smert
Well-Known Member
The photo is just an example of the type of of bouy rather than how to pick up in a strong current!
Lassoing - the RYA way
- Thread starter awol
- Start date
Daydream believer
Well-Known Member
The shape suggests it is solid.
James_Calvert
Well-Known Member
Blow up buoys are basically spherical. Like balloons.
Buoys like a cheddar cheese are foam filled with a hard outer skin.
The blow up ones go tap tap tap overnight but won't damage your bows.
The hard ones go bang bang bang and knock bits off your paint or gelcoat unless you rig a bow fender.
Hope that helps!
Buoys like a cheddar cheese are foam filled with a hard outer skin.
The blow up ones go tap tap tap overnight but won't damage your bows.
The hard ones go bang bang bang and knock bits off your paint or gelcoat unless you rig a bow fender.
Hope that helps!
Daydream believer
Well-Known Member
Would forumites actually use that type shown as a mooring buoy? It is more of a fender pattern or a marker buoy or a net flotation buoy. There is no pickup point for the boat. Anything fastened below it would have to have a pick up buoy for the penant otherwise one would not be able to tie on permanently. As for lassoing it would slip off pretty quickly, would it not?
Once you get a rod or chain up the middle it is a different beast.
So is that a valid example?
James_Calvert
Well-Known Member
Yes. The Portsmouth RNSA use that type with a pennant (which has its own pick-up line and buoy) connected to the chain under the buoy. I've watched Sunsail yachts practice lassoing them.
No pizzas that I could see though.
James_Calvert
Well-Known Member
For grammar pedants like me: I meant "practise".
Sandgrounder
Well-Known Member
What, you lassoe your swmbo? You're a braver man than I
Outforaduck
Member
Can anyone offer recent experience of any required equipment for picking up a yellow visitor mooring ball in Braye Habour, Alderney. Simple book hook or special 'hook and moor' thingy....thanks
NormanS
Well-Known Member
My buoy is precisely like that.
Poignard
Well-Known Member
It was meant to be a humorous post. I put a 'smiley' in it so that those who don't have a sense of humour would know.
As a matter of fact, I had a RNSA mooring in Portsmouth for several years. (The RNSA moorings are maintained to a very high standard, and inspected every winter, by the way). I always lassoed it temporarily and then fished up the pickup buoy line with a Simpson-Lawrence 'Boatcrook' (a useful thing to have but no longer sold). Sailing schools continually use our buoys for practice. They probably get more used by them than by the owners, who are often away undertaking the long adventurous voyages for which RNSA members are justly renowned; showing the undefaced blue ensign around the world.
Last edited by a moderator:
Lucky Duck
Well-Known Member
I'm not that regular a visitor but they have always had strops attached to them requiring nothing more than a boat hook when I stopped by
johnalison
Well-Known Member
As I said before, I don't. My practical knowledge of mooring buoys doesn't run as far as knowing what the construction of a vaguely circular object, mostly faded and covered with green slime, is. My point was that this limitation probably applies to most of us, including the Roy Rogerses.
jdc
Well-Known Member
I think the pro-lassoing are disingenuous.
When there is no wind you can simply stop where you will for as long as you like. Where there is a tide as well it's even simpler as one can maintain steerage-way when stationary against the ground. The only time when it's damn difficult to attach to a buoy is when it's blowing a hooley.
So stating that 'I only ever lasoo when there's no force' begs the question 'why lasoo then? Why not just attach your strop?'
At best, it's a technique for beginners. That some sailing schools promote it does not make it something to aspire to. You don't like the way someone has arranged the pick-up? Feel free to go elsewhere.
For the avoidance of doubt, when in some kind of emergency you can do anything, and so being able to lasso is one technique it's worth knowing. But it's not routine.
When there is no wind you can simply stop where you will for as long as you like. Where there is a tide as well it's even simpler as one can maintain steerage-way when stationary against the ground. The only time when it's damn difficult to attach to a buoy is when it's blowing a hooley.
So stating that 'I only ever lasoo when there's no force' begs the question 'why lasoo then? Why not just attach your strop?'
At best, it's a technique for beginners. That some sailing schools promote it does not make it something to aspire to. You don't like the way someone has arranged the pick-up? Feel free to go elsewhere.
