Five more impressions of the Raya

[Silkie]

The first four were unremarkable (flat calm at Gometra where we lay to a small pile of chain to 12-15 kts in Loch Aline) and all that can reasonably be said is that the Raya always set first time and is unsurprisingly easy to handle at 4.75 kgs with a large handle in the middle of the shank.

The fifth was in Puilladobhrain (well, you can't have a cruise up here without having a couple in the T'n'T) and featured sustained 20ish knot winds and a highly entertaining 30-35 knot squall blowing straight in the entrance.

I took this shortly after it started. (Turn the volume down.)

[youtube]http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=hqH5u7_vmhM[/youtube]

Waves quickly built to about 3' and I'm pleased to report that we never budged which couldn't be said of all in the squall (and there was already a boat ashore when I arrived but that's another story.) It's a funny thing using an anchor without a track record and I don't mind admitting that the plough was ready to go with it's chain flaked out on deck.

Not quite 60 knots yet João but no' bad fur a bantamweight.

[Ancora Latina]

Have a safe anchoring Silkie !
Thanks for your report.

João

[Silkie]

Thanks for your report.

Thanks for your anchor.

A good test to have had in the first six occasions the anchor has been used. We were fairly bouncing on the end of the rode and collected a bit of weed on deck. The serious cruising boat next door (a beautiful Vancouver 34) with 10mm chain and 45lb CQR was dragging within seconds of the squall arriving although their real problem was a major deficiency in the scope department IMO.

[Silkie]

Disappointed that no-one has anything to say about anchors.

[little boy blue]

we`re all just jealous

[So_Sage_of_Lorne]

Disappointed that no-one has anything to say about anchors.

I have at last been having a play with the spade 100 on BBH, used to have a spade 80 on the HR which was great in everything including kelp as long as you gave it time to penetrate, so far the heavier spade 100 with 10mm chain goes streight in and stays there unlike the original CQR which came with the boat!

[Silkie]

Ah, the Spade - that's one of those quaint, older designs with a weight in the tip, isn't it?

[Falkirkdan]

Ah, the Spade - that's one of those quaint, older designs with a weight in the tip, isn't it?

Dont get sliced sausage going on anchors. I had a couple of days of it this year so far.

[So_Sage_of_Lorne]

Ah, the Spade - that's one of those quaint, older designs with a weight in the tip, isn't it?

Better to be heavier in the tip than the shank!

[Nick]

one of those quaint, older designs with a weight in the tip, isn't it?

I would be interested to see how the Raya penetrates and sets in heavy kelp. The Spade has never failed to set first time in Canna (6 visits so far including 3 days in 25-30 knots). Most anchorites in Canna take 3-4 goes.

Also works in Craighouse.

[So_Sage_of_Lorne]

Nick

What size spade are you using?

[Nick]

What size spade are you using?

10Kg

(Boat is 27ft, 2.5tons - or more like 3.5 in cruising trim)

[Silkie]

I would be interested to see how the Raya penetrates and sets in heavy kelp.

Indeed. We haven't anchored in any difficult bottoms or had a 180 windshift yet.

The lack of tip weight might be a disadvantage in weed. OTOH the Raya is very much sharper at the tip than the Spade and I would imagine that this might offset the lack of weight to a greater or lesser extent. João does say that they have a South American equivalent of kelp and that the Raya is designed to cope. We'll see, and you'll read all about it on here.