How to Sail a Boat Onto & Off of Anchor; An Important Skill Every Sailor Should Know!

[@BackseatGamingJesus]

Hey, good video. I sailed 8000nm over 4 years without an engine, and this is essentially how I did it too.

[@treasurecoastgypsy]

You guys are truly becoming a cohesive, cruising team. Its nice to see Rhonda, becoming as Salty ,as James.!

[@kevparr]

Sending ❤ to the man that inspired me to get into sailing. I helmed a 28 footer on the sea this weekend, if it hadn't been for James I would still be watching youtube videos and procrastinating.

[@SailorJames]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@Fwdking]

Thanks , that's any easy breakdown. By now you're probably / hopefully in north Queensland enjoying The Whitsunday Islands and perfect weather .enjoy. 🦘🇭🇲👍

[@SailorJames]

Not to the Whitsundays yet but not far away, sunny skies but chilly air

[@seanmolony-redstickastro238]

Hey I’m really financially strapped or I would be supporting you, but I wanted you to know how much I look forward to your videos. Thanks man. When things get better I’ll hook you up.

[@SailorJames]

Watching, commenting and sharing on social media are great ways to support! Glad you enjoy the videos 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@seanmolony-redstickastro238]

@@SailorJames thanks man

[@mountainmandale1587]

Don't feel bad about that. We're all just trying to get through this thing they call life. Keep on keeping on, my brother.👍

[@lofiurbex2511]

Ya know, I just wanted to tell you that I really look forward to your videos. I discovered you about a year ago when I was playing a mindless game online and I had your video of you sailing to Hawaii on my second monitor. It was such an enjoyable hour, I still think about it a year later. At the time, it seemed like a small, seemingly insignificant moment in my life, but the fact I think about it once a month or so says something. I'm smack dab in the middle of the US. I don't have a lot of money, so my hopes of sailing the seas (or even seeing the ocean) is next to impossible. In that moment, I was able to live vicariously through you and I wanted you to know it meant a lot to me. Thank you for doing what you do and I look forward to your future videos.

[@SailorJames]

Thank you for this message, and believe me when I tell you that very little is impossible if you want it bad enough and do everything you can to make it happen. I started out with very little money (and still have very little money) but I was stubborn and determined and took one step at a time.

[@midwestsailor]

Well said!

[@southernpaths2986]

This is the kind of sailing content you really don’t get anywhere else, at least not presented this way… great stuff and very useful! Btw, Rhonda seems like a natural sailor!

[@SailorJames]

Happy to hear this 🙏🏻 I like to try and help people.

[@LoveGrubGalley]

Thank you 🙏🏼 I definitely had a lot of fun, and learnt soooo much, huge boost in confidence!

[@erbrock1]

I really appreciate when you share your skill and knowledge. You're a great instructor. Thank you and safe travels.

[@SailorJames]

Thank You 🙏🏻 I am happy to share the things I have learned

[@stevehodder1]

Every sailor should know and practice sailing on and off the anchor. We try and do it a few times a season. With our A30.

[@MICHAELMEREDITHSR]

Thanks for teaching some of us a *needed* skill James. 🙏🦉

[@SailorJames]

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@OuSommes-NousSailing]

Thanks James and Rhonda, Nice to have another meaningful sailing exercise to do rather than just banging around a bit when we don't have time to get too far away from the harbor. Always enjoy having something practical to work on that expands our skill set and helps us develop as sailors. Thanks again, Thad from S/V Ou Sommes-Nous

[@SailorJames]

It’s a wonderful skill to have and is fun to do ! There is always something for all of us to learn !

[@Mallorica-Reisen]

Good to know and learn these skills ! Thanks James and Ronda !

[@leezettb]

Can’t wait to Practice this. Thanks James and Rhonda

[@paulsteventon8315]

Great video. I've only had to do the drive over the anchor then spin set (in the marina - at night!).❤❤

[@SailorJames]

I have only done it under motor twice in very tight anchorages

[@gunghoadventures871]

Another awesome video - Thanks James.

[@SV_Aroo]

Thanks, guys. Good lesson.

[@stevehartley8162]

Thanks James. Something I need to do more of. Cheers!

[@SailorJames]

Always fun and good to practice

[@ScotChef]

watched your channel a couple of years ago, you had troubles then, good to see you overcame and sailed on 🎉✊🏻🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 subbed.

