The key to picking up your boat anchor on bareboat sailing charters is teamwork between the crew and skipper. After assigning positions, including the key role of the crew on the foredeck, follow these steps:

1. Bring your tender up alongside your bare boat so that its towing rope cannot foul the propeller... and check that no ropes or fishing lines are overboard.
2. Start your engine and run at idle for at least 10 minutes, before increasing the engine speed and operating the anchor winch to raise the boat anchor... check the charge available to the domestic batteries before starting your engines... do not operate your anchor winch unless batteries are showing at least 50 - 60% charge.
3. Motor ahead until the chain is slack and the bare boat lies along the line of the chain... transfer the chain from the bollard back to the winch.
   Warning: Always keep well clear of the windlass when releasing or retrieving chain anchor...Keep fingers, hair and clothing well clear when the windlass is in operation.
4. To raise the boat anchor ensure the clutch nut is done up securely, then using the foot or remote switch operate the windlass to recover the chain... The anchor winch should only be engaged when the chain is hanging vertically from the bow indicating there is little weight on the winch...use your engine to keep the bow moving by 'idling' forward so that the dead weight of your boat is off the chain.
5. Use pre-arranged hand signals between the foredeck and the helmsman to indicate the direction to point your bare boat either left or right...the objective of the helmsman is to maintain the chain in a vertical and central position.
6. Slowly motor (idle) towards the anchor - don't pull your boat up on the anchor, always use your motor.
7. As the anchor chain comes in, check that the chain is not piling up in the anchor locker... If the chain comes in muddy, use the hose connected to your 'sea water pump' to wash the chain links of mud before they reach the bow rollers... If no hose is available wash down the chain with buckets of water. (Wash down the anchor and deck on completion). Slippery chain is very difficult to handle, a slippery deck is a safety hazard and dry mud in the anchor locker may mean the chain jambs next time you are dropping the anchor.
8. Keep going forward until your bare boat is directly over the anchor... which should now pull out easily. Always motor very slowly forward (short bursts) along the line of the chain while the anchor is hauled aboard... Go gently, and as the last few metres of chain come up, let go of the windlass switch before the anchor flies up over the roller, and bangs tight... Letting this happen puts excessive load onto the bow roller, and can damage the windlass, gear drive and clutch system.
9. If the anchor appears caught (chain does not come up easily without strain on the anchor winch) wrap the chain on the bollard...use the 'tug boat' hitch previously illustrated in section 'How to Anchor'... Wait a few minutes, then try again. Normally the gentle motion of the vessel frees the anchor. If the boat anchor remains caught 'idle' the motor gently forward and the anchor should break out... Do not use excessive power as you will be certain to damage the winch and/or bowsprit