[Capri25] anchors away my boys

[Ernest Brody]

Since Dallas has provided the J/22 specification, I’m going to chime in
here.  The Sonar specification is

“(v) One anchor of not less than 3.6 kg in weight and with not less than 30
m of continuous line of not less than 8 mm in diameter”

3.6 kg works out to 7.92 lb.  30 m is 97.5 ft.  8 mm is ½ inch.

At IFDS Worlds in 2012 they decided to weigh (determine the weight of)
anchors among the competitors.  Many were using a folding anchor with 4
flukes that stows very nicely.  However, they weigh about 3.4 kg.  It was
amusing to watch people running around looking for 8 lb anchors.  This is
the top of world competition where people shave the rule as closely as they
can (sometimes read cheat).  Sometimes they get tripped up.

Captain Hook carried an 8 lb Danforth and 100 ft of ½ inch rode.  I will
point out that we carried it in the bilge by the keel and if we had to get
it out we would have had to remove David Burdette’s bench; not an easy task
even at the dock.

The purpose of carrying an anchor is safety.  Have I used mine in an
emergency on Lake Minnetonka?  I can recall at least three storms where I
used it and was glad I had it.  Mine had 6 ft of chain in addition to the
above.  It held my both my 4000 lb Morgan 22 and my 2200 lb Sonar very well.
A Capri 25 weighs about 50% more than a Sonar.  My opinion is that the
reason for an anchor minimum rule is to improve safety in addition to making
weight uniform across all competitors.

Ernest

 

From: capri25-bounces at lists.wyc.org [mailto:capri25-bounces at lists.wyc.org]
On Behalf Of John Speltz
Sent: Monday, January 28, 2013 9:39 AM
To: capri25 at lists.wyc.org
Subject: [Capri25] anchors away my boys

 

Congratulations to our new fleet captain, Temple.  I know you’ll enjoy the
job and be a great service to the fleet.

On another topic, I was disappointed in the rule change regarding our
anchors.  I understood the change to an 8 pound anchor rule was to make the
weight uniform across all competitors and to promote safety.  And I am all
for that 
 but, here is where I disagree.

If a Capri 25 is currently carrying a lighter-weight anchor, they could
logically add chain (or more chain) to get to the 8 pound minimum weight
plus greatly increase the holding power of the hook with this extra chain.
This is a win-win solution.  The combined weight of the anchor, chain and
rode all weights the same plus the holding power is greatly enhanced with
more chain. 

With the recent rule change, many owners will have to, unnecessarily, buy
another anchor when the hook they already own could be easily retrofitted.
This was not well thought out.  In addition, there is a backhanded incentive
to ditch existing chain, thus reducing the safety of the anchor.  It makes
no sense.

I am not sure this was talked about amongst other Capri 25 owners.  I never
got the impression that there was a rules “committee” involved in the
decision where other points of view could be brought up.  I am concerned
that the lack of forethought and logic will prompt a low level of
compliance.

I feel sad that it might be too late. But I hope we could somehow re-address
this issue.  I did not think it was my place, as fleet captain, to argue the
point that night.  

 

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