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Two Anchors and the Bahamian Moor
💡 A Bahamian moor pins the boat over a tiny swing circle for reversing tides, while a forked moor spreads load against wind from one direction — choose by the threat you face.
In an open anchorage, recall from earlier cards that a boat on a single anchor swings in a wide circle of swing as wind and tide shift. In a crowded or tidal spot that circle can be a problem — it may overlap a neighbour's, or drag your anchor free when the current reverses. Advanced skippers cut down the swing with two anchors, and the arrangement you choose depends on why you're limiting movement.
The Bahamian moor sets two anchors in a straight line, one 'upstream' and one 'downstream', with both rodes led to the bow. As the tide turns 180°, the boat pivots in place over a tiny circle instead of swinging across the anchorage — ideal in a narrow tidal creek where the current reverses roughly every 6 hours. To set it, drop the first anchor, motor or drift to twice your normal scope, drop the second, then haul back to the middle so both rodes share the load.
Contrast this with a forked (V) moor, where two anchors are set off the bow at an angle of about 45°–90° into the expected wind. That spreads the load and resists a blow from one direction, but the boat still swings if the wind backs — so it doesn't reduce the swing circle the way a Bahamian moor does. Match the technique to the threat: reversing tide → Bahamian moor; strong wind or shared holding ground → forked moor. In a packed anchorage, also remember that boats on all-chain rode swing differently from those on rope-and-chain, so watch your neighbours before you trust the gaps.