Daria and I are conducting a survey of how OCC members anchor and what they use to connect themselves to the sea bed. Please take a minute or two to complete the survey. We will publish the results on the Forum and on the website when we have had enough responses to form a meaningful picture.

Click here to complete this 2 minute anonymous survey.

Simon

Hi Robbie,
Great thought -- OCC members on the wild side.

There are many studies that have been published comparing different anchors and reporting holding power and we cover virtually all of them in our book, "Happy Hooking. The Art of Anchoring." I 'll try to share the most significant results here over time. A really good "scientific" review was published in PBO last year (2011). My favorite test series was done by West Marine and published by three magazines including SAIL.

Here 's a partial list of the sources:

Boote, Von Grundstucken und Haltungsnoten. October 2009.
Yachting Monthly, Which Anchor is Best? November 2009
Voiles et Voilliers, Jette l’ancre! Juillet 2009.
Yacht Skippers Magazin, Ankertest Vertrauensfrage. August 2009.
Vela, Ancore di nuova generazione. May 2009
Practical Sailor. Rock and Roll. PS takes heavy-duty roll-bar and Bruce-style anchors to the extreme. November 2008.
Practical Sailor, Three new anchors throw their weaight into the Practical Sailor Chronicles. January 2008.
MBM Club Pick the right hook. May 2007
Power and Motoryacht Anchors Aweigh February 2007
Sail Magazine, Holding Power. October 2006
Segeln 11 Anker IM Test. September 2006
Practical Sailor. Soft Mud Anchors for $200 or less. Part II. April 2006.
Practical Sailor, Anchor Reset Tests, January 2001
Practical Sailor, Anchor Tests: Soft Sand over Hard Sand http://www.practical-sailor.com/boatus/anchors/4rhod4598/03anchor.html
Yachting Monthly, Ultimate Holding Power. December 2006
Safety at Sea Studies. 1994 San Francisco Anchor Tests. http://offshore.ussailing.org/Assets/Offshore/SAS+Studies/1994+anchor+test.pdf
Safety at Sea Studies. 1995 Anchor Study. Puget Sound.
http://offshore.ussailing.org/Assets/Offshore/SAS+Studies/anchor+study.pdf
Safety at Sea Studies. 1990 Mud Anchor Tests. http://offshore.ussailing.org/SAS/General_Information/Safety_Studies/Safety_At_Sea_Studies_-_1990_Mud_Anchor_Tests.htm
Safety at Sea Studies. 1990 Sand Anchor Tests. http://offshore.ussailing.org/SAS/General_Information/Safety_Studies/Safety_At_Sea_Studies_-_1990_Sand_Anchor_Test.htm
Safety at Sea Studies. Portland Oregon Anchor Study. Robert A. Smith.
http://offshore.ussailing.org/SAS/General_Information/Safety_Studies/Safety_At_Sea_Studies_-_Portland__Oregon_Anchor_Study.htm
Safety at Sea Studies. Rope to Chain Splice Test. 1994.
http://offshore.ussailing.org/SAS/General_Information/Safety_Studies/Safety_At_Sea_Studies_-_Rope_to_Chain_Splice_Test.htm

Vice Commodore, OCC