Mooring question. Who is correct here ?

[lpdsn]

I'm sorry, but that is the "lawn chair" reservation system that 3rd graders use. "I claimed dibs."

In UK waters William the Conqueror claimed dibs (he was a bit of a bastard) and his recent heirs each sign over their rights to the UK government (the infamous Crown Estates). Anyone laying a mooring gets permission from the Crown Estates and pays them. So the mooring owner doesn't own the bit of seabed under the mooring but they effectively rent it.

In the Bahamas HM probably has a similar arrangement with the the Bahamas government if she doesn't retain ownership herself.

 

[Mister E]

You could put a stern anchor out to ensure you do not swing to close.
You could even raft up to her on the mooring. You never know love might grow.

 

[[70521]]

Today a 12 m yacht took the ball and then the owner rowed over asked told us to move as we were too close to her.

Who needs to move? Us or her.

I would humbly suggest it might be easier for you to move, as there might be three tonnes of concrete on the sea bed under the mooring ball, but then I am in live and let live camp.

Did you offer a cup of tea or a wee dram the the lady in the rowing boat?

 

[TQA]

Common problem especially where moorings are scattered at random by local entrepreneurs. In some anchorages the local authorities post notices to the effect that these moorings do not have dibs on the bottom and if you anchor next to an unoccupied mooring you have dibs on the bottom and your swinging circle. Admiralty Bay in Bequia is one such anchorage.

 

[zoidberg]

Is she alone, or rather, does she have a large and powerfully-built 'accomplice' or two back on her 40-footer?

Is she, by any chance, German and giving to 'putting towels down' on the maritime equivalent of deckchairs by the poolside?

Is the boat registered in one of those exotic 'tax haven' corners preferred by heroin smugglers and similar hoods?

Is she pumping effluent into the pristine Bahamian waters?

Is there another safe and convenient spot for you to sling your hook nearby....? Preferably upwind of her genset.....

 

[NormanS]

Grow up and move. You'll probably find that your anchor has fouled the Mooring's ground chain.

 

[Irish Rover]

We are currently anchored in a recognised anchorage in the Bahamas. Been here a few days.

We have been in this anchorage about ten times over the last month.

There is an unoccupied mooring ball about 20 metres away. It’s been unoccupied every time we’ve been here. There are no other mooring balls, so it’s not a mooring field

Today a 12 m yacht took the ball and then the owner rowed over asked told us to move as we were too close to her.
Who needs to move? Us or her.

You anchored 20 meters away from a mooring knowing there was a possibility someone would come along to use it. To my mind you might as well have tied up to the mooring ball because 20 meters is not nearly enough clearance for 2 small boats. At least if you had and the "owner" came along you wouldn't hopefully be put out by being asked to move. It's not beyond the bounds of possibility that her male partner saw what you had done and started ranting and raving and the lady opted to row over and politely ask you to move in order to avoid a confrontation. Move if they haven't already moved you or worse.

 

[bigwow]

I would re anchor up wind of her and break out the BBQ.

 

[ghostlymoron]

I'm surprised this discussion has gone on so long.
Option 1 is that you bring in a workboat with a crane to shift whatever the mooring is attached to.
Option 2 is that you pull up your anchor with your windlass and move
It's fairly obvious to me what should be done. Did you say the woman was rude to you or have we just assumed it to be the case? If she was, it would make things a bit more awkward but doesn't really alter the solution.

 

[TheOrs]

I'm surprised this discussion has gone on so long.

A couple of years ago we were moored in Jennycliff bay. A similar sized boat pulled up in front of us, anchored up and dropped back over our anchor.

No problem; I'm not going anywhere and the tide is going to change direction soon. I went back to my strenuous relaxing.

The tide changes, we both swing 180 degrees. A bit later he decides to leave. To do so he has to pull right up to my transom and struggles with his anchor. I give him a smile and a wave and call out "Good afternoon".

He scowls at me and shouts "You've moored over my anchor!"


Takes all sorts...

 

[greggron]

In my book, anchoring 20m away from a mooring buoy comes within the realms of poor seamanship. Better, either to have taken the mooring and moved if asked by the owner or anchor far enough away not to interfere if it became occupied. Swallow your pride and move, or if your pride prevents that, move on.

 

[Homer Simpson's Lovechild]

3 pages and nobody has asked what kind of anchor you're using !

 

[Poecheng]

3 pages and nobody has asked what kind of anchor you're using !

True. However, the far more important question was asked: was she German ?:encouragement:

 

[Orion Jim]

'putting towels down' on the maritime equivalent of deckchairs by the poolside?..

I have always removed said towels and dropped them to the deck with a flourish. I ignore the dirty looks.

 

[NormanS]

The OP seems to have disappeared. Wonder what happened.

 

[lpdsn]

The OP seems to have disappeared. Wonder what happened.

Maybe his anchor dragged.

Maybe the mooring turned out to belong to a Mexican drug cartel.

Maybe he just slept on it, chilled out and moved.

 

[JumbleDuck]

In my book, anchoring 20m away from a mooring buoy comes within the realms of poor seamanship.

Even worse, it's poor manners.

 

[Seven Spades]

...... Now around here it is illegal (with a penalty) for a non registered boat to tie up to some else’s mooring. Though many do for a picnic. .....

That's terrible, is this common outside of Europe, they seem t be solving a problem that does not exist. imagine if the same rule applied in the Beaulieu

 

[superheat6k]

The Bahamas as a former British Dependency and now independent Commonwealth Country follow the same basic rules and laws as the UK. The Queen owns the seabed up to HWM, but it must be assumed also allows laying of permanent moorings. With the mooring will exist a defined swinging circle, which will almost certainly be tighter than an anchored vessel will require unless using two or three anchors.

I am not sure any visitor has any right to question the right to use a laid mooring, just because they have laid their own anchor too close.

So the visitor has enjoyed a period of peace whilst the mooring has been unused, but now a / the user has returned and the user is concerned the visiting anchored vessel is too close. They are absolutely right to request, indeed insist, the visitor moves further away. Not sure rudeness is necessary, but then we haven't heard the full discussion.

 

[Graham376]

So the visitor has enjoyed a period of peace whilst the mooring has been unused, but now a / the user has returned and the user is concerned the visiting anchored vessel is too close. They are absolutely right to request, indeed insist, the visitor moves further away. Not sure rudeness is necessary, but then we haven't heard the full discussion.

If the user owns or has permission from the owner to use the mooring I would agree. If OTOH they are just another visitor commandeering someone else's property without permission then they can get stuffed.