Boat handling mayhem! Ermioni Greece.

[AntarcticPilot]

As far as I know, stern-on Mediterranean style mooring isn't taught on RYA courses, nor is is at all common in the UK, if indeed it is used anywhere in the UK. Therefore, even a highly experienced UK skipper might struggle to get it right on the first attempt. I've never encountered it, and would definitely struggle to get it right first time - or even second or third! I can see that the principle is that you drop an anchor some distance (several boat lengths) from the quay and then reverse against the anchor to control the boat going into the quay. But how, for example, do you judge the right place to drop the anchor? And how do you control the lateral motion of the boat while reversing against the anchor? It might be valuable if the experienced people on here put together a useful set of diagrams to illustrate how to do it in various conditions of wind and/or current (the lack of tides in the Med doesn't preclude the possibility of wind-driven currents), taking into account things like prop-walk and lack of rudder function when reversing slowly.

 

[laika]

As far as I know, stern-on Mediterranean style mooring isn't taught on RYA courses

It wasn't when I did mine and that's not all the RYA don't tell you about mooring in the med. Other things I needed to learn for myself included tying up to rocks and how to anchor somewhere other than osborne bay (flat bottom, <5m). When we've had threads on this before people will often trot out stock wisdom which I've found doesn't always translate to practice. Nope, I've not found that motoring back against the anchor chain has stopped the boat being blown sideways whilst swimming a line ashore.

I found Heikell's med cruising book a good primer but necessity, trial and error the best learning aids.

On the plus side, on my first med charter in croatia other boats seemed to be making a bit of a hash of coming alongside the fuel pontoon which was the one thing we managed to do pretty well.

 

[zoidberg]

Thare's a LOT not taught on RYA courses which some have argued for decades ought to be. F'r 'zample, anchoring..... but a good instructor even in a Shorebased environment can find time to squeeze in a 10-minute 'demo' of types/principles. How that is done on a stripped-out 'distance learning' course is moot... but there's only so much time available, and a lot is absorbed by students coming inadequately prepp'd for the course they've signed up to.

There are advantages to knowing about 'other techniques' such as the Med Moor. One example recalled is reversing a large shiny Oceanis into a slot in Haslar Marina, between two larger, shinier mobos.... and in a strong cross wind. The easy and simple answer - the TRADITIONAL answer - was to nose up to the finger pontoon just about opposite/upwind, drop a loop over a cleat, then reverse back holding the bows under control with the payed-out line.... which was retrieved in seconds when no longer needed.

 

[agroundagain]

I had an interesting mooring at Ermioni last summer. Nothing like as interesting as the one on the video, I'm pleased to say, and successful on the third attempt.
Thinking about it afterwards I realised that a big part of the issue was that we uncovered some of the limitations of our charter boat, notably the crap windlass and less chain than we were told, at the point of executing a fairly tricky manoeuvre (it was a decent 6 with reasonable chop).
Lesson learnt!

 

[doug748]

Is this what you were trying to post?

Pete

It's got me baffled, can anyone explain what is happening here?

Is he trying to get in backwards - with the anchor still on the bow?
If he was hoping to come alongside the moored boats, it seems he got into a safe ish position twice, - then set off again?
Going in bow first looks to have a lot to commend it but he does not to have a stern anchor out either?

With the wind onshore it looks like a kamikazi operation. Anyone guess what the plan was - were they drunk?


.

 

[jordanbasset]

Maybe me, but I found using an anchor to tie back to a wall easier than using lazy lines, in a crosswind situation or where you were being blown onto the wall it was especially useful

 

[dombuckley]

As far as I know, stern-on Mediterranean style mooring isn't taught on RYA courses, nor is is at all common in the UK, if indeed it is used anywhere in the UK.

Mooring stern-to is very common on the Norfolk Broads, sometimes resulting in similar scenes. However, the average hire cruiser has two or three full-length rubbing strakes, which (sort of) limits the amount of damage they can do to each other.

 

[westhinder]

Reasonably priced ex-charter yacht in good condition, anyone?

 

[Just_sayin']

There are advantages to knowing about 'other techniques' such as the Med Moor. One example recalled is reversing a large shiny Oceanis into a slot in Haslar Marina, between two larger, shinier mobos.... and in a strong cross wind. The easy and simple answer - the TRADITIONAL answer - was to nose up to the finger pontoon just about opposite/upwind, drop a loop over a cleat, then reverse back holding the bows under control with the payed-out line.... which was retrieved in seconds when no longer needed.

