Free anchorwork workbench

Drop, veer, and watch the transit

Pick sand or mud in the lee, approach into the wind, lower the anchor, pay enough cable, then snub. If the shore marks drift apart, you are dragging.

Anchorwork module

Anchorwork

Laying an anchor

Pick a drop in a fictional cove, approach into the wind, lower the anchor, pay the right scope, then snub and watch the transit.

Link to this tool
WindCove mouthChurchBeaconCharted cable — do not anchorSand · goodMud · goodWeed · poorRock · poorCable · no-goScope6 m down4.0 : 1 · 24 m4:1 guide met
Sand and mud hold. Weed and rock do not.Approach into the wind, lower, then fall back as you pay cable.If the church and beacon open, you are dragging.

Drop

Sand shelf

4 m HW + 2 m bow = 6 m. Chain starts near 4:1.

Guide here: 4:1 is 24 m

Turn the bow into the wind and motor up to the drop.

Direct answer

Approach into the wind or tide, stop, and lower the anchor. Pay a starting scope of about 4:1 for all-chain cable, or 6:1 for warp with a short chain, using depth at high water plus bow height. Snub to set, then check a shore transit.

Best for
Day Skipper anchorwork
Includes
Holding, scope, swing, transits
Format
Free fictional-cove simulator
Sources and factual review

Reviewed 13 August 2026. Scope ratios, approach, lowering rather than throwing, snubbing and shore transits follow the published Day Skipper anchorwork module. 4:1 and 6:1 remain starting guides, not universal minima.