Mooring in Denmark/Sweden

[ANDY_W]

If all goes to plan I shall be spending two months or so sailing
in Denmark and Sweden this coming summer.

The usual mooring in the marinas appears to be bows to with
stern lines out to two buoys.

The problem for me is that I will be sailing singlehanded which
I can see causing severe problems, especially in any cross winds.

Has anyone any experience of this type of mooring and/or any
suggestions as to techniques that might be helpful?

As ever, any contributions gratefully accepted.

Andy

 

[Pye_End]

Denmark is mainly boxes - two posts at the stern, and bows to a pontoon. Choose the right size box for you don't be tempted for a really big one. Choose one with boats either side. On way past the posts drop lines over them. Gently make way forward till you can get off. Plenty of fenders will allow you to use the boats next to you get up to the end without ending up side on by mistake. After a few goes it gets easy enough.

No idea about Sweden.

 

[steve_l]

Never heard of bows to and stern to TWO bouys in Sweden. Normally it's just stern to one buoy, which is pretty easy. Just hook your stern line to the bouy from the cockpit as you go past and then calmly walk to the bow to step off and tie off the upwind line to a convenient point. The bow is usually held by two lines in a "v". Most marinas etc are fairly sheltered, so no bad cross winds and certainly no cross tides in the Baltic
After a couple of tries, you'll be doing it like an old hand )

 

[knuterikt]

In Sweden you will probably find all kinds...
-Finger berths with space for one ore two boats.
-Buoys with bow/stern to
-Posts with bow/stern to the pier
-Some places you will have to use your own anchor.
-some places you can also go alongside

Lots (Most) sailboats in Sweden/Norway carry a stern anchor some even with its own dedicated winch (like we have).

I would advice you to use the natural harbors - some of the are so narrow that it's considered to be god practice to more bow to the rocks with anchor on the stern.

Some places you can tie to the rocks like this, fender board and good size fenders can be a good idea.. and carry some good lengths of rope.

I can recomend this on line guide for planning lots of pictures - not in English ;-(
http://www.havneguiden.no/id/29068?omr=14&grp=14

 

[johnalison]

I think I have written about this in the past. Most moorings are boxes. There is no single best way to do this and no extra marks for style. All that is necessary is to get tied up without damage. I have seen a single-hander without engine sail up to the outside of the posts and hold on. He then dropped the sails and manhandled his boat into a box.

Another way which I use myself is to park the boat against one of the posts at the entrance to the box when halfway in. You then have time to pass lines over the posts before proceeding into the box. Reversing into a box is not often seen but can be done and can be helpful when the pontoon is very low and the crew not very agile. It is absolutely essential to use a single line with a bowline to pass over each pole. A loop can lead to trouble and a tightening loop is antisocial when placed above another boat's line.

Stern mooring buoys may involve tying to two, or more often just one. By far the best way to do this is with one or other design of mooring-hook, widely sold in the Baltic. I usually use a stern anchor-reel with tape for this purpose and getting one of these can be worthwhile if you are going to be in the area for a while, and especially if you are going to moor to rocks (with rings) and a stern anchor.

There is a well-developed culture of assisting incoming yachts and you will rarely find yourself tying up without someone ashore to take a line. There are some places with fingers, one variety being used more commonly is a narrow finger-boom made of steel. you need to have fenders carefully deployed here. There is a loop or cleat to tie to at the end of the boom, but don't try to stand on the boom because, as my crew will tell you, it will sink.

 

[knuterikt]

Some pictures

Linked from http://www.havneguiden.no/id/29068?omr=14&grp=14
You must buy the book or a app to get the full text ;-)

For some harbors you can call in advance to book a space

Note that even if it seems the dept's are on the shallow side - no tide to worry about!

Strømstad - Marieholm marina - WP 58°56,4'N 11°09,9'E - here you can book a space

Strømstad - the city guest Harbor - WP 58°56,2'N 11°09,8'E

Ramsøkalven - The place of the picture in previous post- WP 58°49,7'N 11°02,1'E

One of my favorites - Fiskebäckskil-Lyckans Slip - WP 58°14,8'N 11°27,7'E
Here you can book space - the harbor master even go out in his RIB to assist!

