Med Style Mooring Single-Handed...

V1701

V1701

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Any tips/techniques appreciated with a fin keel, 25 to 30ft, maybe with an electric windlass but probably not controllable from cockpit. I assume going bow to will be easier to start with, with lots of fenders. I know anchoring will be easier & I'm alright with anchoring single-handed but there will be times when I'll want to go into a marina or harbour...
TIA,
David.
 
The main problem with Greek quaysides is that there is often a stiff crosswind in the late afternoon when people want to moor up for the night so the placing of anchors and difficulties of reversing straight give the most fun for the onlookers and brown trousers for the helm.

On a smallish boat like the ones you are looking at should not be too much of a problem. Bows to is easier for control - just let your kedge over the back, but of course single handing means you have to run forward and it is not so easy to get lines ashore. Reversing is therefore potentially easier, particularly if you have a windlass control (radio) then you can do it all from the helm. Control the speed backwards with combination of engine and holding against the anchor. You tend to have little control over direction once you are committed and you may need to make allowance for the wind. Also easier to get lines off the stern while you are at the helm. Opening transom and rudder well underneath helps as you can get close up and just step off. Windward line first then sort everything out at leisure.

Like most boaty things the secret is in the preparation and learning when to opt out before things go wrong. Best is to practice lots on a deserted quay, preferably in the morning after boats have left and before the wind gets up.
 
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V1701 said:
Any tips/techniques appreciated with a fin keel, 25 to 30ft, maybe with an electric windlass but probably not controllable from cockpit. I assume going bow to will be easier to start with, with lots of fenders. I know anchoring will be easier & I'm alright with anchoring single-handed but there will be times when I'll want to go into a marina or harbour...
TIA,
David.
Click to expand...

And in marinas there may be lazy lines. In benign conditions that might be easy single-handed, going in slowly with no ground tackle, handing over stern lines (assuming in this case stern-first is fine), being given the lazy line and running up front with it. In real conditions, however, as Tranona says...

Done all that with at least two persons on board; never single-handed!

Mike.
 
I have never berthed stern to singlehanded but that is definitely the way I would do it if I was on my own. Don't even think about it without cockpit control of the windlass, it's cheap to install and the best aid you can have. The beauty of stern to singlehanded is that you can set the engine revs against the holding anchor until you are happy, then step off with warps. As Tranona says, not so easy in a cross wind but you should be able to lie on another boat.
 
V1701 said:
Any tips/techniques appreciated with a fin keel, 25 to 30ft, maybe with an electric windlass but probably not controllable from cockpit. I assume going bow to will be easier to start with, with lots of fenders. I know anchoring will be easier & I'm alright with anchoring single-handed but there will be times when I'll want to go into a marina or harbour...
TIA,
David.
Click to expand...

Hi David,

I have never done it single handed and to be honest wouldn't want to try - especially in a breeze... I would definitely anchor and row ashore!

That said, if I had to, I would hang the bow anchor with a separate line running back to the cockpit. I would have the windlass clutch loosened so that the anchor could be dropped from the cockpit by releasing the line. As you back in drop the anchor from the helm and control your speed. The weight of the chain will help a bit to keep you straight whilst you quickly secure the windward stern line and then go forward to tighten the anchor. By this point you should be under control and the rest straight forward.

Good luck - and choose your neighbours carefully!

Pete
 
When Single handed in a marina with lazy lines: I found that the best way was to rig a mid ships line, and come along side the next door boat, tie off on him, whilst you sort your lines out. Its a good idea to have your stern warps all ready to go, but leave them till after you have secured midship (with plenty of fenders). Then take the Lazy line forward and fix it tightish. Then get your sternlines on and power backwards on your engine to tighten in your stern warps.

Don't be put off by shore crew yelling their orders - just ignore them!

There are certain must haves
1. A good electric Windlass
2. MUST be controllable from the cockpit - makes life so much easier going stern to.
3. A well insulated fridge so you don't spend the rest of the day charging your batteries!!! (and for cold tinnies....)

Going Stern to single handed is not too much of a problem so long as you can control the winch from the cockpit.
 
The technique I use singlehanded in a situation, where there are already lazy lines laid, is to go bows in, pick up the lazy line at the first opportunity and secure it to a bow cleat. This, at least, means that you are secured to land. Then pick up the remaining length of the lazy line with a boat hook, run the boat hook aft until you pick up the main mooring warp and secure that to a stern cleat. If there is a bridled arrangement, secure the second mooring line to the opposite stern cleat.

