Velero Reginavideo

The anchor rode. How it works seen underwater.

May 23, 2025 · 9 min · 6K views

What this video covers

An anchor trip line, or orinque, marks an anchor's position and facilitates retrieval if the anchor becomes fouled on rocky bottoms. Javi, aboard the vessel Regina, utilizes two distinct configurations for this purpose. The first is an automatic system consisting of a buoy, a 10-meter line, a pulley, and a lead weight. This setup adjusts to tidal changes by keeping the buoy at the surface, though it risks entanglement with the rudder or hull if the wind dies and the boat drifts over the anchor. The second, preferred method uses a small buoy attached to a 3-meter line with a loop at the end, which remains submerged approximately 2 meters below the surface. This submerged buoy prevents surface entanglement and remains hidden from other vessels, while still providing an accessible attachment point for a diver to pass a retrieval line if the anchor snags. While trip lines are rarely necessary in sandy anchorages, they provide a safety margin in rocky or unknown coastal areas.

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