Please select your home edition
Edition
Upffront 2020 Foredeck Club SW LEADERBOARD

How to Anchor Your Boat the Eco-Friendly Way

by Naomi Copperweight 30 Jun 2022 04:00 PDT
How to set a boat anchor © upffront.com

Anchoring can be a necessary and efficient way to secure your boat in certain circumstances, but it can also damage the seabed if not done properly. There are eco-friendly ways to anchor your boat that will help preserve the seabed. By using these methods you can minimise the impact of anchoring on marine life and habitats.

The RYA and The Green Blue have a joint environmental awareness programme, and have developed several steps you can take to protect the seabed and avoid damage to your boat:

  • Pick an anchorage away from seagrass, reefs, shellfish beds etc or the most sensitive areas.
  • Ensure that you're not dragging your anchor by having an appropriate length of chain and warp. This will help reduce scouring of the seabed. If you think your anchor is dragging, raise it and re-anchor.
  • If you think your anchor is holding well, keep checking it to ensure that it's not dragging.
  • When leaving raise your anchor correctly. If the boat is pulling back from the anchor, you may need to slowly motor towards it as the crew pulls in the slack and raises the anchor.
  • Choose an existing mooring over anchoring where possible.

Not only can you follow the steps above, but you can also be mindful on your approach with these following steps:

  • Know your depth and draft
  • Make sure to know the tides
  • If you run into seagrass, try your best to avoid causing further damage with your engine.

So why is seagrass so important?

Seagrass is quite literally, the lungs of the ocean. Seagrass captures carbon up to 35 times faster than tropical rainforests and, even though it only covers 0.2% of the seafloor, it absorbs 10% of the ocean's carbon each year.

Anchoring your boat can be a great way to enjoy the water, but it's important to do so responsibly. By choosing an anchorage away from sensitive areas and using the appropriate length of chain and warp, you can help minimise scouring the seabed. If your anchor is dragging, raise it and re-anchor in a different spot; if it continues to drag, it might be time to choose a new anchorage altogether.

Responsible sailing means taking care of our oceans.

We have a large range of anchors for all boat types at upffront.com. If you have any questions about anchors and anchoring, please contact us at or to check out our range of anchors click the link below:

Boat Anchors

Related Articles

Spinnaker Snuffers - Better Than Furling?
upffront.com gives you the detailed answer A snuffer is a simple, reliable method of dousing an asymmetric spinnaker. Despite advances in furling technology, snuffers remain the first choice for many offshore race yachts such as Class 40 and IMOCA. Posted on 25 May
Discovering Ronstan
The ultimate introduction to quality and innovative solutions If there is one brand name that is synonymous with quality and innovative marine products specifically designed and engineered for sailors, it's Ronstan. This marque is renowned throughout the Sailing World. Posted on 19 May
Robline rope configurator
New customisable products from upffront.com even include splices Upffront.com recently added a range of Robline ropes to the configurable product range, allowing you to choose splicing options and purchase finished sheets and halyards directly online. Posted on 12 May
Jefa Autopilot Direct Drives - Simply the Best?
What makes up a good autopilot system and why the details matter The Jefa direct drives are something of a hallmark in autopilot drive engineering. Every aspect has been designed from the ground up to create an efficient, powerful and long-lasting pilot drive. Posted on 3 May
Adding a staysail?
Mast hardware options - a guide by upffront.com We have previously reported on the benefits of adding a staysail. But what about the mast fitting? For people looking to retrofit a staysail on a rig without an existing staysail sheave or tang, this can often be the crunch point. Posted on 27 Apr
The Importance of Teamwork in Sailing
upffront.com look at briefings, language and safety We cannot think of another sport where the importance of teamwork is so vital both before and during the actual event. Whether that event is a leisurely cruise or an ocean-going race. Posted on 19 Apr
Get Ready to Kedge
Anchoring for race yachts The practice of kedging has been used for hundreds of years as a method of manoeuvring or orienting a sailing vessel against tide and wind. A kedge anchor is typically smaller and lighter than the primary anchor, making it easier to handle. Posted on 12 Apr
Luff Foil versus Hanks
Which is best for you? upffront.com detail the considerations For racing yachts and cruiser/racers with a fixed (non-furling) headstay there are really two possible methods of attaching the luff of the jib to the wire or rod forestay: in a luff foil, or with hanks. Posted on 5 Apr
A Guide to Bowsprit Configuration
Carbon or aluminium, furling or non-furling, and what is needed to 'peel' A bowsprit is now an almost inevitable feature of a racing yacht or performance cruiser and there are also a number of off-the-shelf retrofit options available. The uptake is due in part to the popularity of asymmetric downwind sails. Posted on 29 Mar
Top Tips on How to Prep Your Boat for Spring
10 jobs that could easily be overlooked but are potentially critical Spring is approaching and we start to think about getting our boats ready for the coming season. Here is my list of ten jobs that could easily be overlooked but are potentially critical for you to enjoy a safe season ahead. Posted on 23 Mar
Upffront 2020 Foredeck Club SW FOOTER