Amazing how that TRADITIONAL method turns a strong crosswind into an upwind condition.

 

[duncan99210]

As far as I know, stern-on Mediterranean style mooring isn't taught on RYA courses, nor is is at all common in the UK, if indeed it is used anywhere in the UK. Therefore, even a highly experienced UK skipper might struggle to get it right on the first attempt. I've never encountered it, and would definitely struggle to get it right first time - or even second or third! I can see that the principle is that you drop an anchor some distance (several boat lengths) from the quay and then reverse against the anchor to control the boat going into the quay. But how, for example, do you judge the right place to drop the anchor? And how do you control the lateral motion of the boat while reversing against the anchor? It might be valuable if the experienced people on here put together a useful set of diagrams to illustrate how to do it in various conditions of wind and/or current (the lack of tides in the Med doesn't preclude the possibility of wind-driven currents), taking into account things like prop-walk and lack of rudder function when reversing slowly.

We did our CC and DS in Corfu and were taught how to do the Med moor. Basic idea is to identify your berth, line up with it with stern facing to the quayside. Motor away from the quay as far as reasonable, then reverse back towards the quay aiming to be as near to 90 degrees to the quay. Drop the anchor when the bow is 2 - 3 boat lengths away from the quayside and continue to motor back towards the quay. When the stern is about .5 of a boat length from the quay, stop dropping chain so you dig the anchor in. If you’ve got it right, the boat will come to a halt a metre or so off the quay (otherwise a short burst of ahead will stop expensive graunching noises as the stern meets the quayside). Throw stern lines to helpful person ashore (or step ashore yourself with line), make fast so stern is about 1.5m from quay, take up anchor to hold boat off quay. Open beer.

If you have a boat with refuses to go astern in a controlled manner or the quayside is particularly high, go in bows first using the kedge dropped off the stern instead. Same technique as above but the task loading on the helm is increased as he has to manage the anchor and the steering, whereas the bowman simply has to pass lines ashore. Of course, stepping ashore is often much more challenging when you have to negotiate the pulpit and anchor when there’s no one to take your lines.

if there’s a wind blowing along the quay, do not be tempted to drop the anchor upwind of your intended berth. You’ll lay down you anchor chain over your neighbours chains. In a high(ish) wind, I’ve found the best thing to do is to use a slightly higher speed reversing into the berth and hold the bow straight by tightening the gypsy clutch slightly so that you’re effectively hanging off the anchor and using to stop the boat being blown too far sideways.

Key in all of this is being prepared. Fenders out, lines rigged and someone who knows what they’re doing on the anchor winch. The number of times I’ve seen people arrive with their stern at the quay and then start scrabbling round for a rope to attach to the stern... Then they take in chain without keeping the engine ticking over in astern to hold the boat in position whilst they sort the lines out and drift back out again....

I‘ve seen more than one boat arrive on a quay with what appeared to be a copy book approach only for it to be pointed out to them that they should have dropped the anchor before reversing onto the quay. I’d suggest the mess in Ermoni was down to such an error...

 

[Clancy Moped]

Having a remote for the windlass at the helm is a godsend if you're only two people. It's like having an extra pair of hands. The OH would start at the bows making sure the chain was paying out ok, then I would take over with the remote while she came back to the cockpit to deal with the mooring warps.

 

[xyachtdave]

Dream Yacht Charters ?

Another one for the website...

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Mooring stern-to is very common on the Norfolk Broads, sometimes resulting in similar scenes. However, the average hire cruiser has two or three full-length rubbing strakes, which (sort of) limits the amount of damage they can do to each other.

Yes - I've done it there. But it's a different technique, not usually relying on the use of an anchor to control the movement towards the quay.

 

[Resolution]

As far as I know, stern-on Mediterranean style mooring isn't taught on RYA courses, nor is is at all common in the UK, if indeed it is used anywhere in the UK. Therefore, even a highly experienced UK skipper might struggle to get it right on the first attempt. I've never encountered it, and would definitely struggle to get it right first time - or even second or third! I can see that the principle is that you drop an anchor some distance (several boat lengths) from the quay and then reverse against the anchor to control the boat going into the quay. But how, for example, do you judge the right place to drop the anchor? And how do you control the lateral motion of the boat while reversing against the anchor? It might be valuable if the experienced people on here put together a useful set of diagrams to illustrate how to do it in various conditions of wind and/or current (the lack of tides in the Med doesn't preclude the possibility of wind-driven currents), taking into account things like prop-walk and lack of rudder function when reversing slowly.

