Note on the Survey:
The AnchorGuardian Captain Survey is an ongoing industry initiative designed to better understand the real-world anchoring experiences of professional yacht captains.
As participation grows, the cumulative dataset expands and the reported percentages naturally evolve. This article presents the current survey findings based on 124 participating captains (June 2026).
The AnchorGuardian Captain Survey is an ongoing industry survey designed to better understand the real-world anchoring experiences of professional yacht captains.
Its purpose is simple: to build a growing body of industry knowledge around anchor dragging, near misses, operational challenges and the factors that contribute to them. While many anchoring incidents are discussed informally among captains, very little industry-wide information is publicly available. The survey aims to help close that knowledge gap.
Why are we conducting this survey?
Anchoring remains one of the least visible aspects of vessel operation. Decisions are often made using experience, observation and changing environmental conditions, yet relatively little data exists describing how frequently captains encounter anchor dragging or what they believe contributes to it.
By collecting and openly sharing survey results, we hope to support informed industry discussion around:
- anchoring practices
- operational awareness
- seamanship
- risk management
- environmental stewardship
The objective is not to prove a particular viewpoint, but to better understand the experiences of professional captains.
Who participates?
Participants are professional captains operating yachts from approximately 20 metres to 80m+, representing a broad range of vessel sizes, cruising areas and operational profiles.
Participation is entirely voluntary and responses are anonymous.
How are responses collected?
Survey responses are collected throughout the year through direct engagement with professional captains. This includes conversations during customer visits, operational meetings, industry events, maritime exhibitions and voluntary online participation.
Because participation is voluntary, the survey continues to grow as more captains contribute their experiences.
Are you a professional captain?
Help strengthen the industry’s understanding of anchoring by contributing your experience.
Take the anonymous survey here: Link to Survey
An evolving survey
Unlike a one-time survey, the AnchorGuardian Captain Survey is ongoing.
As additional captains participate, the cumulative dataset grows and the reported percentages naturally evolve. This is a normal characteristic of any expanding survey and reflects a broader and increasingly representative sample of industry experience.
For this reason, AnchorGuardian always publishes the current cumulative survey results, rather than relying on historical figures.
Survey Update | Participants |
|---|---|
| Pilot survey | 40 captains |
| Current cumulative survey | 124 captains |
| Next update | Autumn 2026 |
Current findings (n=124)
Based on the current cumulative dataset:
- 68% experienced anchor drag at least once during a summer season.
- 58% reported at least one anchor-dragging near miss.
- 20% experienced anchor drag three or more times during a summer season.
- 75% identified weather as a contributing factor.
- 60% identified poor holding conditions as a contributing factor.
- 20% identified nearby vessel interference as a contributing factor.
- 10% reported suspected seabed damage associated with anchor dragging.
- 6% reported vessel damage.
- 3% reported risk of injury.
- 3% reported damage to nearby vessels.
How should these findings be interpreted?
The survey reflects the experiences and observations of participating captains.
Responses are self-reported and should not be interpreted as verified incident records, casualty statistics or insurance claim data. Instead, they provide insight into how professional captains experience anchoring in day-to-day operations.
As participation continues to grow, the findings will become increasingly valuable in identifying long-term trends across the industry.
Looking ahead
The AnchorGuardian Captain Survey is intended to become a long-term industry initiative. Survey results will be updated periodically as additional captains participate, allowing the industry to observe how operational experiences and perceived risks evolve over time.
We believe that better data leads to better conversations. Better conversations ultimately support safer anchoring for sailors, ships and the sea.
