C.A.R.E. Code of Anchoring in Reef Environments

ANCHOR IN THE SAND, NOT IN THE CORAL

BeforeThe hook lands in the coral garden. The residents fear for their lives.

CAREThe anchor sets in the sand, not in the coral.
The coral gardens stay alive and beautiful 😀

Coral reefs rank among the largest living structures on Earth. Thousands of species build them together, and a single reef can represent millions of years of growth. Then a pleasure yacht arrives late in the afternoon, the windlass whirs, and a few seconds later a chain starts sweeping across the reef, destroying the coral gardens. 

Corals are living animals. A thin, delicate layer of tissue covers the hard skeleton. Branching colonies snap under a fluke or a swinging chain. Massive heads roll over, scrape raw, break or become infected from anchor wounds. Colonies hundreds of years old can die from infection after repeated injury. Even careless snorkelers hurt coral by standing on it.

Reefs already carry a heavy load: overfishing, bleaching, runoff, silt and crown-of-thorns outbreaks. Good anchorages are few and anchors are many. One anchor looks harmless. A whole season of them does not.

Looking at a reef, it is hard to imagine how one anchor could do much damage. Now count the anchors over 10 cruising seasons.

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Step oneCarry the right gear

Good reef anchoring starts at the chandlery. Carry enough chain, or chain and line, to anchor in 30 metres (100 feet). This is below the normal depth range of coral reefs, so being able to anchor deep gives you a way to skip the gardens altogether in the rare circumstance when there is no shallow water area with coral-free sand patches. On larger yachts a good windlass is essential. 

A recording depth sounder helps you locate sand patches in shallow water and shows where to go deeper when there are no sandy patches in the shallow water. This is rare in protected anchorage areas. For example, all 390 anchorages in the Rocket Cruising Guides to New Caledonia and Vanuatu are located in coral-free sandy areas in reasonable depths.

Some cruisers suggest attaching floats to the anchor chain to lift it clear of the coral - NO! This is a terrible idea because the anchor will still cause damage and it is MUCH better not to anchor in the coral or try to do it with floats; not to mention the hassle of having a number of large enough floats aboard and getting them onto your anchor chain as you attempt to anchor in gusty wind conditions.

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Step twoAnchor in sand or mud

Most lagoons and back-reef areas hold sandy patches big enough to anchor your yacht. Choose one, and drop the anchor and the chain in the sand. 

If no shallow sand exists, anchor deeper rather than destroy the coral.

Modern anchors are designed for soft bottoms, and holding power ratings come from tests in sand and mud.

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Step threeReconnoitre before you drop

Arrive with plenty of daylight. Aim to reach a new anchorage before 3 pm, when the sun is high and coral patches stand out from the sand. Polarised sunglasses make reefs and sand far easier to see.

Take a slow pass and watch your recording depth sounder's trace of the bottom before committing. Remember you need enough clear swinging space for the chain because the chain swinging across the coral thickets and heads coral does as much harm as the anchor itself, so keep it in the clear. Allow for wind changes to make sure you have enough clearance for the chain as the yacht moves back and forth with the wind changes.

No visibility and no sounder? Lower the anchor until it just touches bottom, then feel the rode as the boat drifts. A grumbling, juddering line means coral. Lift the anchor clear, drift a little and try again. Sand and mud stay silent.

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Step fourEase out the anchor if it gets into coral

If the chain grumbles, take the hint. Motor up over the anchor, lift it clear of the coral and move. Staying put is the costly choice. A boat swinging all day or all night drags its chain back and forth through the reef, and the damage keeps adding up.

Sand protects your boat too. Coral along exposed coasts and in channels can be as hard as concrete, and an anchor wedged in a hole is sometimes impossible to retrieve. Crews who anchor in coral can find themselves adrift in a blow, or unable to move quickly when the weather turns. Anchoring in sand is good seamanship and the reef-friendly choice at once.

Hang on, mate

Sooner or later you will watch another yacht motor toward the coral. A friendly call on the VHF beats a lecture. Offer a better spot, and most boaters respond well, weigh anchor and relocate.

Everyone should C.A.R.E.

Race and Rally organizers

Add an "anchor in sand, not in the coral gardens" notice to the pre-race briefing or rally guidelines. A whole fleet wants the same sandy patch, and latecomers end up in the coral.

Charter bases

Brief every customer and post the code aboard every boat. Damaged gardens near the best anchorages hurt the charter business and the tourist trade as well.

Yacht clubs and marinas

Post a link to this blog on the noticeboard, share it to friends and on your Facebook page.

Friends on the radio

When you invite others to anchor nearby, add a line about the bottom. "The coral gardens are beautiful here, so anchor in the sand and keep them beautiful." Everyone on the channel hears it and thinks about their own habits.

Any yacht already anchored in the coral

Dinghy over, say hello and explain nicely: coral is a living creature and very delicate, and one anchor chain does a lot of harm. If you can point them to a sandy patch to anchor in they will likely move.

Check before you enter

Some reef areas are restricted, and unauthorised boats may not enter or anchor. Fines can be heavy. Ask the proper authority before entering a new area, and carry current zoning information.

Many Pacific island nations restrict anchoring or entry on selected reefs. New Caledonia has marine reserves with their own rules and many Vanuatu reefs sit under customary tabu. The Rocket Cruising Guides to New Caledonia and Vanuatu provide details, boundaries and rules and regulations for the marine parks and customary proceedures. 

CARE 

• CCarry enough chain to anchor in 30 metres and a recording depth sounder.
• AAnchor in sand, and keep the chain in the clear.
• RReconnoitre in good light, ideally before 3 pm.
• EEase out and move if the chain grumbles.

Sailing to Vanuatu or New Caledonia?

The Rocket Cruising Guides help yacht captains plan every anchorage in both countries. The precise GPS location for all 390 New Caledonia and Vanuatu anchorages on the Rocket Guides  is in the sand, not in the coral. Anchor easily and with CARE with the Rocket Cruising Guides.

Explore the Rocket Guides

Enjoy CARE on Youtube

The Rocket Guide Youtube Channel has lots of great videos for planning your cruising in New Caledonia and Vanuatu plus here is the animated C.A.R.E. video to share with your cruising buddies and patrons.

Explore the Rocket Guide Youtube Channel 

Download the CARE PDF file to share

The CARE PDF is an 8 page colorful file readable in any website browser. Perfect to send on Whatsapp or Messenger or to give to members of cruising rallies or training courses.

Download the CARE PDF 

Richard Chesher Ph.D, Cartoons by Frederique Chesher