Yachting_Monthly_2016-01

PRACTICAL SEAMANSHIP An expert’s gide to stern-to mooring

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

What can go wrong Kedging for a blowIf the wind changes, or is likely to change, consider taking your kedge anchor forwards to set as a second anchor at an angle to the first, in the direction of the
expected wind. Your kedge rode will lie across other anchors, but this can be sorted later.If it’s really blowing, mooring
stern- or bow-to can be tricky and problems become more likely. Rather than battling the conditions, go and anchor off in
an open area of the harbour. The wind will usually drop in a couple of hours, when you can moor with more control.
Crossed anchorsIt’s inevitable that, at some point, you’ll end up with your anchor
chain laid across another boat’s chain, but there are simple ways to deal with it. A dinghy and a glass-bottomed bucket, or a mask
and snorkel, are all you need to assess the mess.nHaving heaved in your cable, you Your anchor hooks a chain:
find that your anchor has picked up someone else’s chain. Pass a line under their chain and cleat it off on the bow to support the
chain’s weight. Lower your anchor until it is clear, then retrieve your anchor before dropping the other yacht’s chain. You may have
dragged the other boat’s anchor, so let them know.nHaving bagged the best spot in Your chain is under another:
the harbour, later boats have laid their chain across yours. You’ll know when you come to leave because the chain is hard to heave

How to use a lazy linePicking up a lazy line can be harder than anchoring, as the anchor helps you control your speed and stops your bow being

blown down. Lazy lines can be heavy and slimy so have a pair of gloves or a

PHOTOS: GraHam SnOOk/Ym

boathook ready. Control the speed just with your engine. as you can use the wind to blow you into The key is being aware of the elements

the right position. You can use other moored boats to keep you straight. Once

your windward stern line is ashore, pick up the lazy line, walk it to the bow and get a turn on a bow cleat. When you are leaving the berth, give

the rope a few moments to sink before engaging gear or you risk a prop wrap.

After securing lines ashore, pick up the lazy line, run it forward and secure on a bow cleat. Adjust its tension to hold you safely off the quay

in, or you spotted it by swimming over the anchor. Hoping for the best is unlikely to work. Instead,

pay out all of your chain and carefully detach the bitter end from the boat. From the dinghy, take the end of your chain to the

offending boat’s bow and pass it around their chain, bringing yours back on top. Reattach the bitter end, heave in and sail away. If your

anchor is at the bottom of a large pile, consider buoying your chain before dropping it completely and coming back later. W

How to cope with a crosswindThe trick with mooring stern-to in a crosswind is to approach from

upwind. If it’s really windy, this could be as much as 45° upwind of the berth you are aiming for. You will want the anchor to be

upwind of the berth, so this approach puts you in the right place to drop it. Don’t worry about other anchors, as most

boats will have done the same.

Sort out crossed anchors later.build up steerage way astern as normal, then aim straight at your Stop moving ahead and

berth. As you slow down, the bow will start to be blown off, which will serve to bring you into line to slot into the gap, and snubbing

your anchor will stop the bow drifting too far.nice and slowly, heave in your If things do go wrong, take it

anchor and start again. PHOTO: niGel Calder

ABOVE: Before you can resolve the problem, you need a clear

idea of what it is

Unshackle the bitter end and take it under the chain lying over yours to put your chain on top

GraPHiC: maxine HeaTH

PHOTO: VYV COx

LEFT: If you hook someone else’s chain, take its weight

with a line under it, then free your anchor