My lunch hook is in a bucket in the cockpit locker, and it goes over the stern and stays cleated at the stern for convenient  recovery, and better breeze without the cabin to break the flow, Which makes better picnic conditions, at least in summer  time. Setting and recovering from the stern has many advantages, including the use of the winch in breaking out the anchor,  and a larger, safer space for pulling in the rode. To recover from the cockpit, put a line with a snap hook on the rode, pull it  to the stern, and recover. Then put the rode back on the copper wire, and you are ready for the next ime. This got a little long, but you are on the right track, and with a little help, all will go well. I haven't dropped the first  anchor from the bow in more than 12 years. At 76, the bow is not an inviting place to be if there are any waves at all, and  running back to reverse the motor is not an option. 23