unfortunately Les, due to arthritis i no longer have my boat. After you replied which I knew you would i was going to ask a simple Q you answered it in your second paragraph. Obvioulsy you use a quite heavy anchor, this will keep you anchored with very little extra rope out, just as a great lump of concrete would. Danger when anchoring in a strong tide with little excess rope is that your stern could be dragged under, this happened to a mate of mine at the Mull of galloway, they had to cut the rope. Although anchoring this way in very deep water as you do, you would be suprised at the angle of dangle on the anchor rope which would compensate for this. the reason why i advise boat anglers to let out a lot of slack is simply because many do not use a heavy anchor. I myself only used a 15lb plough and many thought this was big, but around Portpatrcik and the Scarrs where the tide raeches 12 knots it is essentail to have a good angle so the anchor when pulled digs deeper instead of coming out. Mind you on the odd occassion i have had the trip snap just with the tide and come loose anyway. A long anchor rope also stops your anchor pulling out when in a big rolling sea where the lift can be tremendous, straight up and down and out it pops. There are a lot of factors which determine how you anchor which have got to be taken into account, no current or tide small anchor warp, big rolling sea strong tide long anchor warp. the type of bottom is also a big factor, sandy or muddy bottom long warp, rocky bottom, shorter warp. The type of anchor used is also a big factor. obvioulsy a plough for soft bottom and when i was fishing over rocks or wrecks i had some very light grapells which i made myself out of soft material, they either bent out or snapped off when i needed to retrieve them, better than loosing an expensive anchor. I never say i know all aspects of the game as i used to learn something new everytime i went out, and everything i do say i make sure everyone knows that this is my opinion and how i have found boat angling for the thirty years i was able to do it. Others might find differently and may do things slightly different to suit their boat. I differ with some on retrieving anchors using the ring, many say fasten it to the transon cleat, y opinion on this is it is one way to tear the stern out or get the warp round your engine. I used to prefer leaving my anchor warp free and just watch the buoy, keeping it at an angle from the stern and well away from the engine. OLD i\'ll give you old.