Star Anchoring / Rafting

Star Rafting, for those who are unfamiliar, is an alternative method of anchoring to traditional row rafting. This method of anchoring has been popular in years past during LOWISA cruises. We might try to have a Star Raft on Escape some day

Advantages of the Star Rafting method

• the boats do not actually touch each other (no squeaking of bumpers all night).
• no swinging of boats into each other in the middle of the night.
• it is very sociable as all cockpits face the centre of the star rat.
• the centre area of the raft becomes a communal swimming pool which most children and adults enjoy.

Necessary equipment

• a bow anchor with 1/2 inch by 150 feet minimum of rode (more rode is preferable than less - you know the embarrassment of running out of rode only several feet from you mark).
• a line (1/2 inch by 15 feet minimum) fixed to your port stern cleat (alternating, through a port stern fairlead to a port winch). The line should be in good condition as the stress load on it can become very great. This line will be used to adjust the distance between the boats before retiring for the evening.
• a clear starboard cleat (alternatively, a clear starboard stern fairlead and winch) to fix the port stern line from the boat which will be on you starboard side in the raft.

The method

1. the first boat(Boat A - Figure 1) sets a bow anchor to windward and lets out as much rode as possible (over 200 ft. if possible as probably half of that will be taken up as the star gets larger).
2. the second boat (boat B - Figure 1) sets a bow anchor in a line directly opposite the first boat and backs up to the stern of the first boat.
3. the first and second boat pass each other the end of their respective port stern lines and fix them to their starboard stern cleats.
4. the third boat (boat C - Figure 2) sets a bow anchor in a line perpendicular to the first two boats, A and B, and backs up their sterns. When within reaching distance, Boat C hands off its port stern line to the boat on its port side (Boat A - Figure 2) and at the same time receives the port stern line which belongs to the starboard boat (Boat B - Figure 2) from the crew on Boat A. This line should be passed outside all standing rigging and be fixed to the boat’s starboard stern cleat leaving a gap between boats of approximately 5 to 6 feet.
5. the fourth boat repeats the steps of Boat C except from a line directly opposite Boat C (Figure 3). It is important to note that the first four boats should set their anchors in manner which will utilize most of the rode since half of it will be taken up as the star gets larger.
6. the fifth boat (Boat E - Figure 4) will set its anchor and backup to the star raft in a manner that will dissect the segment of the star between Boats A and C (Figure 4).
7. in the same manner, the sixth through eight boat will enter the star raft (figures 5 and 6). It will be necessary for all boats already in the star to take up all slack in their respective anchor rode which will develop as a result of boats entering the raft and causing it to expand outward.
8. in all cases, when a boat approaches the star raft it will exchange port stern lines. The new line (port stern line from the starboard boat should be passed outside all standing rigging and be fixed to the boat’s starboard stern cleat while leaving a gap between boats of approximately 5 to 6 feet.
9. once established in the raft a crew member from each boat should Standby as other boats enter the star in order to make an necessary Adjustments to their rode and /or to assis boats coming in along side their starboard side. They will have to receive the incoming boats port stern line and hand off the port stern line of the boat on their port side already in the star raft.

Some general points covering the Star Rafting of boats are:

• a Star Raft Captain will be assigned for each star raft. This person will direct the boats into spots within the star Raft and will also direct an orderly breakup of the raft.
• if you would like to join the raft, just circle the raft until the assigned Star Raft Captain notices you and directs you to a spot. If you fail to get his/her attention call him/her on you VHF.
• star rafting may not be for everyone. Your wishes to anchor off will be respected. If you would like to visit the raft at any time, just dinghy over or call the raft and someone will be glad to ferry you over.
• generally the larger boats with their heavier ground tackle will be positioned windward within the star raft so that they will take most of the force of nature.
• boats can be slipped singly from a star raft by just reversing the process of entering it. It is important that the port stern line of the starboard lying boat be passed over to the port lying boat in order to ensure the integrity of the raft.
• when the whole star raft is to be broken, the windward boats are the last to leave. Directions as to exactly when to release the port stern line of the starboard lying boat should be taken from the Star Raft Captain. Under no circumstances should a boat leave the star raft Without acknowledgement to do so from the Star Raft Captain. In situ- ations where a storm is pending the star raft will be broken in an orderly fashion before the storm arrives.
• the above instructions may seem to make the process of star Anchoring/rafting more complicated than it really is. The method is actually quite easy once you have done it.