Cruising World - February 2016

71

HANDS-ON SAILOR

FEBRUARY

2016

cruisingworld.com

ing numbers of boats make

Med-mooring an attractive

choice for marinas with small

tidal range, both saving the

cost of fi nger fl oats and mak-

ing much more effi cient use

of space. Whether anchor-

ing against a steep drop-off

shoreline and securing your

stern to a palm tree, or tak-

ing a mooring over the bow

and securing to a quay, the

rewards of a maneuver well

done are a satisfying part of

the cruising life.

Earl MacKenzie is captain of the

schooner Bonnie Lynn and a

frequent CW contributor.

TIE-UP TIPS

Most full-keel sailboats

back either to port or

starboard, depending on

propeller rotation. Once

the boat is moving astern,

a short burst forward (but

not enough to stop stern-

way) is often required to

straighten out. Modern

boats with shorter keels

steer more easily in re-

verse. And of course, there

are bow thrusters for the

nautically challenged.

1. Catamarans maneuver
   well in reverse; just center
   the helm and steer with
   the engines. If either wind
   or current pushes you
   sideways, using just one
   engine allows the boat to
   crab against it.


2. In some harbors, moor-
   ings (with or without
   pendant lines) have been
   set off the quay or dock,
   or fl oats mark lines that
   can be picked up to hold
   the bow off. This means
   you won’t need your an-
   chor. Check with the har-
   bor master or consult the
   cruising guide in advance.


3. On a cat, lines are
   rigged from each bow to
   the mooring ball or eye
   in its pendant, and then
   back to the boat. This bri-
   dle centers the boat and
   helps keep her steady. It
   also allows adjustment if a
   strong wind is pushing you
   off-center. The same holds
   true using an anchor bridle.


4. While tying stern to
   makes stepping ashore
   easy, Med-mooring bow in
   is an option, especially for
   cruising boats with davits,
   self-steering gear, solar
   panels and wind chargers
   crowding the stern. It can
   also be easier to maneu-
   ver into a berth bow to in
   certain conditions, or to
   keep your running gear in
   deeper water if shoaling
   exists closer in.


5. Most cruising boats
   carry a small number of
   fenders of adequate size
   due to limited storage
   space. In addition to your
   primary fenders, infl at-
   able fenders that can be
   easily defl ated for stowage
   and refi lled are also avail-
   able, but pricier.

In some marinas, Med-mooring requires you to set your own anchor, which means you’ll

need to be careful not to foul the rodes to each side of your boat, and to leave ample scope

to hold the bow in place (left). In other marinas, you simply pick up a line at a mooring ball

and pay it out as you back the boat into place.

Approaching the quay, pull in slowly until you identify an

open space. Then pivot the boat and back in toward the

dock or wall as your crew lowers the anchor and pays out

rode, or grabs a fi xed line and lets it out as you back in. Re-

member to have fenders ready on each side of the boat, plus

one that can be quickly placed where needed.

BE FLEXIBLE

Each time you Med-moor,

you’ll face a different set

of circumstances. Some-

time you’ll tie to a wall,

other times you’ll back

up to a dock, and still

other times you’ll want

to approach a shoreline

and take lines ashore to

rocks or trees, in order

to bring the bow closer

to the beach or keep the

stern and its running gear

in deeper water.

TIM BARKER