Oostende - stern lines - PART III

[alldownwind]

Sorry to labour this one but I'm probably passing through Oostende next week after an absence of maybe 6 years. I'm sure I rafted up there last time.
Do I understand correctly that now some of the berths are bow or stern to a pontoon that runs along the wall? And there are mooring buoys a boat-length or so away from the pontoon that you pick up? Is there a fixed line from each buoy to the pontoon as well? If not, is there a pick-up line on each buoy?
We are 31' long.
Would appreciate a blow-by-blow description! Many thanks.

 

[MoodySabre]

A good picture of the set-up:

We had a 30m line attached to the cleat, reverse past a buoy, thread it through, back up to the pontoon with line paying out. Stern lines attached to pontoon cleats (helpful sole to catch them if you are lucky). I have to say that 30m was a bit short and 35 or 40 would be better and allow you to back right up to the pontoon and tie off before tensioning up the bow line.

Them that don't go backwards just went in bow first and performed Olympian acrobatics get off their boats. If you want to raft up then the ever helpful HM will let you know what he thinks of that. He whizzs about in a red rib and can be heard at some distance!

Enjoy!

 

[eastcoastbernie]

Hi

My boat is next to Sabre, bows to. We got all lines ready in good time. Note strategically placed fat fender on bow. We estimated how much line we needed (we had 50 metres at the ready, but thought we would need about 25- 30, so we cleated off one end leaving around 20 metres in the boat. I then motored gently so I put the starboard quarter close to the mooring bouy allowing crew to feed other end of line through eye of bouy.

We then motored gently towards pontoon getting crew to pay out line as we went, keeping some tension on line. We were never in any danger of hitting the pontoon due to this tension. As it happens, we were lucky enough to have a catcher at the bow, but it would have been possible to lassoo the cleat on the pontoon.

Once held fore and aft. the other end of the stern line was attached to the port quarter and we sorted out the lines. We reckon we ended up needing 40 metres (26 foot boat).

Word of caution. When tying up I usually take two turns around a ring or cleat to prevent chafe on one area of the rope. Due to feeling totally smug about crossing the N Sea I forgot this and left the boat on a single line at the bow.

While I was away from the boat, this line snapped, but fortunately Morgana and Jomo saw this coming and caught Beyond Reason just in the nick of time.

I then retied the boat using two separate lines port and starboard, cow-horned onto the pontoon cleats either side of the bow.

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

To answer the other part of your question, there is no pick up line, and the buoy is not on a line back to the pontoon.... you'll need your own line to make off to the buoy.... at 31', you'll need at least 30m of line.

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

[ QUOTE ]
While I was away from the boat, this line snapped, but fortunately Morgana and Jomo saw this coming and caught Beyond Reason just in the nick of time.

[/ QUOTE ]'The nick of time'..... I'll say!.... Jomo wandered over to Morgana and mentioned that Beyond Reason's bow line looked a bit worn (so its Jomo that should claim the credit), and so we wandered over to take a look..... I put my hand on the pullpit, and as I did so, the rope parted..... I had to hang on to stop her springing backwards against her stern line.... another 3 seconds and we'd have been too late... talk about luck of timing!!!

 

[Athene V30]

[ QUOTE ]
I put my hand on the pullpit, and as I did so, the rope parted.

[/ QUOTE ]
yer right..... /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gifBernie - he has confessed - it was Neil that did your line in!

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

shhhhh!!!!!

It wasn't me guv.... it was the industrial sized box of tea bags that someone dropped on it....

 

[alldownwind]

Thanks all. Nice to be fore-warned, I had no idea there was a challenge involved when we get there.

 

[sailorman]

"God" WILL talk with you /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Jomo]

[ QUOTE ]

"God" WILL talk with you


[/ QUOTE ]

and PG Tips will sooth his vocal chords !! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[alldownwind]

Yes, I've gathered that I should have a spare pack on board. Mind you he's probably sick of the stuff by now! Perhaps I should offer him something a little more refined like Twinings?

 

[Koeketiene]

He's got enough PG Tips (or any other tea) to see him through to the next Oostende voor Anker.
Should you order from General Stores ( /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif ) - he's also partial to Bastos Filter (cigarettes - Belgian - €16.50)

 

[PetiteFleur]

If it's out of season and mid week, ie not late July/August then you may be able to go on the long pontoon immediately to starboard as you enter(beyond Sabre in the photo). This is what I've done in previous years at this time of year. The Harbour master who is very helpful may ask you to move to another berth but we were allowed to stay as they weren't busy.