Digging in your anchor at full revs astern puts a huge load on, and if that doesn't drag then any wind that you can sleep through isn't going to either. If you are confident that the boat is going to stay pointing in roughly the same direction, with enough water under the keel, and you don't have surf breaking a boatlength behind you, then you're probably fine. The wind might change a few hours earlier than the forecast says! I've been caught out once by a wind shift, we woke up on a lee shore and whilst we didn't drag it taught me to be more careful. sometimes I'll wake up in the night and go and check the sounder just to make sure. What tends to keep me awake is when the tidal height is marginal and I start wondering if I definitely worked it out correctly. I've got to the stage that if I'm not totally happy with where I've anchored, there's probably a reason for that and I should listen to my gut. I suppose it's a sort of subconscious risk assessment. Yup there are lots of factors that weigh in to it.

Im trying to achive a good nights sleep and letting my tablet/phone take care of the watch - am I missing anything else that may help? What does everybody else who anchors overnight do to achieve a good nights sleep? It sounds all good but where it falls down is that I cant seem to sleep well at all! Im convinced Im going to drag and end up on the beach/rocks with someone from here posting a photo of the carnage alongside some smart arse comments Wake up and visually check outside bearings etc to ensure all is well and Im still where I planned to be. I set an alarm on my phone and tablet, 3 position fix on paper chart and go to sleep for an hour. My current anchoring modus operandi is to drop the pick, set it, prove its dug in and go below for a cuppa.

I have a Raymarine Axiom CP, a Samsung tablet and phone with Anchor Pro app and Navionics on. OK - I have started to anchor alot overnight in prep for my trip south. Some rules of engagment/ ground rules first if you like

Navionics anchor alarm