Dragging Anchor

Dragging anchor is when a set anchor fails to hold and the vessel moves across the seabed under wind, current, or swell, the chain plowing the bottom instead of digging the fluke in. Causes include poor holding ground, insufficient scope (chain length to depth ratio), excessive yaw, and rising weather. It is detected by GPS anchor-watch alarms, transit bearings, or a slack-then-snatching cable. The International Code of Signals single-letter flag Yankee (Y) means “I am dragging my anchor.” Remedies: veer more chain, drop a second anchor, or weigh and re-anchor.