Based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Judson Russell Grosvenor works as a dockhand at Lauderdale Marina and ensures that vessels are properly berthed along the intracoastal waterway. Judson Russell Grosvenor also manages vessels when they are not under sail.

A self-contained way of keeping a boat stationary, anchoring involves sending a large, heavy object attached to the boat via cable to the depths below. The anchor then latches to the seabed through a combination of suction and hooks. Today’s luxury yachts have built-in anchoring systems that often operate by remote control and may include the two major types of anchors, the plow/scoop and the fluke/Danforth.

Light and stowing flat, the fluke anchor holds well in sand and mud and has an outstanding power-to-weight ratio. Often the only anchor on smaller vessels, it has limitations when holding to rocky or grassy surfaces. In addition, the flukes and stock (top crossbar) present the risk of fouling on the anchor cable or rocks.

The “single point” plow/scoop style is designed to hold fast in various bottom conditions, as the anchor resets itself as the current or wind changes direction. New models often incorporate rounded “roll bars” to self-right the anchor. Bulkier than its counterpart, this anchor type is usually the primary option on cruising sailboats and heavier powerboats.