Do you help others with mooring?

[LittleSister]

I'm surprised that so many seem to find 'help' so prevailingly misguided and unhelpful. I've had berthing messed up a bit by 'helpers' doing something daft or unexpected, but that's been relatively unusual, and more often it's been either a real boon or just a pleasant social interaction.

I offer, if either its very close to me or the situation looks tricky for any reasons, and accept the answer. If I'm offered specific instructions I'll follow them, and if not I'll get a turn round a cleat and hold the rope (ready to surge or release if need be) until someone's ready to take it, and fend off if needed.

 

[Poignard]

Lovely story! Did you get a high-five from the wife?

Mike.

Well I was a bit miffed by his discourtesy and I did toy for a while with the idea having a passionate affair with his wife, persuading her to divorce him and take all his money, and generally destroying his life.

But the The Old Guvnor said "Are you going to sit there all afternoon day-dreaming instead of fixing the blocked heads", and the moment passed.

 

[mjcoon]

But the The Old Guvnor said "Are you going to sit there all afternoon day-dreaming instead of fixing the blocked heads", and the moment passed.

Oh, I see, that "high" five!

Mike.

 

[Robert Wilson]

I always offer and accept their answer.

+1

And I'm happy to receive their offer if I'm mooring/berthing.
My response depends on the potential colour of my underpants given the imminent situation.

 

[Toutvabien]

I like to come alongside with a midship spring led to the outermost pontoon cleat. Lash to tiller toward the pontoon and leave the engine running slowly ahead. A lot of people don't realise the boat can sit safely like that all day. Instead and they dash about getting head and stern ropes on as fast as they can. They do no harm and it's kind of them to help. What's the point of hurting well-meaning people's feelings?

Ditto. works great with our big heavy boat, one line on to the dock and time to sort stuff out. Problem come when "helpers" take the intended spring and, despite reasonably clear requests, make it up as a bow line then explain to us how we should tie up our boat.

 

[xyachtdave]

Problem come when "helpers" take the intended spring and, despite reasonably clear requests, make it up as a bow line then explain to us how we should tie up our boat.

That's why the 'bark at them until they go away,' option is there!

Part of being a good skipper is waiting for the crew and any 'dock side helpers' to leave so you can quietly tie your boat up properly without upsetting anyones feelings.....

I was on half penny pier in Harwich when a nautical lunatic appeared approaching the pontoon at about 6 knots down tide and wind and threw a rope at me.

I was sitting on the boat drinking a Belgium beverage and minding my own business at the time.....thinking this technique looks interesting.....

The rope thrown at me wasn't attached to his boat, contained loads of bits of hose pipe and was in a big snotty mess.

As he crunched and scraped his way down the pontoon rapidly reaching the end he gave me quite a bit of stick to untangle the rope faster.

When he came back for his next attempt from the same direction I gave him his rope back and left him to it.
An hour later he came over and started telling me what a sailing hero he was and taking the piss out of an elderly couple having trouble getting into a tricky spot.

I told him I had seen him in action and he wasn't in position to offer criticism. (This was actually shortened to 2 words..)

He's probably on here somewhere

 

[Robert Wilson]

That's why the 'bark at them until they go away,' option is there!

Part of being a good skipper is waiting for the crew and any 'dock side helpers' to leave so you can quietly tie your boat up properly without upsetting anyones feelings.....

I was on half penny pier in Harwich when a nautical lunatic appeared approaching the pontoon at about 6 knots down tide and wind and threw a rope at me.

I was sitting on the boat drinking a Belgium beverage and minding my own business at the time.....thinking this technique looks interesting.....

The rope thrown at me wasn't attached to his boat, contained loads of bits of hose pipe and was in a big snotty mess.

As he crunched and scraped his way down the pontoon rapidly reaching the end he gave me quite a bit of stick to untangle the rope faster.

When he came back for his next attempt from the same direction I gave him his rope back and left him to it.
An hour later he came over and started telling me what a sailing hero he was and taking the piss out of an elderly couple having trouble getting into a tricky spot.

I told him I had seen him in action and he wasn't in position to offer criticism. (This was actually shortened to 2 words..)

He's probably on here somewhere

I can just imagine the scenario. Wish I'd been there to enjoy your economical instruction totally pertinent to the man's ability, attitude and appreciation of his perceived inferiors.

Chuckle chuckle:encouragement:

 

[ProMariner]

What it must be like to be English, I couldn't possibly imagine. To have to be formally introduced to someone, before even eye contact can be safely made, let alone as personal an intercourse such as 'offering to take a line'.
Most folk I guess just use the time honoured glance, from the bystander to the boat, to see if help could be useful, and, the glance from the skipper/crew, to see if help is available. Sociologists and body language experts could probably write volumes on the information being exchanged, like a wireless data connection, the information being passed both ways, and the moment it takes. The 'buy in', on both sides, is usually instantaneous, mutually beneficial on many levels, most of the time, and usually makes the world seem like a better place. Similar to flashing a complete stranger out of a junction, on a busy road.
Or, at least, that is how I thought the world worked before I read some of these posts.

Always happy to help, always happy to receive help. Even if the assistance is only really needed one in a hundred times. Sorry to all to whom this help seems insulting. Unintended.

But then, I wave like an idiot, to every boat passing, what the hell do I know.

The guy who wrote "save me from the vengeance of my enemies, and the help of idiots", must have had a pretty lonely life, and found idiots everywhere.