Then walk forward again and secure your own warps to bollards, rings or whatever on the quayside and release the lazy line from your bow cleat. Pull in on the aft lines to achieve the required tension.
 
I only played single handed on 25 footers stern to and bow to...

Stern to
Drop anchor let it pay out tooo much line,
Go to the back of the boat control approach,
Get a windward stern line ashore jump back onboard,
Kick engine gently ahead to "steam" against stern line,
Nip back to bow and tighten anchor,
Back to cockpit drop her into neutral
Check you do not hit the quay sort other stern line
Adjust anchor and lines as required,


Bow first. Often easiest between to boats..
Aim bow at gap drop kedge anchor over,
head into into gap,
take some weight on anchor use it as a brake,
Engage ahead, slack anchor cable as required till bow just short of quay,
Step ashore with headlines set as required.
Engine in to neutral.

Both not easy, you also need to be well aware of your limitations. Not one for windy day or wrong wind direction....

I started on a calm day and got quite ballsy.
Then I never really got tested as normally as I made my approach some one would come and grab a line...
 
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Two options IMHO, dependent on situation.

If there's a slot one boat wide and someone to take your stern lines ......

1. Drop the anchor and all the chain (or certainly more than you'll need) well out from the quay. Reverse into the slot, sort out the stern lines, bit of ahead to keep them tight and then go forward and haul in the anchor - hopefully it'll bite. If it doesn't then try option 2.

2. Ignore the anchor, go in backwards and sort out the stern lines (upwind line first and hold on motor). Tie off to neighbouring boats, dump the anchor and chain in the dinghy and motor out to lay the anchor (dinghy must be prepared with outboard mounted and tied to bow). Wind in on the windlass, reapeat if it doesn't bite.

On a deserted quay, moor up sideways, do the dinghy thing to lay the anchor, let the bow line off while hauling in the anchor. When anchor tight sort out the stern lines and re-position boat.

At least that's how I'd do it.

If it's got lazy lines which were certainly lacking last time I was in Greece, then go in backwards, sort out stern lines (upwind line first) and hold off quay on motor. Then sort out lazy line being careful not to wrap it round the prop.
 
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The best way I found for the typical harbour set up where there was no mooring ball or line was to go nose in between two other boats. If no slot was available then to look for a space up wind of another boat. The aim being to rest alongside that boat. Ignore any attempt to get you to go into spots you are not comfortable with. If possible alert the crews of the boat your intend to finish up against. AVOID HAVING TO RELY ON PASSING HOLIDAY MAKERS AT ALL COSTS.

Get set up in advance with, fenders , two lines from the bow and two shorter ones from each midship cleat. If you do not have them FIT THEM they are a singlehanders friend in this situation. Leave the tails of these lines over the lifelines. Your stern anchor needs a tripping line about 20 feet long attached to the anchor rode with thinnish string. THIS IS ESSENTIAL. Move your boathook to the bows. Put on gloves.

Get yourself setup to drop the stern anchor and take a deep breath. Line yourself up SLIGHTLY upwind of the gap, drop the anchor and surging the the line with one hand steer for the gap with the other. Your aim is to arrive about 6 feet short of the quay with almost zero forward speed. Leave it in gear at tickover and cleat off the stern anchor line. If you are lucky someone from one of the boats you are up against will have taken one of your lines and made it fast. If not you aim is to get a line attached to one of the other boats. Alert them with a cheerful cry of 'singlehander coming aboard' or similar and tie off to one of their forward cleats. THIS IS MUCH EASIER THAN JUMPING OFF THE BOW OF YOUR BOAT ON THE THE QUAY.

Take the engine out of gear and adjust the stern anchor line so you are closer to the quay. If there is someone on the quay you can now use them to take your bow lines even if they are total holidaymaker numpties as you will have time to instruct them in what you want them to do.

If not; you need to get to the quay. In many cases it will be easier to use one of the other boats to get to the quay esp if they are stern too with a gangplank ask permission first. Take the boat hook with you.

Pull your boat forward with the boat hook and snag the mooring lines. Tie ofF, adjust lines nd start beathing again. Enjoy your G&T in some privacy in your cockpit.

When you leave the need for the tripping line will become evident esp. if you are in a three or four sided harbour as there will be a right b****ers muddle of anchors laid over each other and the harbourmasters brother will already have his wetsuit on. He is the ONLY PERSON allowed to dive in the harbour. With a tripping line you stand a chance of getting your anchor up. Without one?

A nose nappy of some sort over the bow is a good idea. Most of the charter BeneBavJuns will have them. I had a tough old steel boat when I did this so worried less than most about minor dings.
 
