Hi MapisM!!

>> ............... Whenever swell and wind took different directions (which is rare anyway), it has never been so bad to become really unconfortable... <<

Sorry, but I disagree, We spent over five years in the Med and the swell (in particular) very often came from a very different direction than the wind. A wind direction change can be next to instant, the swell/wave train takes a lot longer to change. This is so wherever we've cruised.

>> ............ I guess it might also be a matter of choosing the right spot - whenever a bay is badly exposed to waves/swell, I just look for something better..... <<

Couldn't agree more if one has no means of holding the boat in the direction one needs to make staying comfortable. However, my point is that the use of a kedge makes the necessity of doing so much less.

>>...... Then again, when I wanted to spend a few days in the same place, I just deployed both bow anchors, properly distantiated, attaching a couple of crossed lines stern to shore. As secure as in most marinas. But also in this case, why on earth a stern anchor would be necessary? If any swell is entering the bay, surely it's from the open sea and not from the shore, innit? Therefore, isn't it better to offer the bow rather than the stern to it? ...<<

Oh sorry, I'd assumed everyone on here understood that one always anchored with bows to the swell/waves!!! Certainly we've NEVER tried using the kedge to keep the STERN to them, and I can't imagine why anyone would want to!! Damned noisy and uncomfortable I would have thought.

>> .......... Though if you've been cruising around the med a bit, you'll have to admit that the boats fitted with stern anchors are very rare. Not as much as a coconut in Antarctica maybe, but almost......<<

Certainly not rare in my experience!!! Most of the boats we met had stern anchors, though a fewer number had them permanently set up the way I posted above, hence my remarks about not being prepared etc.

I am really puzzled by your observations MapisM, where are you based/cruising?? Perhaps there's an area where people feel no need for a kedge.