Installing an electronic anchor winch was one of our priorities from a safety perspective. Being able to anchor is important in case I was to have engine issues. Deploying the anchor would allow me to hold position, preventing me being washed ashore until help could arrive.
Part of my challenge is that the journey is done unassisted, which means from the moment I start to the moment I finish I cannot use the engine. However, it is still important to have an anchor should I get into trouble. Although I will be the first person to complete this challenge, I also am a racer and want to do it in the fastest time possible. The main factor that affects how long it’s going to take me is the wind. Strong winds, although an issue as they may slow progress are not my biggest worry, that is light winds. Light winds when you are fully reliant on sail power means no progress and even worse around the UK we have very strong tides. If I get the tide going against me with no wind I will go backwards, losing any progress I have made. This is when the anchor may come into play. If I come close enough into shore I can anchor, which although means I make no forward progress would at least stop me going backwards.
To install the anchor winch the first job was to cut a hole in the foredeck. This made me very unhappy as drilling holes in a boat is worrying enough, but cutting a holes just feels wrong. Due to the size of the hole, we were worried about it weakening the foredeck. To help support the deck around the winch we made up two plywood formers which we glued together using epoxy resin. When the winch was installed the bolts went through the winch, the deck and both plywood supports. This stiffened the deck significantly so there was no noticeable deflection.
Next the anchor needs to be wired in, and the chain and anchor added. I’m not quite ready for that bit yet and we have more important jobs to do while Fear is out the water. I also need to fill and resin the old holes for the old anchor but those are future Jazz problems.