[@simonorellana8990]

Great video thanks for the explication it's really great

[@thehappytravelingviking3313]

Another epic video. I am definitely taking this and practicing. You guys are both inspiring!!

[@SailorJames]

It’s a must know skill and a blast

[@tonybarnes3858]

Thanks for this, we're into our second season on a new-to-us 18 footer, and we're looking forward to anchoring out on a local lake and sleeping aboard. Everything you cover is applicable for us at this stage (having looked into scope, chain, snubber etc.), ya'll bringing the psyche!

[@SailorJames]

Waking up under anchor is so wonderful

[@deeneeevans1255]

The Chance too Escape to calmer waters, and get clear of the insanity that is happening now! James and Rhonda have discovered the cure for Stupid! A magnificent Sailboat on the open Seas! Cool Sailing Mr. J and Mrs. R ......

[@nearlynativenursery8638]

James, thanks for posting this how too video. I really the how to videos as it will make my dreaming of slowly sailing around the world far easier. Really happy you have Rhonda and her passion for adventure on your boat as that has to make life much more enjoyable and cozy. Jim Rodgers

[@BigDreamsBoating]

Great video

[@Awinn12345]

Lol. Lost my motor going into West end Bahamas. Sailed 2.5 years everywhere, on and off anchor, timed cuts on and off banks for slack tides, etc. then sailed it back to Florida, allot of fun.

[@SailorJasonTaylor]

One of my biggest fears is losing my engine in a crowded field, so this is actually huge for me to learn and practice.

[@SailorJames]

It’s a must know skill !!!

[@georgeorwell4059]

I had a 55 footer with no engine. Sail so you can bail. Coming up to a mooring sail close hauled under main only, on a tack where you can bear away if needed. Depower early and use your momentum. It gets tricky with wind off the land because gusts can come from random directions and stuff you up. Keep your sail up until attached to the mooring, again sail so you can bail.

[@SteveLFarmer]

Good job Rhonda! I will be practicing soon enough.

[@SailorJames]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@LoveGrubGalley]

Woohooo!! Very excited for you!

[@andreaalfano5299]

What a great channel!! Thank you so much for sharing all this info

[@enriquelaroche5370]

Cool Video , reminded me of a crazy anchoring I did at Chrissy field in San Francisco down wind Golden gate Bridge behind me approaching the 4th of July viewing area pretty good wind but short sail. I was solo and brought my anchor back to the cockpit and picked my target , But there was a crowd of other boats anchored waiting for the show. I had slowed down and dropped the anchor off the stern it set and spun the bow 180 degrees , the amusing part was the boats in front of me were full of 4th of July celebrants who had obviously been drinking they saw me coming and they grabbed fenders to cushion a collision they anticipated as I approached. Unfortunately they threw the fenders over the side but they were not attached to their boat. I stopped a good 50 -60 yards from any boat so no danger of collision. their fenders floated away. My engine was on in neutral .Young and crazy on the bay. I knew the depth and bottom Muddy sand and very good holding.

[@SailorJames]

I love this story 😂😂😂 thanks for sharing

[@koa818]

Have nice day Captain this amazing

[@johncavar2914]

Good 👍 work guys Ghosting, great terminology

[@24hourtravellers]

Thank you for sharing this maneuver. We also hand pull our anchor chain but we have to flake the chain as it drops into a slope down the anchor locker so it's hard to stand and pull. We have to sit over an open locker and we try to move only when it's calm conditions. How you did this solo before Rhonda must have been so hectic especially once that anchor is up.

[@SailorJames]

Doing it solo is easy, it’s only challenging in 20+ knots of wind. Otherwise it’s fine, and never hectic because I never anchor anywhere that would put my boat at risk

[@allbushnocraft3031]

cool man these sort of vids are great and appreciated 🤙

[@jamesstrom6991]

It’s been done for a thousand years. but it’s a skill for sure.

[@SailorJames]

🙄🙄🙄

[@HP-qj4gz]

I've just discovered your channel! New subscriber because I admire your intelligent approach to real sailing. I also have a 1965 built boat, a long keeled folkboat variant!

