Help please!?

[MikeEly]

Evening all, I’ve just picked up my new boat, a 35.5ft fairline targa. I’ve sailed on and off for a few years but only in coastal waters really whilst fishing etc.

Anyways I’ve bought a mooring at a local marina and there is where my issues start…. I bought the boat on Friday, took it out for a cruise up the great Ouse and loved every minute, until I returned to moor, it took me 3 attempts just to get into the marina! Then a lot of swearing and brown marks in my underwear before we safely moored. Yesterday myself and a friend went out for a couple hours, when returning the wind was strong(slight excuse) and it was to be bluntly honest, terrifying trying to moor up.

My main issue is my confidence I’m sure but it’s also my lack of skill, particularly with a boat this big after only ever sailing little dory boats or day sailers. The boat has twin Volvo penta endings with a bow thruster but for the life of me I can’t practice enough to get into my mooring. I’m now looking for someone to come spend some time with me on my boat to train me, I understand there are courses etc but I just want some 1-1 before I go ahead and start looking at everything else. Can anyone help or point me in the right direction? Thanks in advance, Mike

I’m in Ely, Cambridgeshire btw

 

[Meagain]

Hi, while I can’t suggest a name to you, just wish to reassure that by asking for help and 1:1 own boat tuition you are heading in the right direction . Normally there is a company based / advertise in a marine that provide training and while they may not say ”own boat tuition“ it is something normally offered.

 

[ST840]

Just remember that slow is pro. Maybe get a wind direction flag fitted to your forward handrail so that you can see the wind direction which will help whilst mooring. Also before you enter the marina take a look at bouys etc near by and note which direction the water is flowing. This combined with the wind direction indicator will allow you to judge your angle of attack on your mooring. Once you've done it a few times at different states of tide you'll be doing it single handed.
It's good that you are not scared to ask for help, as we all need to learn from somewhere!!

 

[PaulRainbow]

Just remember that slow is pro. Maybe get a wind direction flag fitted to your forward handrail so that you can see the wind direction which will help whilst mooring. Also before you enter the marina take a look at bouys etc near by and note which direction the water is flowing. This combined with the wind direction indicator will allow you to judge your angle of attack on your mooring. Once you've done it a few times at different states of tide you'll be doing it single handed.
It's good that you are not scared to ask for help, as we all need to learn from somewhere!!

Good advice, but there won't be any tide on the Great Ouse, the OP is in Ely, Nr Cambridge.

 

[ST840]

Good advice, but there won't be any tide on the Great Ouse, the OP is in Ely, Nr Cambridge.

Oh, I don't know that area. But they do have wind there yeah??

 

[PlanB]

Our first boat, a Princes s435, was kept in a marina with a lock, tidal river and frequent winds (and no bow thruster). We had a professional skipper for one to one training straight away, and then spent hours each weekend just practising.
You'll get there.

 

[pmagowan]

121 will be good but in the meantime just get into open water and practice. Get to know how your boat maneuvers at slow speed. Put it along side imaginary things in the water or a bit of weed, a fender, a buoy etc. Start on a calm day and you can add complications later. Get lots of fenders and some touch up paint/polish!

 

[markc]

I echo everyone's good advice above and also, the wind over the weekend was very gusty and mooring in gusty wind is tricky for all of us, so with the little practice you have had, it's no surprise that you found it tough. Some decent 1-2-1 tuition will be invaluable - they should show you not just how to use the engines to moor up, but how to use your ropes as springs to help you get in or out of a mooring when the wind and tide are making things tricky.

 

[nortada]

Evening all, I’ve just picked up my new boat, a 35.5ft fairline targa. I’ve sailed on and off for a few years but only in coastal waters really whilst fishing etc.

Anyways I’ve bought a mooring at a local marina and there is where my issues start…. I bought the boat on Friday, took it out for a cruise up the great Ouse and loved every minute, until I returned to moor, it took me 3 attempts just to get into the marina! Then a lot of swearing and brown marks in my underwear before we safely moored. Yesterday myself and a friend went out for a couple hours, when returning the wind was strong(slight excuse) and it was to be bluntly honest, terrifying trying to moor up.

