Cruising World - February 2016

FEBRUARY

2016

cruisingworld.com

70

HANDS-ON SAILOR

SEAMANSHIP

M

ark, Sandy, and their

sons, Simon and Owen,

are preparing to make landfall

after a long passage. According

to the cruising guide, the har-

bor that will be their port of

entry for clearing customs re-

quires boats to tie up stern to

to a quay, or Med-moor. This

technique involves securing the

boat perpendicular to the har-

bor wall using stern lines and

ground tackle.

As they enter the harbor, a

call to the harbor master on

the VHF gets them an assigned

berth where a dockhand will

help with their stern lines.

Mark fi rst makes a look-see

pass to make sure they can fi t

between the boats adjacent to

the berth. He also checks to

see what type of cleats or bol-

lards are on the quay, and he

ensures that they will be able to

drop anchor without crossing

the rodes of other vessels. He

fi nds that the wind and current

are negligible.

1.

After their pass by, Mark

gets his crew together and

explains the maneuver, as-

signing each person a task.

Sandy coils the stern lines

and readies them for heaving.

Owen gets out the fenders

and positions them both port

and starboard with an addi-

tional one on the transom.

Simon ensures that the an-

chor is ready to drop and pay

out freely. Lastly, the dinghy is

moved to the bow so it will be

out of the way as they back in.

2.

They head in, maintaining

enough speed for maneuver-

ing. As their berth comes

abeam, Mark pivots the

boat bow out and per-

pendicular to the quay.

He signals Simon to lower

the anchor in a position

that should give adequate

scope, in this case about four

boatlengths off the quay.

3.

As Mark backs into the space

between the other boats, Si-

mon eases out the anchor

rode, occasionally tugging

on it to set the hook. Owen

stands by with an extra fend-

er, just in case.

4.

When the stern is close

enough, Sandy heaves the

stern lines to the dockhand,

who secures them at a wide

angle to keep the stern cen-

tered. Mark signals Simon to

secure the anchor rode, keep-

ing the stern about 2 feet off

the quay.

Once the boat has been

safely tied up, Mark has his

crew briefl y ease the anchor

line and route the stern lines

so they run from each stern

cleat to shore and around

the bollards (or through

rings) on the quay, and then

back to the boat, where the

lines are again tensioned and

cleated off. This will make

departing easier. The anchor

rode is then re-tensioned. Af-

ter clearing customs, Mark,

Sandy and the boys can begin

their shore-side adventures.

Although challenging,

with practice and planning,

the Med-moor maneuver

can be very useful. In many

areas, it is necessary. Increas-

2 TYING TIMES

Minimize the drama of docking stern to with a little forethought, onboard gear and a solid plan

for backing in. BY EARL MACKENZIE

GOING IT ALONE

Singlehanded (and short-

handed) Med- mooring

requires additional

skill, and many boats are

equipped with devices

that can help. Being able

to operate the anchor

windlass with a remote

control at the helm is an

option that allows the

singlehander to maneu-

ver without having to go

forward. Just before the

stern contacts the quay,

the anchor is checked, and

the engine remains idling

in reverse while the skip-

per tends to securing the

stern. In a tight berthing

situation, the adjacent

boats ensure that the boat

holds position. A bow

thruster can be useful,

especially with wind or

current from abeam.

Tying stern to has applications both in crowded harbors and secluded anchorages, where it may

be desirable, say, to hold the transom close ashore while setting the hook on a steep drop-off.

TIM BARKER