Relieving strain on windlass?

I've always been told not to use the windlass at all once anchored. I have a large cleat just aft of the windlass in line with my bow roller. Once the anchor and chain are on the bottom and I have enough rode out I pull some slack out of the chain locker and transfer the anchor line to the cleat and make it off. Then I back down to set the anchor. To retrieve I simply take the line off the cleat and it goes back on the windlass for hauling.

Using the stopper is a good practice to take the strain off the windlass. As Pascal says, a bridle (we call is a snubber) with a chain hook will act as a extra shock absorber, which will also reduce the risk of jerking the anchor free as well.
On my boat, we use the snubber and then put the chain on the stopper as insurance if the snubber breaks.

For smaller yachts, West Marine sells one with a hook and short piece of seemed like bungee cord wrapped in stitched tough canvas, that was maybe 4-5' with a loop.......I used that on a 55' Neptunus and worked well at taking any strain off the windlass and also shock......What I've found most of the time in moderate wind or current is if you put enough chain out, there really isn't much stress on the windlass because of the caternary effect of all the chain on the bottom.

The one we used had a hook on the end, but I'd find a hook that fits perfectly onto a link of chain and just make up a short big loop on the other end to throw over a cleat.

http://www.westmarine.com/buy/simply-brilliant--anchorsnubber--11097508

+1

I fully accept Pascal's way with one exception, I always use this item you call Snubber.
I use a Sea-Dog line chain gripper that proved itself in winds over 50 Kt.
an additional advantage to using those items is reducing the angle between the ground and the chain which
strengthen the anchor holding power

Yes, use a snubber line if strong winds are-a-coming.
I leave the chain on the windlass in light conditions.
On previous boat my 555 windlass was rated at 1100 lbs pulling power.
(Hardly ever, never used that, especially since the motor was me.)
I mounted a 13" cleat behind the windlass, free-wheeled the gypsy and let the chain ride over the gypsy to the cleat.
One of my buds, who is much smarter than me, calculated the load on the gypsy in hurricane conditions with a 15 degree angle involving sines and cosines and concluded it was all doable.
Hence I hardly used the snubber line as the weight of the chain would provide all the dampening needed.
(33 foot sailboat, 55 lbs anchor, 5/16" high test chain, usually 7-1 scope. Even in 30-40 knot winds the chain was never taught and not shock-loading cleats or windlass)

Using the above philosophy on leaving chain on windlass while anchored, make sure your equipment is oversized and the weather settled.

I use the same thing, I forgot what its called but they come in different sizes