Unfortunately, this is a high-res pic, but you can see an anchor hooked on a bobstay. On second thought, saying that I've seen this a lot is an overstatement, and, for the record, I haven't seen it at all in Maine. It feels like a lot because it just jumps out and grabs me. I presume some tension on the rode would keep it on the bobstay, but I have visions of it sliding up and down the bobstay as the boat pitches.
http://logofthe.files.wordpress.com/...5/img_0082.jpg