Re: check out this anchor...thoughts?
YAHOO: kedge anchor history
http://www.solarnavigator.net/anchors.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kedge_anchor#Kedging
Kedging
Statue of Peter the Great leaning on an anchor, in symbol of that Tsar's shipbuilding activity (Voronezh, 1860).Kedging is a technique for moving or turning a ship by using a relatively light anchor known as a kedge.
In yachts, a kedge anchor is an anchor carried in addition to the main, or bower anchors, and usually stowed aft. Every yacht should carry at least two anchors – the main or bower anchor and a second lighter kedge anchor. It is used occasionally when it is necessary to limit the turning circle as the yacht swings when it is anchored, such as in a very narrow river or a deep pool in an otherwise shallow area.
For ships, a kedge may be dropped while a ship is underway, or carried out in a suitable direction by a tender or ship's boat to enable the ship to be winched off if aground or swung into a particular heading, or even to be held steady against a tidal or other stream.
Historically, it was of particular relevance to sailing warships which used them to out-maneuver opponents when the wind had dropped but might be used by any vessel in confined, shoal water to place it in a more desirable position, provided she had enough manpower.
Club hauling
Club hauling is an archaic technique, and may be considered a variety of kedging: when a sailing vessel is in a narrow channel or on a lee shore so that there is no room to tack the vessel in a conventional manner an anchor may be dropped from the lee bow: when this catches on the sea bed the bow is therefore held and the vessel will swing around the bow onto the other tack. The anchor is then normally cut away as it cannot be recovered.