Motor Boat & Yachting — November 2017

Boat master HOWTO

3

once the pickup buoy has been caught by the crew, the helm must keep
the boat on station so no extra weight is placed on the line while the crew
works to secure the line. Use a side transit to judge your position and a soft
touch on the throttles.

1

When selecting a mooring buoy, look how other craft are lying to the wind
and tide, then aim to approach it from a similar angle. this should give
you the best chance of balancing your boat against the elements for a slow,
controlled approach.

2

as you get closer, the crew needs to give clear and concise instructions or
hand signals on the direction and distance to the buoy. the last 3m are
crucial as the helm loses sight of the buoy beneath the bow and becomes totally
reliant on the crew’s instructions.

4

to lasso a buoy, make a large loop in the rope and throw your arms high

and wide over it rather than aiming down at it. allow time for the rope to

sink around and under the buoy before attempting to lift it up. again, the boat

needs to remain stationary.

5

reversing up to the buoy is often easier for the helm because the view

is better. It’s also simpler for the crew because they are at the same

height as the buoy. Be careful not to trail any lines which could get caught

in the props.

6

For relatively short stays you can secure a line from a stern cleat but for

longer ones, run a bow line outside the rails to the stern. once you’ve

threaded it through the buoy’s eye, walk it forward so the boat spins around

and ends up secured by the bow.

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