Parachute Anchors, Para-Anchor, Sea Anchor

Parachute Anchors, Para-Anchor, Sea Anchor

I have been for a long time an advocate for the parachute type sea anchor, deployed from the bow of the vessel, for use as the ultimate survivability tool in really extreme sea conditions:
....from a posting of mine quite awhile ago…
“Storm survivability should be considered at the design stage for any vessel making offshore passages. It's generally acknowledged that this is best accomplished by facing into a truly strong storm (a big headsea). As mechanical things go, its not hard to imagine some lost of power at a most inopportune time during an extended storm. This could put the solely powered vessel in a perilous position in short order. The motor/sailer and in particular one with our ketch style rig would have several sail configurations which would hold her into the wind. However, I would strongly recommend installing a dedicated sea anchor system that not only takes care of you in those extreme heavy weather situations, but can be utilized in a variety of other less threatening conditions. With a backup sea anchor system aboard, I would ride out a hurricane in this vessel.”

This conclusion on my part was reached was as a result of 3 occasions of actual experiences at sea in storms, but never with a sea anchor onboard. It was following these experiences, and upon reading of others’ experiences with heavy weather tactics that I ran across one of the original books dedicated to the subject, “The Parachute Anchoring System” by John & Joan Casanova, Victor Shane, Daniel Shewmon. I also reviewed Victor’s original “Drag Device Data Base”. These books, and others on heavy weather sailing, combined with my previous practical experiences convinced me that in the ultimate situation the ‘anchor-at-sea’ approach was the best approach as long as it could be attained.

To quote Victor Shane;
“Every form of warfare involves a defense as well as an offense. There are times when the mariner can fight the elements and, with good seamanship, prevail. But there are also times when he must, in all wisdom, cease all offense and place his vessel in a defensive mode. Going with Mother Nature, and trying to keep up with Mother Nature are two different things!”

In a similar vein I wrote about a fight with the sea, “Heavy boats carry their momentum into each trough and crest in a battle with the sea, while relatively lt-weight boats with slender hulls slice through with less battering. "You can out-think the ocean, but you can't out-slug the ocean," quoting a sign posted at the U.S. Naval Academy.

Special Swivel from Colligo Marine

This little press release was what brought this subject back to mind. you need a GOOD swivel for a parachute anchor system as well as this hurricane application they speak of



COLLIGO MARINE RECEIVES US PATENT
FOR HURRICANE ANCHOR SYSTEM
Helps Keep Boats Anchored Securely – Even In High Winds, Waves

MESA, ARIZONA (USA) – Colligo Marine has received United States Patent Number 7,516,713 for its unique hurricane anchor system that helps boat owners in the path of storms anchor their vessels securely - even in the highest winds and waves.

The Colligo system allows for the placement of three anchors on a swivel and three lines back to the boat. The boat can then swivel on the anchors without getting anchor chains and lines twisted around each other. The minimum breaking strength for this heavy-duty system is over 30,000 lbs. It comes complete with galvanized bridle plates, shackles and a swivel. Mono and multi-hull models are available.

The Colligo Marine hurricane anchor system is distributed by Taylor Made Products as the Storm Surge Anchor System and available at marine retailers across the US. For more information, visit www.colligomarine.com

Editors Note: a high resolution image of the Colligo hurricane anchor system for publication can be downloaded at www.homeportmarine.com/marcom/colligohas.zip

Survivability

This 'sea anchor' subject came up briefly on another subject thread about 4 years ago, and there were some interesting contributions. But this subject is too important to get buried in an old subject thread that is not so titled.

So have a look HERE for that other material beginning with posting #8

Survivability

But in any case, mono or multi, I want a really proper sea anchor (off the bow)installation. By proper I am referring to not only the 'parachute type anchor' itself, but all of the rigging and its non-chaffing attachment as well. I really believe this gear will allow you to get through the worst of a storm and conserve that energy you will need both before and after.

Maybe go read a few websites:
http://www.paraanchor.com/info.rigsystem.html

http://www.paraanchors.com.au/page6.htm

http://www.para-anchor.com/news.bluewater.html

http://creativemarine.com/newprodct/paratech/paratech.htm

Thar hurricane that struck Fl recently got me to thinking about this subject again. If I had a big catamaran docked in the Tampa or Naples area what might I have considered doing if I really wanted to try and save it.

I have in the long ago past thought I might just take it offshore to deeper water and anchor it to the sea,...then ride out the storm there. I had come to these conclusions after reading MANY accounts of vessels that had survived BIG weather while anchored to a sea anchor.

In this latest storm it could have proven viable to go out in the Gulf and stay in that north-western quadrant of the storm, anchored to the sea, and away from any fixed obstacles.

....interesting sideline

All Solar City in FL survives Hurricane in spectacular manner (12 miles from Ft Meyers!)


https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/02/us/solar-babcock-ranch-florida-hurricane-ian-climate

https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2022/10...-suffered-no-power-losses-from-hurricane-ian/

https://babcockranch.com/