Italians in reverse

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yachttequilla

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Can anyone shed any light on this one. During the summer in the Ionion Islands area of Greece we were in one port where going alongside rather than backing on was the norm.

Several Italian boats came in and out over the 3 days we were in port and they all reversed in alongside rather than our usual forwards approach. Both heading into the wind.

Does anyone know if this is their standard practice and why it differs to ours?

We've already made some very tired and un-pc jokes about having more reverse gears before anyone else thinks of it!

Steve
 
Maybe they've fitted Kiwi props and reverse is so much more powerful!!
Unlikely in an Italian boat I grant you.
 
if the wind was from off the pontoon, it is much easier to keep the stern up into the wind than the bows. as soon as you go astern, the stern will naturally go to windward. thus a stern to approach in a strong wind makes it realtively easy to control and hold in positionwhile initial ropes are deployed, then a quick burst on the engines will pull the bows in as well.
 
Of course you have to remember that the Italians will be off into town in the early evening in all their designer clothes so could not possibly consider scrambling over the anchor etc at the bow.
My boat is based down in Italy and I think I can safely say I have never seen an Italian boat moored bow to!
 
Hmm, interesting, I thought that the reasoning abt going in bows first was that it protected the prop from any grot lose to the wall. I guess they either knew there wasn't any or didn't know/care.

Otherwise I'd choose backing in on a boat that steers ok in reverse 'cos you can more clearly see where you are parking and it makes getting on/off a lot easier.
 
Italians in the Ionian in their silly little RIBs and powerboats especially in August really grips my s***.

None of them seem to know the colregs, and most of them are rude or abusive.

As for tying up astern in what seems dubious situations, it could well have been poor seamanship.
 
Englishmen in Venice in their silly little shorts and knotted handkerchiefs especially in August really grips my s***.

None of them seem to know the way, and most of them are rude or abusive.

/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
i think some of the posts missed the fact that you were talking about reversing in and laying along side,Not many places in the Ionian where you would find the space in August.The ones that do usually put a dinghy alongside .Very considerate. especialy when your single handed.usually the flottila
guys sort that out at 1600hrs in the afternoon.have a quiet word with the port police. triple charge ,three boat spaces and can I see your papers.no please.
 
On certain parts of certain quays (Preveza for instance) laying alongside is recommended practice as suggested in Heikell's Pilot, and not necessarily a selfish act at all (dinghy excepted). Sometimes there is a tide running along the quay here as well. Not sure if you mean the stern was heading into the wind or the bow. However they may have chosen to reverse in to allow wind to blow down the companionway and keep the boat cool. Or to keep the wind on the nose and keep the wind out of the boat, something i used to do sometimes in the UK. Either way there is nothing wrong with the practice.
Reversing in it is easier to judge your distance from the quay and as long as you don't have a strong offshore wind blowing your bow off is very easy to accomplish on most fin keelers.
 
I would argue against 'alongside' Preveza Quay for two reasons.
1] When a strong wind blows onto the quay the waves can get so big you can see daylight under your boat and your fenders only make damaging occasional contact with the quay wall.
2] It makes it easier for the rats living in the sewers to get aboard.
 
I am sure that Metabarca have nothing against your shorts - as I understand, his comment is only very good back-end to Shakeys forehand!
 
I don't disagree with you Scarlett, I was really making the point that it suggests it in the pilot and so should be expected.
Personally I usually anchor whenever I can preferring the personal space and of course the quiet. (especially in Preveza)
 
when in a marina we always go in stern first, it is much easier to get on and off that way and easier when you want to leave.
 
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