 

[ProDave]

So in a sheltered bay, with no wind, no tide, and a boat that steers in astern and a helmsman that know the boat, it's easy peasy

Now lets see a video of it being done well with a bit of wind, tide, and a boat that does not steerr very well astern.

 

[Hermit]

I enjoyed the shouting most of all.

Lot's of people following the maximm:

"When in trouble, when in doubt, ​

run in circles, scream and shout.".​

For maxim's to trust this one also appeared in use:

When in doubt power it out ....

 

[Capt Popeye]

Surely it can be done with comming alongside the down wind yacht of the 2 with fenders out and asking them to walk ones boat down with a rope passed to them ? plus of course the anchor dropped out first ? then many ways to do it I suppose all depending upon the conditions of Tide, Wind, Current etc etc ?

 

[Fascadale]

It does not always need to be a disaster. Here are three charter boats, a 51, a 46 and a 33, rafted together, perfectly parking, albeit in very benign conditions. No fuss, no drama. (Kalamos)

 

[dslittle]

Thinking about it afterwards I realised that a big part of the issue was that we uncovered some of the limitations of our charter boat
Lesson learnt!

Not always a charter boat. This has brought back a memory of a relatively well manoeuvred stern too mooring in Plateria in a bit of a blow once on our own yacht which had to be aborted when about 10 feet from the quay due to lack of chain, much to the amusement of a number of others watching from Olga’s. Not too be recommended...

 

[siwhi]

There's a fair bit on youtube that covers the basics - re running lines and fenders, where to drop, etc. Search "med mooring with anchor". As a flotilla skipper I got to see the good, the bad and the ugly with 12 (plus your own) med moorings everyday. Most of those boats are pretty benign astern, certainly easier than skeg hung rudders or long keelers, but they can get blown off course.

Some suggestions: know where you expect the chain to stop at the stem-head - measure it out before hand and mark it with felt tip or string. Factor in depth at drop point - often forgotten. This helps the crew to know when to stop / slow on the windlass. Know your windlass payout speed in m/s and count that out, try to match it with boat speed. If it's slow, and on many flotilla and charter boats they are, maybe chuck in the first 10-15m or so depending on depth, space available, etc, along with anchor to give you a head start. Keep weigh on (unless collision is likely) - with practice you can precision dock with some speed. Do not cross anchors with neighbouring boats! This involves much diving / untangling by the flotilla crew, usually in the dirtiest harbours. It's often caused by the slow response of the skipper to go astern, bow gets blown down, crew starts to drop the anchor of their own initiative, skipper thinks "oh screw it, let's try it anyway", and mayhem ensues. So, once you're aligned a good way out gun it back to make speed and get steering, then take it off as required. In tight harbours you may need to make a reverse L shaped dock, in which case if you can, do it on the side where prop walk assists the turn. In this instance try to drop anchor once the boat has straightened up and you are sure you won't collect neighbouring anchors. If you need to bail out, try to do it before your stern passes the adjacent boats' bow. A blast forward once you are halfway in and need to correct, with the wheel often hard over, ends in hard collisions of your stern with their bow - usually unfendered areas. So fenders on the quarter are good. Often people collect their neighbour's chain and get that wrapped around their keel / anchor / and sometimes prop. Never ideal. With practice you can crab a little against the weight/catenary of the chain (the anchor probably hasn't bitten yet) and try to keep the stern pointing a little into the wind, till the last minute - like landing a plane in crosswind.

Other tips:
- Don't put a deaf person on the anchor unless you have good hand signals for "drop"
- If you do collect your neighbours chain in your prop, don't stick your boat into fast forward
- The skippers of the adjacent boats and the harbour master will all be shouting contradictory advise
- If the anchor hasn't bitten consider asking someone in a dinghy to run out the anchor and chain by dinghy, drop it and tighten up on the windlass, especially if you have a great spot and don't want someone else to nick it while you faff around resetting. Just tie off the stern lines and leave the boat in drive in the meantime.
- In the video they haven't dropped anchor but have several lines in the water. They seem to be trying to collect other anchor chains super-mario style. You'll get one of those every couple of weeks. Sometimes, if there isn't a problem with being seen as too patronising or loss of face by the skipper, it's better to swim out to the boat and dock it for them.