Amazing video of a yacht rescue, Brixham Harbour, today. (5/8/23)

[fisherman]

I can only think that multiple thin lines, in series so to speak, will part one after the other, and maybe buy some time.
I always worked towards having multiple lines coming up together.
Would not have fancied my chances with that one though, everything's too short.

 

[penfold]

There's no practical way to avoid damage in that situation, the violence of motion and disparity between the motion of the boat and the pontoon mean it's impossible; moving is the only option, to the inner harbour, out to sea, a swinging mooring or even drop the hook in extremis. Literally any of the choices is better than trying to stay there.

 

[Stemar]

I sat out a severe storm on my Snapdragon 24 on the pontoon at Hardway, in Portsmouth Harbour, as close to the shore as I could get, ready for storm force SW, I stayed on board so I could check my lines, also thinking I'd keep an eye on other boats on the pontoon. When it all hit, Jissel, with doubled, stretchy lines was fine, but even though the wind was directly off the land, I decided that I would be risking my life to go much further down the pontoon as, even with next to no fetch, it was leaping around like a mad thing. No boat is worth risking my life.

That isn't a criticism of the guy in the vid. He was younger and fitter than me, and was clearly used to moving around in difficult conditions. Hats off to him. He saved a boat, if it had been a life or two he'd deserve a medal.

 

[dunedin]

Interesting about doubled bow line breaking, I always double mine so it's easy to retrieve them from onboard when sailing solo.

A doubled rope simply threaded through a cleat- or much worse a mooring shackle - is very prone to chafe.
If departing next day solo, I tend to do the bow rope with an OX round the cleat then back to the boat. This prevents any chafe. Prior to departure slip off XO and now have a slip ready to run.

 

[Sandy]

Well there is NO Pontoon Corner heavy duty fendering apparent fitted that I can see on the Pontoon ? IF not , why NOT ?

Maybe a RYA Course should rectify that error ?

Can I ask ? is there an RYA course that covers Yacht /Boat Club responsibilities and awareness of sittuations ?

Does the Brixham Harbour Authority actually advise or check Pontoon tittings as to being adequate for the 'job' etc in their Harbour ?

Err um. I've never seen a course on marina management offered by the RYA. In fact every marina that I have used has only had additional protection added to the pontoon by boat owners, at their expense!

I departed Brixham on 3rd August and was tucked up in Falmouth on the 5th. We recorded gusts of 50 knots at Falmouth had a number of craft wildly jumping about their moorings or anchors. One boat was assisted by the harbour master and we did hear a Mayday from a vessel further up the estuary. It was not a comfortable place to be.

 

[Pye_End]

Would have been tempted not to have 90 degree breast lines, but 2 shallow angled longer lines at bow ant stern - effectively 4 springs. More stretch available and less chance of a break. If space allowed.