Is this what you were thinking of?

en.wiktionary.org/wiki/clubhauling

RoastChook said..
Is this what you were thinking of?

en.wiktionary.org/wiki/clubhauling

Thank you that is exactly what I needed.
the first time I heard about it was a tall ship on a lee shore dropping the second bower anchor in a last ditch effort to sail the ship off the Lee shore,
now all I need is to remember which book I read about it

I assume this is a similar manoeuvre

www.pbo.co.uk/seamanship/the-juggens-manoeuvre-to-get-you-off-a-lee-shore-88630

Seems a bit of a weird technique to me which relies upon sailing to windward at some particular angle up onto the anchor the first time with the anchor somehow holding and the chain pulling tight to put the boat about once without breaking the anchor free but then on the next iteration on the opposite tack after pulling up a heap of chain breaking the anchor free because the chain is more vertical at that point. Presumably then you have to pull up like hell to avoid sailing along with the anchor just dragging on the bottom or perhaps he is suggesting that after the second tack you don't pull the jib around properly and hence you heave-to in order to give yourself time to pull in the remaining chain. Sounds dodgy as hell with minor errors in angles and timing and amount of chain pulled in at any point for the particular boat concerned and the particular wave conditions resulting in failure. Might be a lot simpler to stay put if your anchor is holding.

Seems like you would have to practice quite a few times to determine what angle to sail at and how much chain to have out at the particular depth concerned so as to yank the bow around with the anchor still holding keeping in mind all the time the amount the bow was rising and falling in those particular weather conditions (and hence the propensity to break the anchor out).

Way too many parameters and way too different for every type of boat I would think. Good luck doing it single-handed without an auto pilot even if you get all the other parameters correct.

What's wrong with just sailing up on the anchor as close to the wind as possible while pulling in anchor chain as fast as you can.

Sailing engineless this situation comes up regularly, even if it’s not a lee shore the bloody boat makes sure it charges straight for the land.
most times I start bringing in the chain as the tide is coming in letting the boat do the work breaking out the anchor.
i have found if you pull in to much chain it snubs the bow and you don’t get the benefit of sailing on both tacks.
Up goes the main but I leave it loose sheeted .
i hank the jib on and pull it up ready to be back winded to pull the bow around or to hold the bow down.
as she sails on the chain I pull in the chain on each tack..
none of this is easy no anchor winch all chain rode and a massive over size Manson supreme, its unbelievable how attached you get to your anchor gear when 70kt winds blow through and you have no engine.
i have a A100 Spade anchor made up as second bower with chain and 100m of 14mm nylon rode.
I never go to bed without putting in the third reef , I did away with lazy jacks so putting in the third reef also helps manage the sail on the boom and if high winds are forecast the storm jib is hanked on ready to go and the main sail cover is taken off.
many a yacht has been lost trying to motor off a lee shore and getting ropes caught around the prop or just when you really need the engine it won’t start.
you certainly have to be in tune with the elements wind and tides I find it blissfully peaceful and satisfying (rewarding)
and less of a hit to the wallet.

MAGNESIUM said..
Sailing engineless this situation comes up regularly, even if it’s not a lee shore the bloody boat makes sure it charges straight for the land.
most times I start bringing in the chain as the tide is coming in letting the boat do the work breaking out the anchor.
i have found if you pull in to much chain it snubs the bow and you don’t get the benefit of sailing on both tacks.
Up goes the main but I leave it loose sheeted .
i hank the jib on and pull it up ready to be back winded to pull the bow around or to hold the bow down.
as she sails on the chain I pull in the chain on each tack..
none of this is easy no anchor winch all chain rode and a massive over size Manson supreme, its unbelievable how attached you get to your anchor gear when 70kt winds blow through and you have no engine.
i have a A100 Spade anchor made up as second bower with chain and 100m of 14mm nylon rode.
I never go to bed without putting in the third reef , I did away with lazy jacks so putting in the third reef also helps manage the sail on the boom and if high winds are forecast the storm jib is hanked on ready to go and the main sail cover is taken off.
many a yacht has been lost trying to motor off a lee shore and getting ropes caught around the prop or just when you really need the engine it won’t start.
you certainly have to be in tune with the elements wind and tides I find it blissfully peaceful and satisfying (rewarding)
and less of a hit to the wallet.

So you don't have an engine?