Not the best place to practice a back and fill turn

Well, I wasn't there and can't judge the decisions made but I have questions:
  1. Why didn't they move 100m along the river and do it where it was wider? You can see a much wider area in the background of many shots.
  2. Why didn't the guys on shore take a snubbbing turn round the post?
  3. Given the strong wind why not wait for another day? It didn't look like they were going anywhere!
  4. I was concerned about the number of people in line with lines under heavy tension!
 
Alicatt said:
It's more a question of her mooring lines, she broke free during Storm Pia on Thursday night and came to rest there jammed between the docks
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I assumed that something like that must have occurred. People often have a rosy view of the Netherlands but it's a windy old place and their reputation for immaculate seamanship is not always justified.
 
Seamanlike use of warps to wind ship. None of us knows the reasons why. Not a technique used much with armchairs.

I would rather admire the way the result was achieved than pick holes.....

Guess that not many people ever do this nowadays. First crew maneuver at JSSTC in Haslar Creek was to wind the yacht around. Lost for most in the past, I suppose.
 
AntarcticPilot said:
Well, I wasn't there and can't judge the decisions made but I have questions:
  1. Why didn't they move 100m along the river and do it where it was wider? You can see a much wider area in the background of many shots.
  2. Why didn't the guys on shore take a snubbbing turn round the post?
  3. Given the strong wind why not wait for another day? It didn't look like they were going anywhere!
  4. I was concerned about the number of people in line with lines under heavy tension!
Click to expand...
5. Why a second line to windward from midship, besides the bow one? With the wind from abeam that would work against the wind resistance of the whole hull, whereas a single bow line would allow the stern to rotate towards mid channel and the boat to align to the wind--> a lot less effort to bring her against the pontoon. But I wasn't there either :)
 
capnsensible said:
Seamanlike use of warps to wind ship. None of us knows the reasons why. Not a technique used much with armchairs.

I would rather admire the way the result was achieved than pick holes.....

Guess that not many people ever do this nowadays. First crew maneuver at JSSTC in Haslar Creek was to wind the yacht around. Lost for most in the past, I suppose.
Click to expand...
Only thing I might have suggested was that rather than people struggling to pull the bow across by hand, which looked to be risking back injuries, I would have led a bow rope to either the anchor windlass or a genoa winch.
On a boat like that it is almost certain to have an electric winch.
Then instead of lots of people risking their backs, two people could have done the job in a relaxed manner - one keeping watch whilst the other presses the winch button. Meanwhile both having a relaxing cup of coffee and trying to look cool and implying this was planned.

PS. We have twice had to do something similar. Once on the biggest charter hire boat on the Norfolk Broads, when the engine failed near a famous windmil. Roped round but had to dig a bit of the bank away to let the bobstay pass - with the bowsprit blocking one towpath and the boom overhanging the other! Second time was in a canal lock in strong winds, when the inexperienced lock keeper wouldn’t hook on our stern rope as requested.
 
capnsensible said:
Seamanlike use of warps to wind ship. None of us knows the reasons why. Not a technique used much with armchairs.

I would rather admire the way the result was achieved than pick holes.....

Guess that not many people ever do this nowadays. First crew maneuver at JSSTC in Haslar Creek was to wind the yacht around. Lost for most in the past, I suppose.
Click to expand...
If the culprit is a “pointy Nicholson”, as once favoured by the JSSTC, it’s the only reliable method. See conversation with Shuggy on “reversing in marinas” thread…
 
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YouTube description, translated via Google:

Appingedam - A sailboat that was moored in the Nieuwe Diep in Appingedam broke loose on Thursday afternoon during storm Pia. The ship came to rest diagonally in the Nieuwe Diep. The skipper, together with some bystanders, managed with great difficulty to free the ship and secure it safely to the quay. The police, assisted by several officers from the Water Police, were on site to monitor the situation.​
 
capnsensible said:
Guess that not many people ever do this nowadays. First crew maneuver at JSSTC in Haslar Creek was to wind the yacht around. Lost for most in the past, I suppose.
Click to expand...
As an SCC officer on a training visit there, I watched with awe as my companions on the course powered around with aplomb (and several turns).
Unwilling to make a fool of myself, I used my Sea Cadet crew to turn the boat using warps.
I was the only one to win approval.
I've never been afraid since to take the wimp route.
 
Looking at the video again, with the boat being pressed by a strong wind on the starboard side, I am still surprised that having got ropes across to the other bank they tried to pull by hand rather than use a genoa winch to do the work - whether powered or even with a winch handle. Low stress, low effort.
But also, having got the bow secured, surely casting /easing off the stern ropes would have allowed the boat to weathercock into the wind, which would then align with the canal direction Then engine on and motors back onto the pontoon.
 
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