 

[Slow_boat]

I'm usually either single handed or with swmbo, who is a 'willing passenger' so I'm always grateful for an assistance. I would usually pass the midship spring, with a bowline in the end, ashore and ask for it to be dropped over the first pontoon cleat. On my old boat I could reach quite easily from the cockpit but the new boat is fat and high with a centre cockpit.

it took me a while to realise that I'm not an instructor with a fully crewed yacht anymore and everything doesn't have to be perfect; the midship line ashore will hold us while I sort the rest out and with fenders down both sides we won't hurt anyone. Any landing you walk away from is a good one!

 

[JumbleDuck]

What it must be like to be English, I couldn't possibly imagine. To have to be formally introduced to someone, before even eye contact can be safely made, let alone as personal an intercourse such as 'offering to take a line'.

I cannot help wondering what those skippers who enter harbour in eye-popping splenetic fury at the idea that anyone might dare to offer help are like to sail with. If they are so inflexible that they can't modify a berthing plan when help is offered I can't imagine they are much fun at sea either.

 

[Poignard]

Do you think these po-faces get any pleasure out of life at all? They never seem to. Everything done by rules, procedures and checklists.

Maybe it results from an unhappy childhood. Parents impossible to please. Tragic really.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Do you think these po-faces get any pleasure out of life at all? They never seem to. Everything done by rules, procedures and checklists.

Maybe it results from an unhappy childhood. Parents impossible to please. Tragic really.

There do seem to be some people who sail to satisfy their inner Captain Blighs. One feels that they need both a sense of perspective and a grip.

 

[Searush]

Always happy to help if wanted (usually offered) and always happy to receive help from anyone. I usually just ask helpers if they "could just hold it there for a moment while I sort out my end". Even the gongoozelers, English & grockles can cope with that.

If helping someone else who looks like they have no idea, I will generally try to suggest how to set up springs to cope with the 20 odd foot rise & fall of the tide against a stone wall. It's up to them if they choose to ignore me, altho I may pop past later to stop them hanging by the cleats.

Berthing to a 15 foot high vertical wall makes it tricky to get lines ashore when single handed, so chucking loose ends of warps to bystanders & dog walkers is normal while I carry the springs up the ladder to finish the job off. Generally get a bit of chat going too. What's not to like?

 

[JumbleDuck]

I used to fly at the Yorkshire Gliding Club on Sutton Bank. It's a popular area for tourists and there's a public footpath along the (cliff) edge of the airfield, so there were always a lot of spectators about. Some glider pilots treated them with complete disdain. I used to remember how fascinating I found it before I started, and I'd make a point of talking to them, chatting about what we were doing and, when safe, accepting offers of help (gliders are very, very strong in some places and very, very weak in others). I don't think I ever failed to sell at least one trial lesson to a casual visitor, and I hope that I made everyone's day a bit more fun, whether they flew or not.

On a slightly more pragmatic note, both sailing and gliding are often perceived from the outside as preserves of the rich and stand-offish, so it's a good idea to show as friendly a face as possible. The helpful chap who is given the bum's rush when he offers a hand to a berthing yacht will remember that reception when he reads about yachties vs seahorses at Studland ...

 

[Seajet]

Jumbleduck,

absolutely; one should try to be an ambassador for the sport / pastime, to help counter the effects of lazy journalists etc.

I have sometimes agreed to give lads from the local town a row around the moorings, and they seemed to think even that was wonderful; sadly I wouldn't do it now thanks to all the nasty innuendo in a modern context and possibility of false charges !

I certainly chat with people if they want, and offer help or even accept it if offered, my boat is easily handled but why be standoffish, unless they look like pro pirates or wreckers I expect it all to work out.

 

[Cloona]

I like a bit of shouting and particularly enjoy couples having a melt down - and a dog jumping off and crapping somewhere WRONG

A bit of a bash is always terrific value - and some pontoon rage,

 

[Seajet]

I like a bit of shouting and particularly enjoy couples having a melt down - and a dog jumping off and crapping somewhere WRONG

A bit of a bash is always terrific value - and some pontoon rage,

Sorry to those who've seen me mention this before, but a favourite moment was when standing on the pontoon at the Folly one day; a small sailing cruiser with a Seagull engine roaring on the transom approached, with a worried looking woman on the foredeck and bloke steering; He yelled to her above the engine noise, oblivious to the fact we could all hear,

" FOR CHRIST'S SAKE LOOK NATURAL ! "

 

[Tidewaiter2]

I'll usually offer a hand, it's all part of sailing, and meeting people. Only exception is when it's obviously a school boat or one with enough crew.

Everyone has their own way of tiding up their boat, so I'll follow any instructions.

There have been times when we've been grateful for a helping hand, and what goes around comes around.

+1

 

[vyv_cox]

I'll usually offer a hand, it's all part of sailing, and meeting people. Only exception is when it's obviously a school boat or one with enough crew.

We were berthed stern-to in a small port in Corsica. A strongly-crewed boat around 40 ft made to come alongside us. Seeing five or six young men holding warps and fenders on deck we realised that they needed no assistance from us. The boat reversed up to the wall and hit it with a mighty bang. Nobody on deck moved, the young men gazing at us with glazed expressions. Jill took over, took their warps, cleated them off for them, showed them how to tie their fenders and where to hang them.

Lesson learned - never make assumptions.