[@SailorJames]

Thanks for checking out the videos 👍🏻

[@seglarmange]

Thanks a lot

[@nickhewlett4022]

Good stuff thanks

[@robertadamsmetaldetecting6324]

Great tutorial on a must have skill. I watch a channel where he has no engine and has circumnavigated. But I think he was born on a ⛵️

[@SailorJames]

People circumnavigated for centuries without engines, to do it nowadays greatly limits where and when you can go and puts you at very serious risk of shipwreck, much like it did all the centuries before boats had auxiliary motors.

[@teamtwodogs]

The presence of an auxiliary engine doesn’t create good seamanship and navigation. It is the sailor’s skilled use of the tools at hand that prevents shipwreck.

[@californiakayaker]

So, where are the Kimberly's from you right now ? This went into my Sailing anchors playlist. First person I saw doing this routinely was Holly Wind Hippie. You both have 32 to 36 foot boats, but a 50 foot boat geared for hurricanes needs a heavy anchor and you'd have to do all this with a windlass. (120 pound anchors ! )

[@SailorJames]

The kimberlies are west of Darwin a place we will not be able to visit. Holly has a 27ft boat and mine is 30 but this technique can be used on any sailboat regardless of size or if it had a manual or electric winch

[@maurizioferrario1949]

interesting, James, I will try to practise. A question, which I believe can apply if you have significant wind: would it be good to approach the spot where you want to drop the anchor turning the boat into the wind and then let the boat go back pushed by the wind and settle the anchor? Same as I would do if approaching a mooring ball.

[@SailorJames]

Yes if you have the wind and the space to turn.

[@AllanDrJones]

"..and if you're a solo sailor... Hope for the best." lol

[@mikahist4155]

What effects does have the oil quality on the engine?? What's the price for a barrel down there??

[@SailorJames]

No clue

[@perfstaas7188]

Lovely : )

[@TheHarper6]

Hi, I recently went to sandals in Bahamas and sailed one of there little sail boats, I mentioned to my husband how I needed to watch some videos on how to sail so I could do it better since I liked it so much. He started looking for videos and he latched on to yours so I watched a few and found them interesting and let them play falling to sleep to them. Well I woke to you doing a questions and answers video and it had me have a few questions pop up in my mind I wondered if you encountered and then I had a question about a tattoo you have as I have a few and like to know meanings of them. So I’ll start with the tattoo. The one on your I’m assuming it’s your left elbow. I was wondering what that meant? Then I was wondering if you believe in mermaids and ever encountered any?. I know some will think it’s a funny question but just as the universe is enormous so is the sea, anything is possible. Then I was wondering if you ever have been to the Bermuda Triangle? If you have any videos on it? You have a lot of videos so I was hoping you could pin point it for me. I do hope you will answer my silly questions. Much appreciated, you’re awesome keep up doing what you love and remember there will always be critics and fans, don’t take to heart the critics, they don’t understand. That’s ok, the world would be boring without the diversity’s.

[@SailorJames]

The tattoos on my left elbow are a pitcher plant , which is a carnivorous plant, (I love them) and I have a psychic cross tattoo this is the logo for the band Psychic TV. I do not believe in mermaids but have certainly met a few on land. Yes I have sailed across the Bermuda Triangle, you can find it by searching “Bermuda Triangle” on my channel, it’s from 2016, and a different style than my current videos

[@ArtSailing]

Hi. Is your anchor Mantus? And haw heavy is it? Its looking that your chain is 10 mm. Fair winds and Good luck!

[@SailorJames]

45lb mantus with 5/16HT chain

[@ArtSailing]

@@SailorJames thanks!

[@patrickfitzoot]

How big is that Rocna? I have a 33kg on a 39' and I think it looks crazy oversized, but seeing yours it seems proportional.

[@SailorJames]

It’s a Mantus, I would never own a Rocna after seeing the notorious “does not reset” video. It’s 45lbs

[@patrickfitzoot]

@@SailorJames oh that explains it, the Mantus is so much wider for its weight. Yeah the Rocna can jam with mud etc, but what can you do, can't always get what you want.

[@RBean47]

Is there room on your boat for a electric winch

[@SailorJames]

Yes but I don’t need one

[@kaine10gabriel]

⛵ ❤

[@offgridexodus]

I don't get why you run at the helm... if your not moving at less 1,5/2kts the tiller is useless. Try by unrolling the Genoa just 1/5 and play with that to point the right way, much quicker

[@SailorJames]

I explained all my reasons on the video

[@SailingSarah]

Don't need no stinking engine.... 😒 ...... until you need one.

[@Hindukushsailing]

👍👍