Dannemark, Ulön - Another favorite - WP 58°30,9'N 11°16,1'E

Vasholmarna - WP 58°12,7'N 11°22,6'E

 

[JensK]

Denmark/Sweden

Yes, in Denmark it is usually 'bows to with stern lines out to two buoys.' I live in Denmark (Copenhagen) and do a lot of single-hand sailing in a 32 foot wide Jeanneau - never had a real problem. Procedure is as described by others above (lots of fenders, 2-3 on each side, fenders and mooring lines mounted before arrival to the harbour, fenders left on the deck until you actually enter the harbour) outside, otherwise you may loeese them.
Always try to get a 'booth' you can enter against the wind.
Everybody is watching newcomers - often part of the entertaining - and when spectators realize that you are alone, and a foreigner, there will ususally be several people to help.
In case you unexpectedly get into trouble: make a post here and we will get in contact. I will be sailing and on-line all summer in Denmark.
The detalis of the harbours can be found at www.danskebaadejere.dk/Havnelods.aspx.
Find the 'Link til havneplan' and there willl be a detailed drawing including depths of various sections of the harbour
Have a nice vacation
Jensk

 

[wazza]

If all goes to plan I shall be spending two months or so sailing
in Denmark and Sweden this coming summer.

The usual mooring in the marinas appears to be bows to with
stern lines out to two buoys.

The problem for me is that I will be sailing singlehanded which
I can see causing severe problems, especially in any cross winds.

Has anyone any experience of this type of mooring and/or any
suggestions as to techniques that might be helpful?

As ever, any contributions gratefully accepted.

Andy

Hi Andy, as knuterikt has said, those are the way 'we' moor in Sweden the two bouy thing will get you in trouble as you are then taking someone else's mooring place

The marinas won't be a problem as the gästhamn (visitor marinas) are always hammered and you generally get help with your lines or at least hold you off until you can sort your own lines out.

There are a great many guides which you can buy. I'll be at the boat show here in Göteborg in a couple of weeks and may well see what they have for free..
But there are sooooooo many natural harbours here that on our 3 week holidays during the summer we visit 1 or 2 marinas to fill up with water and provision during the day (No charge) and stay out on the hook every single night, regardless of weather as there is ALWAYS a safe anchorage whichever direction the wind is blowing!!!!

 

[Leif-J]

But there are sooooooo many natural harbours here that on our 3 week holidays during the summer we visit 1 or 2 marinas to fill up with water and provision during the day (No charge) and stay out on the hook every single night, regardless of weather as there is ALWAYS a safe anchorage whichever direction the wind is blowing!!!!

I can only affirm to this. We have been touring the West coast of Sweden for may years, and yet we still find new exciting places to moor or anchor. Time is sooo short and the options are plentifull.
One thing to consider is the timing. During July the archipelago is FULL with boats, and some of the passages are quite narrow. We tend to prefer August for going.
Brgds
Leif

 

[ANDY_W]

Very grateful thanks to all who replied. I really appreciate
being able to draw on the vast experience of these forums.

As part of my planning I have been using Google Earth to look
at harbours in the areas in which I will be. On reflection, most
of the images were dated January, so the boats I saw still in the
water were probably using neighbours buoys for more secure
winter moorings. It's a relief to know that I only need to secure
to one buoy on the way in. Posts and finger pontoons are easier
to deal with.

Many thanks,

Andy

 

[wazza]

Very grateful thanks to all who replied. I really appreciate
being able to draw on the vast experience of these forums.

As part of my planning I have been using Google Earth to look
at harbours in the areas in which I will be. On reflection, most
of the images were dated January, so the boats I saw still in the
water were probably using neighbours buoys for more secure
winter moorings. It's a relief to know that I only need to secure
to one buoy on the way in. Posts and finger pontoons are easier
to deal with.

Many thanks,

Andy

You say dated January.. well I can tell you this then the picture certainly wasn't taken then, as its mid winter and there no boats in the water (probably less than 1%) we are all tucked up safely on land, hiding from the snow & ice

I'm not exaggerating when I say there are 1000's of bays to anchor in (with no tide to worry about) Yes there are a lot of boats here in July as its the school holidays, but nothing compared to the Solent!

Google earth along with a chart is probably a good way to look at potential anchorages..