Sea Anchor

A drag device deployed in the water to limit drift and control a vessel’s orientation relative to wind and waves.

A sea anchor is commonly a parachute-shaped fabric device deployed from the bow or another designed strong point to hold the vessel broadly head-to-weather. It differs from a drogue, which is usually streamed astern to control speed and direction while the vessel makes more downwind progress.

Effectiveness and loads depend on device size, rode length and elasticity, attachment geometry, vessel design and sea state. Deployment, retrieval, chafe protection, trip line and emergency release require a practised vessel-specific plan because the system can develop extreme cyclic loads.