Berthing scenario - advice ...??

[john_morris_uk]

I'm a great believer in fenders. I have to be. Better to whack in than miss, I say.

Better still to practice your boat driving so that you don't 'whack in'.

We had a boat in St Peterport last summer that hit every other boat as it made its way into the Marina. They had lots of fenders and no real damage was done, but the person driving just shrugged and said, 'lots of wind today isn't there!'

It wasn't that windy, and there were a lot of people very crossly running around fending their boat off and trying to prevent damage and scrapes.

Wouldn't have minded quite so much if they didn't hit us again when we were out on the waiting pontoon waiting for the tide.

 

[sbenest]

We have exactly this type of scenario in Jersey. The only answer would be to motor down to the berh staying closer to the upwind boats and then just before your berth let the boat drift down to the centre of the alley and begin your turn to starboard. As the boat starts to turn give the engine a good brief kick astern which will slow the boat and help the turn Then tap the gear ahead to staighten up. Let the wind drift you down onto the pontoon as you trickle ahead.
Cheers