For the avoidance of doubt, when in some kind of emergency you can do anything, and so being able to lasso is one technique it's worth knowing. But it's not routine.
Last edited:
Poignard
Well-Known Member
I must say lassoing seems to avoid the hilarious antics one often sees when people are trying to pick up a mooring using a boathook or reaching down from a high bow.
Dropped boathooks floating downstream; shouting and swearing by red-faced skippers at their hapless crews; people being pulled off their feet when the boathook gets jammed in the ring; wives in tears telling their husbands they can't steer; husbands telling their wives they're a silly bitch; wives saying they'll never come sailing again; etc. What marvellous free entertainment there is to be enjoyed by he who quietly and effortlessly lassoed his mooring, as he relaxes in his cockpit with a sundowner in company with his happy wife.
Dropped boathooks floating downstream; shouting and swearing by red-faced skippers at their hapless crews; people being pulled off their feet when the boathook gets jammed in the ring; wives in tears telling their husbands they can't steer; husbands telling their wives they're a silly bitch; wives saying they'll never come sailing again; etc. What marvellous free entertainment there is to be enjoyed by he who quietly and effortlessly lassoed his mooring, as he relaxes in his cockpit with a sundowner in company with his happy wife.
Outforaduck
Member
Ok that's it, I'm buying a lasso for Alderney. How long should it be? Joke. I'll just phone the harbourmaster and ask.
NormanS
Well-Known Member
I must say lassoing seems to avoid the hilarious antics one often sees when people are trying to pick up a mooring using a boathook or reaching down from a high bow.
Dropped boathooks floating downstream; shouting and swearing by red-faced skippers at their hapless crews; people being pulled off their feet when the boathook gets jammed in the ring; wives in tears telling their husbands they can't steer; husbands telling their wives they're a silly bitch; wives saying they'll never come sailing again; etc. What marvellous free entertainment there is to be enjoyed by he who quietly and effortlessly lassoed his mooring, as he relaxes in his cockpit with a sundowner in company with his happy wife.
And does all that take place on your boat? Blimey, it's not just your boat handling that needs some improvement!
Lucky Duck
Well-Known Member
Poignard
Well-Known Member
Never a dull moment on our boat!And does all that take place on your boat? Blimey, it's not just your boat handling that needs some improvement!
john_morris_uk
Well-Known Member
As the owner of a mooring, I am very much against the technique. My riser chain comes up to the buoy and is attached by a carefully moused shackle. Do you people who practice lassoing with your weighted rope, ever stop to think what your bit of chain may be doing to my mousing? Do you stop and think what may happen if you pull so hard that the buoy is punctured? The eye on the buoy is quite capable of supporting the weight of the riser chain, but it is not designed to take the load of a boat moored to it.
Personally, I think that the RYA, and any sailing "schools" who advocate this method are simply wrong.
Please don't do it to my mooring. Actually, I can't think why you would try, as it has a floating pennant with a pick-up buoy, which you are welcome to use if I don't need it. (But there are some numpties around)
Hopefully if your pick up line is free and easy to pick up then there's no need to lasso the mooring. (See comments of 'seamanship' and 'common sense' and 'what's appropriate' previously made.)
May I humbly suggest that your mousing is a bit vulnerable if a bit of rope catching on it for a few moments is going to destroy it. I have never seen these weighted ropes being used or ropes with chains.... and I've only ever used a bit of multi plait when having to lasso something. (Getting it wet first encourages it to sink.)
A belief that good instructor teaches a variety of techniques and tries to educate students into choosing appropriate and seamanlike ways of doing things. I appreciate that there are lazy instructors who tick the box of 'teaching picking up a mooring' by showing the lasso technique and off the the pub before closing time, but that's another matter.
And I own a mooring and pay for it to be maintained so I know what you mean about being protective of your buoy.
The buoy on ours costs over £200 if it gets ripped off.
Outforaduck
Member
Little Grebe - yes I did read thank you. And I did call as well (nice harbour master). I'm over planning my visit; first non marina use of new (to me) boat. Overcautious and as ever oversensitive. Another joke. Why does nobody kiss on here?