Controlliamo questa ancora prima di salpare.

It can mean either, depending on context.

• controlliamo is the 1st person plural present of controllare
• literally, it is we check / we are checking
• but in Italian, this form is also often used like English let’s check

So in a sentence like this, Controlliamo questa ancora prima di salpare, the most natural sense is often:

• Let’s check this anchor before setting sail

Context tells you whether it is a plain statement or a suggestion.

Because controllare is often a false friend for English speakers.

In Italian, controllare commonly means:

• to check
• to inspect
• to examine
• sometimes to monitor

It can sometimes overlap with English control, but very often it does not mean that.

So here, controlliamo means something like:

• let’s inspect
• let’s check

not let’s control.

Because ancora meaning anchor is a feminine singular noun in Italian.

So the demonstrative has to agree with it:

• questo = this, masculine singular
• questa = this, feminine singular

Since ancora is feminine, you need questa:

• questa ancora = this anchor

Italian ancora has two different meanings:

• ancora = still / again (adverb)
• ancora = anchor (noun)

In this sentence, you can tell it is the noun anchor because of questa.

• questa must modify a noun
• so questa ancora means this anchor

If ancora were the adverb, the structure would be different, for example:

• Controlliamo ancora prima di salpare = Let’s check again before setting sail

But that is not what this sentence says.

Because questa already functions as a determiner.

In English, compare:

• the anchor
• this anchor

You do not say the this anchor, and Italian works similarly.

So you say:

• l’ancora = the anchor
• questa ancora = this anchor

not:

• la questa ancora

It is a very common Italian pattern:

• prima di + infinitive

This means:

• before doing something

So:

• prima di salpare = before setting sail

Other examples:

• prima di mangiare = before eating
• prima di uscire = before going out
• prima di partire = before leaving

If the subject changes, Italian often uses prima che + subjunctive instead, but here the subject is the same, so prima di + infinitive is the normal structure.

Because salpare is specifically nautical.

It means:

• to set sail
• to leave port by ship

So it fits very well with ancora.

Compare:

• partire = to leave, to depart
• salpare = to set sail

Using salpare makes the sentence sound specifically about a boat or ship.

Yes, you may also see quest’ancora.

Before a vowel, Italian often allows elision with questo / questa:

• quest’ancora
• quest’amica
• quest’uomo

So questa ancora and quest’ancora are both understandable, and quest’ancora may sound smoother to many speakers because ancora begins with a vowel.

The word order is flexible.

This sentence is perfectly natural:

• Controlliamo questa ancora prima di salpare.

But you could also say:

• Prima di salpare, controlliamo questa ancora.

That puts the time expression first and sounds like:

• Before setting sail, let’s check this anchor.

Italian often allows this kind of movement for emphasis or style.

By itself, controlliamo is not especially formal or informal. It is neutral.

What changes the tone is the situation and the vocabulary around it:

• controlliamo = neutral everyday verb
• salpare = more specific, maritime vocabulary

So the sentence sounds natural and clear, with a slightly nautical tone because of ancora and salpare, not because of controlliamo.