With a design philosophy of maximum reliability, security, and durability, Rocna Anchors from Canada Metal (Pacific) Ltd. deliver superlative performance over the long haul. The company is a proud supplier partner for sailor Jimmy Cornell and his new yacht Aventura in the demanding Blue Planet Odyssey around-the-world sailing event.

Designed in conjunction with Cornell, Aventura is a 31,100 lb. Garcia Exploration 45. The multipurpose 73 lb. Rocna 33 anchor onboard will keep her secure in remote anchorages on his global journey.

Blue Planet Odyssey, spearheaded by Cornell, seeks to raise awareness of the global effects of climate change. Participants will depart from multiple continents, with most sailing westward along the classic trade wind route. Scheduled detours along the main route will call at endangered islands in every ocean. Blue Planet Odyssey is run under the auspices of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, and in collaboration with the World Meteorological Organization and NOAA.

Cornell’s journey is scheduled to begin from London in June. He’ll sail to Greenland before undertaking the Northwest Passage. Cornell then will cruise the West Coast of Canada and the US before departing on the next leg toward Mexico.

Throughout the Blue Planet Odyssey circumnavigation, Cornell will contribute to oceanographic and meteorological projects by deploying autonomous scientific instruments. He’ll also gather and transmit data from remote ocean areas in which there is otherwise a dearth of up-to-date information on climatic conditions.

The Rocna anchor was designed by New Zealand sailor Peter Smith, who has been designing, building, and sailing boats since the early 1960s. Over 100,000 nautical miles of cruising, Smith experienced problems that are still prevalent today—needing to carry multiple anchors for various seabeds, yet still the anchors dragged, making boaters insecure. He designed the Rocna, initially for himself, to change the status quo. “Your anchor should provide you and your crew with reliability, security, and confidence,” said Smith, who is presently in Newfoundland and headed on an expedition to Greenland himself.

Rocna anchors are available in sizes from 9-606 lbs. A roll bar allows the anchor to always land at the ideal angle for penetration, without the need for inefficient fluke ballast, thus maximizing fluke surface area and holding power. Setting skids elevate the heel and correctly direct the tip for reliable setting even in soft seabeds.

A sharp chisel tip, and a tip weight equal to approximately 1/3 of the anchor’s weight, deliver an instant set every time. Rocna flukes contain no lead and cause minimal drag damage to the seabed, making them an environmentally sound anchor choice.

Thanks to a large fluke area and concave shape, these anchors deliver the highest possible holding power. A high-tensile steel shank facilitates self-launching.

Image courtesy Canada Metal