Well, first of all, you are on the right track in pre planning the manuver.
I always have the anchor at the bow ready to deply when I drop anchor.
A thought might be to add a set of anchor hangers on your pulpit so the anchor is up there ready to go. Take the bitter end ( free end ) of the anchor rode and properly tie it to a cleat. Now slowly feed the anchor rode coiling it loosely into a bucket on the bow. Maybe a 5 gallon paint pail or such.After you have coiled the line an chain you should be left with an anchor haning from the pulpit and all the line loosley coiled in the bucket with the bitter end tied to a bow cleat. Now you are ready to go anchor.
Fyi I have at times laid the anchor rode up and down the deck by the toe rail with small bungies to hold it in place when a bucket was to small or not available.
OK, now you have the anchor ready, the rode is free of snags and knots and the end of the line is already tied to the bow cleat.
In one fluid movement, bring your bow into the wind assuming reasonable breaze and it is not blowing 30, and allow the sails to luff. Hold her into the wind and as she comes to a stop you are on your way VERY CAREFULLY ( because you are excited ) work your way to the bow. Now free the anchor from the hold points and let it out hand over hand with the rode until it hits bottom. DO NOT DROP, TOSS, OR LET IT SIMPLY FALL to the bottom. The 10 feet or so of chain you have will pile on top of it and foul your anchor!!!! TRUST ME!!!
OK, now you have lowered your anchor hand over hand to the bottom, Confirm you did not accidently run the anchor rode over the pulpit of a life line! LOL! YOur boat shoul have begun to drift back wards or maybe even off to the side! Worried the sails will fill? They might! But that is ok as long as botht the main and jib sheets can run free. Now as you are drifting backwards hand over hand the line allowing it to play out and lay nicely on the bottom. As you near the 7 to 1 scope ( or 4-5 to 1 for a lunch hook) cleat the rope off on the same or other bow cleat if necessary. The boat will continue to drift backwards until the anchor rode pulls tight. When it pulls tight you will feel the boat swing around and point right into the wind and right at your anchor! YEAH! Almost done!
As you gain experience you will begin to feel if your backward movement was enough to set the anchor.
Until then though,
go to the stern of your boat and use the motor to "back down" or reverse against the anchor until it is set. That "SET" feel is very distinctive. The rode pulls tight, the bow swings firmly towards the anchor and all backward movement stops! YEAH! Now secure your boat and sails!
Couple of notes: When backing down. That takes experience and practice. Go set your anchor 5 times on a calm day in a muddy bottoms so you can get the feel. One big mistake is folks back down to fast and hard and literally just yank the anchor out before it sets!.
Secondly. We have a 1 hour period after dropping anchor to let the anchor soak. IE, just hang out! Relax! Sit on the cockpit, pick to points on shore and watch them. MAke sure your boat does not move relative to those points however allowing for some swing! Remember after backing down, you've pulled the anchor rode TIGHT! You should drift FORWARD a tad as your anchor chain and rode sinks down!
Always keep a watch on your anchor especially when just learning. BE aware of any tide currents or river currents that might change where your boat is relative to the anchor. LEave room for your boat to swing around the anchor with wind and currnet shifts!
Have a glass of wine once firmly anchored and watch others. They generally will show you what NOT to do!
Everyones anchor drags at some point. Just know and accept it and PLAN for it. Picture where you boat would end up if she dragged 50' in the prevailing winds. If it is ashore, maybe you've picked a questionable anchoring spot!
Or, just come out here to Seattle and we'll take my C22 and go practice!
Scott
