Use your depth sounder to confirm adequate depth at all stages of tide. Calculate scope: a minimum 5:1 ratio (rode length to depth + height to bow) for chain, 7:1 for rope/chain mix.

Check your chart for seabed type. Sand and mud offer the best holding; rock, coral, and weed are poor. Avoid areas with underwater cables or pipelines.

Identify where the boat will swing. Look for other anchored boats — they indicate the swing pattern. Ensure your swing circle is clear of hazards, other vessels, and shallows.

Flake the rode on deck so it runs free. Ensure the anchor is ready to drop, chain is untangled, and cleats are accessible. Brief crew on their roles.

Motor slowly into the wind or current (whichever is stronger) toward your chosen spot. Stop the boat when you reach the desired anchoring point.

Lower the anchor smoothly — do not throw it. Pay out rode as the boat drifts backward. This prevents tangling and ensures the anchor sets properly.

Once the desired scope is out, cleat the rode and gently reverse the engine. The anchor should bite and hold. Watch for the rode going taut and the boat stopping.

Take two compass bearings on fixed landmarks ~90° apart. Wait 10–15 minutes and check again. If the bearings change, the anchor is dragging — re-set it.

Hoist a black ball shape in the bow during the day. At night, display an all-round white light. If over 50m, also show a second white light in the stern lower than the bow light.

Use SAIL-OFF's Anchor Watch feature to set a GPS alarm. Check bearings periodically, especially when wind or tide changes. Always know your escape route.

Reefs are surrounded by coral and rock, which damage anchors and the environment. Identify a clear sandy patch on the seabed using polarised sunglasses, depth sounder, or a quick snorkel check.

Reef areas often have significant tidal flow and surge. Calculate depth for both high and low tide to ensure you don't go aground or drift onto the reef. Currents can differ from wind direction.

Approach slowly with a lookout watching for coral heads or shallow bommies. Use the engine rather than sails. Beware of swell wrapping around the reef — conditions can change rapidly.

Always rig a trip line on the anchor buoyed to the surface. Coral and rock snag anchors — without a trip line, you may lose your ground tackle or damage the reef trying to retrieve it.

Position the boat over the identified sand patch and lower the anchor. Let the boat drift back gently. Do not power-set the anchor hard — sand over coral can be thin and the anchor may hit rock.

In reef anchorages with limited space, a 3:1 scope is often used since holding in sand over reef can be good. If using rope rode, ensure it won't chafe on coral heads. Adjust scope based on conditions and nearby reef proximity.

Reef passages create surge that can cause the anchor to work loose. Check bearings frequently. If surge is significant, consider setting a second anchor or re-locating.

Never let chain or rode drag across coral. Use a kellet or sentinel to keep the rode down. If the anchor is stuck, use the trip line rather than powering it free and damaging coral.

Know your exit route if wind or swell changes direction. Reef anchorages can become dangerous quickly — have engine ready, sails ready to hoist, and a clear path to deeper water.