 tr/fk #255, Santa Barbara, CA

lavrendios
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Joined: 1/13/13
Posts: 20

Hi Nick,
Thank you for your piece of advice, I went straight to it and, as a matter of fact, this proves to be an old issue. I have, now, to do my own experiment out of two or three solutions.
Lavrendios

Lavrendios

S/y RIPPAPAÏ,
C36 MK1, tall rig
Year 1993, # 1286

William Matley's picture
William Matley
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Joined: 1/15/08
Posts: 166

Lavrendios,
I notice you and I have boats very close in the production cycle so I can assume that my boat acts a lot like yours.

I have had the same swinging, in the wind problem and I anchor in mud bottoms regularly.

I have built the riding sail from sailrite, they have a 20.25 sq ft size as an option.  That's the riding sail I built and use.

It is an excellent kit and easy to make if you have access to machine that will zig zag stitch.

The sail does help a lot, but if I had to do it over, I'd call sailrite and ask them to give ne a larger riding sail kit.

That said, I'd buy it and build it again.

https://www.sailrite.com/Anchor-Riding-Sail-Kit-20-25-Sq-Feet

Bill Matley
Duncan Bay Boat Club
Cheboygan, Michigan
Lakes Huron, Michigan,
Canadian North Channel
"Spirit of Aloha" Hull #1252

bakerha's picture
bakerha
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Joined: 7/23/10
Posts: 267

I'm considering the all chain rode as well but I'm concerned with the mess anchoring in mud bottoms.  Was wondering if anyone has just tried an aft anchor.  We did that in the North Channel last year and it worked well.  Granted - not in 40+ knots of wind (maybe 25) and sheltered waters so little wave action too.
But we had almost no swing and I slept well.

_____________
Harold Baker
S/V Lucky Duck
Duncan Bay Boat Club
Cheboygan Michigan - Lake Huron
1989 C-36 mkI TR/WK M25XP

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