On "Strickly for Fun" a Nordhavn 47. I store 400 ft of 7/8" sea anchor rode in one locker on the inside of the Portuguese bridge and the sea anchor in the other locker inside the Portuguese bridge both accessible from the protected side. There is 400 ft of 7/16" ht chain attached to the end of the sea anchor rode. This allows me to deploy the sea anchor from inside the P bridge on either side of the boat. It is very important to be able to deploy the sea anchor on the upwind side of the boat or the boat (prop) will get tangled in the sea anchor rode/line. I have had to work on the bow in 10 foot seas using a harness and a jackline. It is really tough, you really need two hands to hold onto something and do not forget you have to watch the waves to time holding your breath when the waves bury you. (Yes your feet get washed out from under you.) Why was I up there you ask? When I asked about securing the anchor on open ocean cruising people said just tie it off using line. That's what I did. Then you get a multiple day gale, where the 100 lb anchor is pulling on the wet line and it stretches. It stretches a lot! So I went forward to retighten the line before the anchor could damage the boat. (Plus truth be told--I wanted to see what it was like before I really had to be up there some time) It was interesting to note that on the NAR that Nordhavn Escort had a turnbuckle and wire cable system to secure the anchor. (I see they had already learned their lesson, oh and "Strickly for Fun" now has a wire cable turnbuckle securing system!) Something that became obvious after I was up there, but never heard from anyone--WEAR KNEE PADS. Anyway this has led me to the conclusion, I do not think I have the strength (and number of arms) to deploy a sea anchor from the bow in serious seas. I am 48 years old and in fair shape. If I am expecting bad weather I run a line from the anchor chain over the top of the P bridge attached with wire ties which will break automatically under load. Even though the only task I now have to do is open two lockers and throw the sea anchor into the water (upwind side) and feed the line out of the other locker, I am not sure I can do it in really bad seas. I do know the answer "I will just deploy the sea anchor when the engine fails in bad weather", comes from someone who has not been on my foredeck in a gale!