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Do Not Test your Anchor Holding | "The lesser of two evils is the best" Rule
21 July 2026 · 1 min · 3K views
What this video covers
Alexandros Retsinas explains why testing anchor holding after setting is often counterproductive or impossible, using the Greek maxim "το μη χείρον βέλτιστον" — the least-bad option is the best available.▶ 0:00 The core argument: backing down hard to test the anchor in a tight anchorage can break the anchor out unnecessarily, and in many locations there simply is not enough room to reverse and load the anchor properly.▶ 0:00 He gives the anchorage at Perdika as a specific example where a test is physically impossible — the space is too confined and the bottom slopes steeply, so the only practical approach is to set the anchor, pay out scope, and trust it.▶ 0:48 When holding is uncertain, he outlines the alternatives: add a second anchor, use a weight (kellet) on the rode to increase the catenary load, or deploy fenders as a buffer against a nearby quay.▶ 0:48 The practical takeaway is that with less than 15 metres of chain in the water, a hard reverse will break the anchor free rather than confirm it.▶ 0:00
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