Mediteranean mooring

[Mhvoiceuk]

I'm living in Italy for a year and have left my boat in the UK in mothballs. Having withdrawals,
I went to look at a Beneteau first 311 today to charter for a weekend from a new Marina in Rossignano (Castiglioncello). The boats are moored stern-to to pontoons. They are not anchored at the bow but have bow ropes that are clearly permanently attached to the harbour floor. These ropes are not buoyed or floating so I imagine they have to be fished up somehow with a boathook. How do you moor? Do you make passes fishing around for the rope first and then swing the stern round. Or do you back in first and use fenders to hold you off the pontoon until you've fished around for the bow rope? I'm sure if I charter the boat I'll be shown but it's a bit scarey as there are some rather pricey looking yachts in very close proximity.

 

[Amphitrite]

The mooring line (which is attached to a heavy concrete block on the ground) is connected to the pontoon with a thin line. Just back in, pass the stern lines (or at least the one to windward) and fix them and then motor slowely against the stern lines to keep you on station. Now get your boathook, fish the end of the line fixed to the pontoon and pull (not the pontoon, but the other end of the line). Eventually the big mooring will come up and you can make her fast to the bow.


Holger (Sorry for bad grammar)

 

[Mhvoiceuk]

Aha. Thank you!

 

[garvellachs]

Often there will be someone on shore who will kindly pull the thin line and bring the heavier line warp to the surface, and then a crew member can reach for it over the side with a boat hook as you reverse in.

 

[Courageous]

MORE often than not there will be a mooring guy who stands by helpfully watching more like - that in my humble experience of 18 months in the region......... Cynic? Me? Never! Oh and I forgot to mention if you fail to motor into the slot first time he will more than likely shout abuse at you hehe!

 

[jeremyshaw]

No one has yet mentioned the best bit which is that the line is muddy having sat on the bottom, and often covered in barnacles. So if the maniero does offer to do it, let him - or get gloves on.

This is one of the joys of Med marina life for me. You go in, get the boat filthy with their mooring lines then have to pay for water to wash off all the grunge. What fun!

Oh, and don't forget to watch like a hawk in case someone has left a line not properly dropped to the floor, so it is just waiting to snag your prop as you back up...

 

[tcm]

the gurt big line to which you attach the bows ..should have a thinnner "lazy line" or "pendule" attached which *should* be weighted line - a strand of lead down the middle. I (personally) hate it when dockside helper coils/pulld the line for you as it increases the chances of it snagging - especially if (as is usuall) it isn't weighted line.

Over winter, when boat isn't moving, this can be detached from the quay and kept a load cleaner coiled at the bows rather than collecting cholera in the water....

 

[angelsson]

Others have answered your question, I find it a simple process with the boat hook picking up the line from the pontoon and lead it to the bow, if you call in a marinaro will be ready waiting for you, just thought how much I enjoyed being in Castiglioncello, pretty new place, great restaurants and walks along the sea path to them, lots of activity in the park area above, very nice people there and they will negotiate a price for a longer stay, still expensive though.
Good access from UK via Easy jet, short taxi ride to station, regular trains to port, short walk to Marina..well shortish.
Good luck

 

[AngusMcDoon]

[ QUOTE ]
No one has yet mentioned the best bit which is that the line is muddy having sat on the bottom, and often covered in barnacles.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hence they are known as slime lines.

 

[dedwards]

if you have enough crew, we were taught to have the boothooker stand at the stern and hook the line up out of the water before it can get near the prop. He then walks it to the bow (holding it well clear) as you reverse in.

 

[tcm]

best is get the boat in, stop the boat and line ashore and only then (with engine running but in neutral start hoiking up bowlines. If you need a quick bowline cos wind is blowing it in, quickest if available is a short line to neighbouring boat middle/fwd cleat. Plenty of times in strange berth hoiking up the line picks up the wrong line which can easily run under props.

 

[Mhvoiceuk]

[ QUOTE ]
just thought how much I enjoyed being in Castiglioncello, pretty new place, great restaurants and walks along the sea path to them, lots of activity in the park area above, very nice people there and they will negotiate a price for a longer stay, still expensive though.
Good access from UK via Easy jet, short taxi ride to station, regular trains to port, short walk to Marina..well shortish.
Good luck

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes it is a pretty amazing marina. I liked the sun shades for the cars in the car park and the shower blocks are very Italian designer. It seems very well kept. One or two superyachts there too. Notably bling bling couturier Roberto Cavalli's £20 million multicolored jobby. I live north of Pisa and had never been to Castiglioncello before. It really is a very lovely place and has a fantastic park with endless avenues of marine pines. The water looks super clear too. As you
say cheap flights and easy access make it an atttractive destination of UK visitors. Ryanair to Pisa is virtually free at the moment (+ tax of course) and if you hired a car or got the train from the airport it would only be a 40 minute trip. I'm not affiliated in any way BTW.

Thanks for all the advice from everyone. There will be two of us on board so we may well need the assistance of a marinaro. Lets hope for OK weather and that I get my no damage deposit back at the end!

 

[jerryat]

Hi dedwards,

That is the exact procedure if, as you say, you have a crew, and is the method we used for several years there.

Having someone up at the bows controlling the line helps prevent the bows blowing off and makes the whole operation considerably less stressful.