In the Northern, Eastern and southern Caribbean especially during the high winter season you are very fortunate to find a spot where you have full "swinging room" no matter what scope you use. The worst spot is Salt Whistle Bay on Mayreau in the Grenadines. A picture postcard bay good for 3-5 boats max if anchored with "swinging room". We countered 34 boats anchored in there last year when we went in with the tender! Almost all had fenders hanging and some had rafted, not because they knew the folks next to them but for self-defense of the boats! We try to avoid this kind of stuff but it is getting harder and harder. Too many boats and too few good spots. This has caused the proliferation of moorings. More boats in less space and "good for the local economy" according to the locals. Unfortunately we are two big for the moorings and for some reason they always put them in what was the best anchorage vs. putting them where you wouldn't or couldn't anchor anyway so most cruisers just bypass those "mooring only areas". SO much for helping the local economy! We use 100% chain and lots of it. Sleeping soundly in 20+ knots of breeze in 50' of water does require some scope as we "sail" at anchor a lot. This tends to keep folks away from us. I've also found that loud music if you see someone approaching will get you a little space. One day we might put a riding sail on the stern to cut down the swing at anchor. Another of those things on the list ;-) Cheers Dave & Nancy Swan Song Roughwater 58