Olympic Anchors

Matching an anchor to the seabed

No single anchor design holds equally well in every seabed; mud, sand, weed and rock each favour a different profile and fluke shape, so it is worth thinking about where you actually anchor most before choosing rather than picking on size alone. Anchor weight should be matched to boat length and displacement with a margin for windage, since an anchor sized to the manufacturer's minimum recommendation gives little safety margin in anything beyond settled conditions.

Bow roller fit is worth checking before ordering: the anchor needs to sit and self-launch cleanly through the roller without fouling the pulpit or needing to be manhandled over the bow, and roller width varies more between boats than owners often expect.

Chain and rope rode should be sized to the anchor's shackle point, and it is worth checking chain calibre against the windlass gypsy at the same time if you are upgrading the anchor as part of a wider ground tackle refit.