Anchor Tests—The Good, The Bad, and The Downright Silly

I'm frequently asked what my opinion is of a given anchor, often of a new pattern.

And over the years I have developed a pat answer:

Sorry, I don't opine on anchors unless I, or people I know well and trust, have used the anchor several hundred times in many different places over a period of several years.

At this point, almost invariably, the questioner adds that his or her interest was provoked by the anchor in question's great performance in a test.

That would seem logical...except for the fact that most, maybe all, anchor tests are flawed and therefore should not be used, at least not in isolation, to determine what anchor we voyagers should use to keep our boats and loved ones safe.