Kayak - anchoring tip

Kayaks can get pushed around when you have just the slightest breeze or swell. I have tried many ways to slow or stop drifting, with mixed results. I have found the safest and most effective way to anchor a kayak is: To have the anchor attached to 1 meter of chain then attached to rope with a buoy (a milk bottle is fine) on the end. This being dropped you have buoy to tie onto. You maybe asking why not tie the anchor straight to the kayak?? I have tried this and found it quite dangerous.

It was a fairly windy day so the anchor rope was stretched very tight.  As a large boat went past the anchor rope pulled the nose of the kayak down and allowed the wake to come straight over the top of the kayak.  Also it allows you to quickly release from your anchor if needed. Where as if you are tied to a buoy you have slack to allow you to move around freely. I strongly recommend you try out all your options, to find out what suits your conditions best.