Ground Tackle
by Lynne & Chris Morgan

Since the anchor, chain and rope are our only insurance, it makes good sense to use it ALL.

The theory of 3x length, blah blah...works well in the book, but what is the use of having chain in the anchor locker?

We have 200ft of 3/8th chain on a 70-pound Delta anchor, which goes in the water in most situations. If anchoring where there is some fetch, 50ft of 3/4, 3-line rope is added to this, to absorb the spring.

Our fishing experience has taught us the value of good, strong, long anchor rope in harsh conditions.

We carry a complete spare of the above, in case we lose, or need to let our anchor go in an emergency.

We also carry a 70lb fisherman's anchor for nasty reef anchorages, and a 50lb Bruce on 80ft of 3/8th chain and 1/2-inch rope, used as a stern anchor mostly.

This may sound like a lot of gear for a 40ft boat, however we have already had all this gear in the water at once (French Guiana, Kourou River).

Not quite ground tackle, but invaluable to us is our parachute anchor, used many times on the fishing boats in rough weather. On MALAIKA when we were becalmed in the horse latitudes, we used the parachute in the current and made 40 miles a day in the right direction.