I've never done it, but the only way I can think of without a remote windlass is to position the anchor, then dump a load of chain in a heap. Lock off the windlass then reverse in using the drag on the chain to control the bow.
Once a stern line is on, take up the slack in the chain.
 
Thanks all for your replies, good food for thought & I'm getting nervous already, as I should be. I will practice, practice, practice on a calm day in a deserted place before attempting anything else. Of course this is all assuming I can find a boat I like...
 
We moor bow to as we have steps from the pulpit. At the stern we have posts rather than lazy (slime) line so I've rigged a line from the post to the dock with a loop in the centre. When I come into the berth I just put her on the post if it's windy or stop somewhere between the posts. Then I pick up the line from the post and pull her in until I can slip the loop over the midships cleat. From there, she's secure and I can sort out the bow and stern lines at my leisure. Sounds more complex than it is in reality.
 
Even in a stiff crosswind if you can get stern too, put just the windward stern line on and put the boat in forward you can go away for dinner whilst you think of how to put the other lines on. Get that line on and you can sort the other lines out at your leisure is what i'm saying.
 
From my only experience, in windy conditions Baggywrinkle's option 2 is the least stressful if stern-to is a must, and is also the easiest to bail out of if things go pear-shaped, without having to recover an anchor as well. But be warned that rowing out with an anchor and setting it in the right place in windy conditions is seriously tiring. Borrow an outboard if you can....and bribe someone with beer to come and help so you're not trying to position the dinghy, throw the anchor and watch for drift all at the same time.
 
chinita said:
The technique I use singlehanded in a situation, where there are already lazy lines laid, is to go bows in, pick up the lazy line at the first opportunity and secure it to a bow cleat. This, at least, means that you are secured to land. ...
Click to expand...

The quay end of a lazy line is often quite light stuff; it's only meant for finding the heavy line further out. If you break it by using it to secure yourself to the quay you will lose your welcome very quickly!

Mike.
 
TQA said:
... AVOID HAVING TO RELY ON PASSING HOLIDAY MAKERS AT ALL COSTS....
Click to expand...

Or, even worse, the Town Drunk. I was once standing behind one such as a yacht came in. I wondered what the international hand signal should be to warn them about him. He was more likely to fall in than be useful!

Mike.
 
mjcoon said:
The quay end of a lazy line is often quite light stuff; it's only meant for finding the heavy line further out. If you break it by using it to secure yourself to the quay you will lose your welcome very quickly!

Mike.
Click to expand...

Fair point; but never happened to me in eight years. I would estimate that the average time for using the lazy lines for this purpose at five minutes.
 
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I used to quite a few stern too's when I lived and worked in Greece and found preparation was key to it not going wrong too often.
Cruise the spot your thinking of and if possible, when the inevitable afternoon breeze has started, try to find a spot in between 2 other boats. Nice to have a friend to lean on.
Place your fenders according to where you estimate you'll end up. Rig a slip knot on the anchor chain and run a long line to the cockpit and take a good long run up astern to iron out the prop walk.
Ease a bit of chain so the anchor is dragging in the briny as it helps pull out the chain when you pull your trip. Not the end of the world if it doesn't run as you can take it all out in a dinghy after securing to quay and leave motoring just enough to hold you off in forward.
Talking of dinghies, if its tied to the bow, avoid the classic perfect approach, pull your trip, step off and tie up then go forward to realise you dumped the lot in yer dinghy! Seen it done more than once.
Crossed anchors are pretty much the norm especially when charter boats are on the loose in the Ionion and are usually sorted out in the morning!
Have fun!
 
Ask for Help!

I haven't done it in the Med but I have brought a 42 feet Jeanneau into a Pacific Quay single handed. This was Pape-ete in Tahiti and I came up to the Pape-ete Yacht Quay in a 25 knot rain squall at 7 am in the morning. I wasn't sure if I needed to use a bow anchor or there was a lazy line to attach to the bow as visibility wasn't good in the rain. I asked one of the moored boats what the situation was as I went past. He told me it was a lazy line and asked if I would like some help. I said 'yes please'. By the time I was backing in to the quay I had ten people waiting to help me and despite the stiff breeze the worst that happened is that I nudged a steel Finnish boat with my fenders on the quay next to me as the boat swung in the wind as I went forward to attach the lazy line. All the people on the quay were able to fend me off the concrete while I went forward and then returned and attached the stern lines.

In calm conditions I think I could have done it myself but was very grateful for the help in the nasty squall. As a result I think if there are people around ask for help, most sailors are more than happy to provide it. Of course that can be hard if everyone has locked up their boats and gone for a drink.
 
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