Mooring Alongside A Harbour Wall

Book Extract

Check with harbour master or pilot notes for the rise and fall of tide and any obstructions.

• Always approach into tide or wind, whichever is stronger. Use plenty of fenders to protect the hull and use an outer fender board if the wall is not of uniform shape.
• Moor up using separate bow/stern lines and springs.
• Warps should be at least three times the rise and fall of the tide. If the tidal range is more than 9ft (3m) it may be necessary to have a crew member on board to keep watch over the lines.

Approaching a harbour wall.

Secured to a harbour wall.

To leave:

• Set up lines so that they can be pulled through and released from onboard.
• Head out stern or bow first into the tide. Never attempt to leave down-tide.
• If space is restricted, hold the downtide bow/stern line under tension and release the up-tide line, allowing the bow/stern to swing round. Make sure that your vessel cannot move forward or backwards and damage vessels on either side.
• Release the down-tide line when the bow/ stern has swung out and motor away.

 

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Yachting Start To Finish is written by Barry Pickthall. Barry is a respected sports writer and photographer and has been covering all aspects of sailing and boating for the past 35 years, 20 of them as a yachting correspondent to The Times newspaper. He has been covering the international stage for the past 4 decades from the Olympics to America's Cup and Round the World Races. Barry is also a qualified sailing instructor – having graduated from one of the first courses held at the UKSA.