How do I know if my anchor is dragging? Can I set an anchor alarm?
An anchor alarm watches your position against a set swing radius. When the boat moves outside it, a push goes to your phone and keeps repeating until someone acknowledges it.
On Shimbiri the Weather Officer runs an anchor-drift watcher: set the radius, and the repeating push goes out the moment she starts to move. Sound plays only while the app is open.
On a phone, the position is the phone’s GPS and the watch holds only while the app stays open in the foreground. It stops when the phone sleeps or the app leaves the foreground. The boat’s own GPS, through the Chief Engineer pack, is the proper long-term source.
Good holding still comes down to seamanship: enough scope for the depth and conditions, the right bottom, a well-set anchor. The Weather Officer doesn’t replace that judgement; it keeps watch so a change gets your attention in time.
The Weather Officer monitors your live position against the radius you set and sends a repeating push when she leaves it. On a phone that position is the phone’s GPS, and the watch holds only while the app stays open in the foreground. The boat’s own GPS, through the Chief Engineer pack, is the proper long-term source. Sound plays only while the app is open. You can see the live position on the tracker.
General information for Australian operators, current as of 23 October 2026. Rules change and recreational rules vary by state. Always confirm against the source(s) linked above (your AMSA, Australian Sailing or state maritime authority). This is not legal advice.