Motor Boat & Yachting – May 2018

BOAT MASTER HOWTO

1

EXITING A BERTH IN A CROSSWIND Moored stern in and with a stiff wind
blowing you off the pontoon, you will need to exit the berth swiftly before
being blown on to the neighbouring boat. The crew needs to release the bowline
first and come swiftly back aboard.

2

RELEASING THE BOWLINE The crew has released the bowline and

quickly placed it back on board before moving to the stern. If it’s really

blowing, it may be easier to rig a slipline so that the crew can release it and

bring it back on board while standing on the bow.

3

USING A BOW THRUSTER A burst of starboard thrust helps control the

bow while the crew walks to the stern, releases the sternline and boards.

Now exit positively with the downwind engine first before you get blown on to

the neighbouring boat.

4

USING A STERNLINE Here, the close proximity of the blue boat and a stiff

breeze blowing your boat towards it means you need to leave in a positive

but controlled manner. A bow thruster would help but you can achieve the same

result using your lines and engines instead.

5

PINNING THE BOAT AGAINST THE PONTOON The solution is to rig a
short, quick-release sternline then use the port engine ahead to pin the boat
against the pontoon while the crew removes all the other lines ready to leave.

6

RELEASING THE STERNLINE With the other lines removed, drop the engine

into neutral. This makes the sternline go slack, allowing you to release it and

the bow to drift out. Put the outside engine ahead to control the bow and leave.