Andy Bav
Well-Known Member
Currently tucked up in St Helier but just as interesting as St Peter Port is when the sill opens and the Charge of the Light Brigade begins. A relentless procession of boats of all shapes sizes and nationalities. Everyone arrives with a 30 -45 minute window and it is all very intense.
I must say that as a general observation the Dutch have coming alongside and general boat handling down to a fine art. No shouting, lines all ready and done in one effortless manoeuvre.
Others range from gliding into the raft, to hitting it at close to planing speed, slowing down with a dab of reverse to slamming it in reverse as hard as they can, pulling a line helpers arm out and using the boat they are aiming to raft up as a brake anyway.
I saw one chap jump off the boat with a line, stumble on the pontoon and scramble around on his knees desperately trying to attach the line to use as a brake, miss the cleat and see the boat smash the pontoon.
The most worrying one was an 8m boat where the fenders were the size of water cylinders you find in airing cupboards and seeing her hit the yacht she was mooring up against at around 10 knots I saw why!
I don't profess to be a master of docking myself, but after a few G&Ts on the sun pad it's interesting to watch this spectacle unfold.... And also protect my own pride and joy.
Just to be totally clear these are my observations over the week we have been here and it is a very small number of incidents compared to the number of boats coming in without any drama(s).
I havent diffentiated between sail and motor for obvious reasons!
As those of you have been here know, the islands are stunning and having so far had wall to wall sunshine we couldn't have picked a better time for a trip we "aren't qualified or experienced enough to make" ;-)
Pics to follow if anyone is interested...
I must say that as a general observation the Dutch have coming alongside and general boat handling down to a fine art. No shouting, lines all ready and done in one effortless manoeuvre.
Others range from gliding into the raft, to hitting it at close to planing speed, slowing down with a dab of reverse to slamming it in reverse as hard as they can, pulling a line helpers arm out and using the boat they are aiming to raft up as a brake anyway.
I saw one chap jump off the boat with a line, stumble on the pontoon and scramble around on his knees desperately trying to attach the line to use as a brake, miss the cleat and see the boat smash the pontoon.
The most worrying one was an 8m boat where the fenders were the size of water cylinders you find in airing cupboards and seeing her hit the yacht she was mooring up against at around 10 knots I saw why!
I don't profess to be a master of docking myself, but after a few G&Ts on the sun pad it's interesting to watch this spectacle unfold.... And also protect my own pride and joy.
Just to be totally clear these are my observations over the week we have been here and it is a very small number of incidents compared to the number of boats coming in without any drama(s).
I havent diffentiated between sail and motor for obvious reasons!
As those of you have been here know, the islands are stunning and having so far had wall to wall sunshine we couldn't have picked a better time for a trip we "aren't qualified or experienced enough to make" ;-)
Pics to follow if anyone is interested...
:encouragement:
