You made it here for one of two reasons, either you want to learn how this new manoeuvre is done or you have been doing it but aren’t feeling very comfortable at getting it done. I will slip in a couple of tips and tricks I use to make it look easy to help yourself out.
Preparation
As with any project, the key to making it easy for ourselves is to properly prepare. In this case, it means lines and fenders in the right positions, lines ready and lifelines open at the stern. I also make sure I have all my people in the right place, ready to take an order and I also take the time to discuss my hand signals. One thing to always double-check is to make sure the windlass is working.
Fenders
This deserves its own section. I won’t tell you how to run your boat but I will. I have seen many people follow the guides for alongside and forget to but a fender where it normally hits as you squeeze in between boats. As most boats have two ball fenders and eight regular fenders, I like to place both ball fenders near the deck on the stern corners. I then distribute the eight others evenly along each side until past the shrouds. This covers most points of contacts and avoids scratches from the pointy parts of the hull onto another boat. If I think it is a particularly tight squeeze, I will ask the boats on either side to be on fender watch and have a roaming fender. It comforts them that I care for their boat and are happy to do it.
Lines
As we are coming in stern to the quay, you will need both lines tied on to your stern cleats and not caught in anything when you throw them. You also want to make sure that they are tied on using a cleat hitch. No bowlines, no weird knots. This can easily get you out of an issue like a potential prop wrap as you can quickly untie from either side. You also want to make sure that your lines are nicely coiled and placed so that the line isn’t in the water or has the potential of falling in. I like to lay my coil over the line going to the cleat to avoid this.
The Manoeuvre
This animation gives you a quick idea of what you will be doing. I will walk you through the steps and where I normally take caution.
Step 1 - Evaluating
Often underestimated, you need to identify where you plan on being, the depth you will drop your anchor in and just visualizing the entire manoeuvre. I do all this as I approach in the distance and have a look at my depth sounder while estimating my beam between various boats.
Step 2 - The Turn
The approach is another estimation. This is where you need to take wind, tide and current into consideration. As usual always aim to be higher up on the elements than where you actually want to be. If there is a strong wind, you will thank yourself at the end.
Also, make sure you turn early if you have the sea room, this will give you time to estimate the distances and speed to ace your manoeuvre!
Step 3 - The Approach
This is more of a tips and tricks step.
Keep in mind where other boats’ anchors are. You don’t want to deal with crossed anchors at 6AM when your neighbour wants to leave and picks you up.
Also if you can’t seem to get that nice angle and straight approach, feel free to zig-zag in and place your anchor where you want it.
Step 4 - Drop!
This is a critical moment in your mooring. If your neighbour thinks your anchor is too close to his, close your ears, he will scream at you for no reason. If you are going too fast, you won’t hook the ground adequately. I try to drop between 2 and 3 boat lengths away from the quay to make sure I have plenty enough chain out. If I have a doubt on the holding or I know that there are a lot of crossed anchors, I will drop an extra 20 to 30 metres “just in case.”
I like to go into neutral or idle reverse when I drop my anchor. This gives me plenty of time to react and that way everyone stays calm.
If ever I have 20 metres below me and fewer than 3 boat lengths to reverse in, I start dropping and count 20 seconds without moving. This ensures my anchor touched the ground and I can now reverse while continuing to drop.
Step 5 - Get In
Unless you are fighting the elements, remember, slow is pro. Coming in slow will cause a slight paint transfer, coming in hot will cause scratches on the hulls.
Once your stern is about at your neighbour’s midships, it’s time to stretch your chain and test your holding. Without giving more than idle reverse, see if the boat stops as you stop pressing the “down” button for the windlass. If you reverse a little, it’s normal. Keep dropping until you are about a metre from the quay.
At this point, you hope a kind person is on the dock ready to catch your lines. If not, it’s time to ask your most adventurous crew member to jump onshore. If you are feeling confident and like them, I recommend getting about 50 centimetres from the quay to avoid them falling in with that propeller still in reverse.
Next step is to get the lines on. I like to go slightly wider than my boat without going into my neighbour’s way. The person onshore will run the line through the ring or on the cleat and will send it back to tie to the stern cleat. As usual, you always want the windward line on first.
Getting the Perfect Position
This is where you can spend hours getting it just right but most of the time it shouldn’t be very long. Once you know the length of your plank and swim platform or of your passerelle, you are going to aim to be as far off the quay as you possibly can. This will help avoid damage caused by swell.
If you are feeling too close to the quay, I like to put idle forward on the engine and slack my lines until I am at the distance I would like to be. I then tighten up the anchor chain and turn the engine off.
When I am too far away, I put the engine in idle reverse and slack the anchor chain by less than I think I need. It is a lot easier to take it slow than to risk crashing into the wall after perfectly executing your docking.
In Conclusion
Although anything new can be scary, this is quite simple to do once you get the hang of it! Do keep in mind that in stronger weather, you might add additional lines to help secure your boat.
You are now ready for a nice meal right off the back of your boat as is often found in the med when you are stern to!