My main issue is my confidence I’m sure but it’s also my lack of skill, particularly with a boat this big after only ever sailing little dory boats or day sailers. The boat has twin Volvo penta endings with a bow thruster but for the life of me I can’t practice enough to get into my mooring. I’m now looking for someone to come spend some time with me on my boat to train me, I understand there are courses etc but I just want some 1-1 before I go ahead and start looking at everything else. Can anyone help or point me in the right direction? Thanks in advance, Mike

I’m in Ely, Cambridgeshire btw

Knowing Ely well, just practise alongside the river bank moorings in Ely, preferably when it is quiet or outside town on a bit of vacant river bank.

If you practise in varying wind conditions you can master techniques when being blown on an off.

As a sailor I am sure you can assess the wind/weather conditions.

Next stop Denver and the tidal Ouse

 

[jrudge]

Do you have a pb2 ? If not do that and then a coastal skippper ( 4 days ). You will learn a lot

 

[Bouba]

I have some good qualifications and more than two decades under my belt...the other day I had to take her out in conditions I would not get out of bed for...and I can honestly tell you..it was scary...I think on the outside I look composed, and my passengers looked impressed with my docking on the first attempt...but lunch did not sit well that day as my stomach didn’t unknot for hours..
Accept that it’s you against the elements (and every other stupid bu99er out there) and the elements are terrifying. Experience and theory will allow you to work with the wind...and one day you will be the best person in the world at docking your boat in your slip....in the meantime enjoy those moments on your boat when it’s not frightening

 

[oldgit]

Worth bearing in mind that even after a decade or 5 you will might be still despairing at your boat handling skills.
Especially with an audience of "experts" standing by to "help" you.
A recent arrival at my alongside pontoon mooring entertained the folks standing around with something to shake their heads about for weeks my inflatable (on the stern ) doubling up as a large fender at one point.
No Gelcoat was harmed only pride.
Experience suggests it will not be the last cockup by a long chalk........................

 

[jon and michie]

First - you have to remember that your'e in a bigger / higher boat which will act like a great big sail in the wind
always go into the strongest either wind or tide (if you were to go with the wind or tide you will over shoot your berth - like on a airplane they will only take off and land into the wind)
Let the elements work for you - take your time - be calm (sometimes easier said than done)

Youtube is your friend until you get any tuition

 

[BruceK]

Yesterday myself and a friend went out for

There's your problem right there. What you need is your wife to crew when docking. After a few goes I promise you will learn to relax and drive like a pro.

 

[petem]

Relatively small boats like yours are very easily caught and moved by the wind.

I've been boating for quite a few years now (and have a very similar boat to yours) and if it's windy I don't bother going out. It's supposed to be fun and relaxing after all.

 

[Bouba]

As a wise man once said to me, ‘motorboating is about three things...the wind, the wind and the wind’

 

[Greg2]

We bought our first boat on the Gt Ouse and our first trip on the river when we took ownership was a similar experience . We took the boat from St Ives to Earith to leave it for lifting onto transport to move to the Broads. It was blowing old boots and like the OP we had the combination of outdrives and a planing hull, which isn’t always the easiest to get your head round first time out.

We had several very tricky moments as we navigated locks and particularly when we put it in the mooring at Earith. SWMBO was pretty traumatised by the whole experience and our boating was at significant risk of coming to an abrupt end. 20+ years on we are on our sixth boat having transitioned from inland to coastal including trips across to Holland and SWMBO loves it!

It will get better and you will get to grips with handling the boat!
.

 

[Portofino]

Just to be sure , you are not using the wheel and trying to steer it in like a car or your previous single engined boat(s) ?

Keep the drives centred and only use the sticks + thruster(s) .

Wind can and usually is advantageous imho as it helps manoeuvre the boat ….but only if get it into a the correct positions ie up wind so the wind does the rest moves it to where you want it .This often means turning or starting to turn up wind in a different spot than when theres no wind .

 

[tico]

Porto - He has outdrives!

 

[Portofino]

Porto - He has outdrives!

Yes I said “ drives “. What’s your point and advice for him ?

Its dead easy too keeping outdrives centred .I know having owned one for 9 yrs .I never used the wheel .Stern to Med so plenty of tight 90 degree turns down aisles then another into berths in all sorts of winds .

Dicking around with the wheel and attempting vectoring as a newbie just complicates it unnecessarily .

Learn the basics first get fully au fait with the centred wheel method is my advice.