Anchoring

Tip #1
Ride Easy At Anchor
In windy conditions most modern cruising boats will tend to sail back and forth on their anchor rodes as the wind puffs. This can be serious enough to disrupt a night's sleep or even cause the anchor to drag. Anchoring with an all chain rode will help but won't eliminate the problem. Setting a second anchor at 45 degrees to the primary anchor will hold the boat steady in a settled breeze but won't be a help if and when the wind shifts more than 45 degrees.
A riding sail is one traditional answer to the problem. Yawls and ketches have built in riding sails in their mizzens. Hoist the small aft sail and you will hold the boat's bow into the wind no matter how it puffs and shifts. But split rigs are increasing rare these days so most of us have to rig a riding sail on the back stay. Banner Bay makes a very clever riding sail that has proven to be effective in a wide range of breezes. You can check out their Banner Bay Pointer online at www.bannerbaymarine.com.
Without a second anchor, a mizzen or a riding sail, you can still reduce the amount the boat sails on her anchor rode by rigging a bridle to the rode that will hold the bow at an angle to the wind and keep it sailing in only one direction instead of tacking back and forth. Using a spare docking line, tie a rolling hitch around the anchor rode and lead the line aft, outboard of the stays, to a mid-ships chock and cleat. Make it fast and then let out some rode until the boat is at a 10 degree anchor to the wind. It will lie like this comfortably and will stop sailing back and forth while you have a pleasant night.