Yachting_Monthly_2016-01

An expert’s guide to stern-to mooring PRACTICAL SEAMANSHIPPRACTICAL SEAMANSHIP

JANUARY 2016 http://www.yachtingmonthly.com 33

Prepare the lines Make fast, and relax

Judge your distance Drop the anchor

your speedControl

It makes it much easier if you can get the mooring lines ashore first time, so practice heaving them in advance. Coil the rope neatly, have three or four turns in each hand so you don’t have too much to throw.^9 Heave your lines to someone ashore, or check for underwater obstructions and go in to let the crew to step off. Straighten up and secure both lines, then bring in some anchor cable to hold you off.^10

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It’s tricky judging where to drop your anchor. Unless it’s particularly deep, three boat lengths is usually right. That’s the length of your boat, the length of another boat on the quay, and a gap of the same. Once lined up, drop the anchor sharpish. Pay out plenty of anchor chain so you don’t slow down. Stop paying out when the transom is 2-3m from the quay. This will stop you, but use the engine if needed.

Once you have steerage way, get the boat straight. To protect your
gearbox, don’t rev the engine quickly between astern and ahead, just keep it in
tickover astern. You should have enough speed to be in control of the boat
but no more – slow and without stress.