Running a line ashore

I only speak from experience. We went into an anchorage in which there was not much room, there was only one other yacht. We went round toward his transom to ascertain (ask) how much chain they had out (it seemed polite, they were there first), we had had a Storm warning and had just beat across Bass Strait from Tas (24 hours, virtually one long beat and a tack at the end) - so a bit jaded and we wanted to know how much swing room he needed. There was 50m between him and the shore astern and we only draw 1m (his was a 36' yacht and probably drew 2m - so there was plenty of depth for us). He had 2 lines ashore off each quarter, both were under water, both were a dark brown colour. When you are maneuvering to get close enough to talk to someone (you cannot see) you are not looking at warps hanging off the back of a boat nor at lines running across a beach to trees - the focus is on getting close enough to talk but not hit. He came out screaming. A couple of fluor buoys on each line between him the shore would have ensured none of us had the high heart beats we did.

If you are 10m off the shore I'd have no problems but beyond about 25m there are lots of yachts that can get behind you (and I note Tudor Sailor's tape is 50m long). Assuming its high tide then he will have lots of water (depth) behind him to allow any (well almost any) keel boat round his stern when he has his tape at full extent and tied to a Fortress set in the beach.

We scavenge for fishing buoys on beaches to use specifically for lines ashore, paint them fluor yellow.

I prefer one line ashore (then you can use all the scavanged buoys so they are obvious) and 2 anchors off the bow.

I still like the idea - 'see and be seen' and to make it as easy and obvious for anyone else.

Tudor - the idea is great, I cannot knock it - beats the huge pile of cordage we have been carrying!

I'm sorry if some of you think I'm unreasonable. I had assumed that the idea was non specific in terms of location, I would certainly adopt the idea, and not to be restricted for use only in the Med with steep drop offs from shore.

Jonathan
 
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Neeves said:
I still like the idea - 'see and be seen' and to make it as easy and obvious for anyone else.

I'm sorry if some of you think I'm unreasonable. I had assumed that the idea was non specific in terms of location.
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I certainly don't think you're unreasonable. In fact I probably jumped the gun a little in assuming a location where shore lines are routine (partly because I'm at one). Whether the location was specific or not depends on one's take on "I have just spent 2 months in the Adriatic ". In fact, the OP's profile says his boat's in Sicily, where shorelines, although used, are not the norm and your and Seajet's caveats make sense. Either way, the rudeness of one poster was a bit over the top.

Even here in the eastern Med, if especially long shore lines are used, it's common (if far from universal) to see them marked in some way.
 
As the OP, I can confirm that yes my profile does say my yacht is in Sicily but I was sailing the Adriaitic. Where ever I saw shore lines used, the lines were short and there were no markers on the lines

I can also confirm that the tape that I bought does not float. It sinks like a stone! I do not know whether Ankorlina tape floats, but I suspect that it does not

TudorSailor
 
I don't think there was any problem in this case, but I prefer out of he way anchorages and prefer to mark the shore lines as distinctly as possible.

I usually tie a large fender and flashing led light in the middle of the line. Now someone is going to remind me that flashing lights are illegal but only just above the water level their range is very restricted and I cannot see they could be be mistaken for a navigational marker (although I would not use them if there was any navigational marks in the area)

Another useful trick is to leave to leave your stern light on (as long as you are not turning on port and starboard navigational lights)this effectivly illuminates the stern lines and used with a little caution cannot be misinterpreted.
 
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we also employ a fender or two midway along the line. I agree with others that any yacht attempting to pass astern of boats clearly lined ashore is an idiot.
You do however get people using tenders astern and it does help if you can see where the lines are.
 
I use floating line as it makes it easier to row out if the distance to shore gets up. Its on a drum so I can just let out more if the shore team seem to be messing around finding an object to tie onto.

Tape is good as it takes alot less space than other solutions, the downside (in my opinion) is that it can be rather noisy in strong winds. Actually sometimes it can be very noisy.
 
blueglass said:
we also employ a fender or two midway along the line. I agree with others that any yacht attempting to pass astern of boats clearly lined ashore is an idiot.
You do however get people using tenders astern and it does help if you can see where the lines are.
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I think a bigger problem is the small fishing boats, but in many cases there is no risk of this happening. There is no need for universal floats /fenders/lights, but there are occasions when they are not used and they should be.

Everyone has fenders. The battery operated led lights are only a few dollars and deployment only takes a couple of minutes. At least consider using them when you tied a reasonable distance from shore.
 
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macd said:
No wurries; very gracious. As you've probably worked out, the shore lines are principally used to minimise swinging and thus allow more boats in an anchorage. In practice it's an extension of the practice of berthing stern/bow-to in marinas and on quays. In Turkey, in particular, where the depths often drop off very quickly (one's distance to shore might be 10 metres or even less), it's the only way to accommodate more than a handful of boats. Essex, it isn't. And when in Rome...
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Also very common in Nordic countries & the Baltic where tides & currents are small, the water is relatively sheltered & also deep close to shore.

It wouldn't be that practical off a very tidal & often busy UK beach where powerboats trailer launch off the sand & zoom around amongst the boats.
 
USA Webbing source

tudorsailor said:
There was a thread where we discussed running a line ashore. I have just spent 2 months in the Adriatic and knew that I would need to have something to run ashore from the stern. I had seen lots of boats with spools of tape on the stern rail. This Ankorlina is quite expensive so looked for an alternative

So I bought 50m of undyed 35mm tape from Absolute Industrial. They were most helpful making up a special order that was undyed and with loops sewn in both ends.

I then bought a reel from Amazon and it stores the tape nicely. Much cheaper than Ankorlina, just a s strong, and can be kept in a locker when not required rather than in the sunshine

I did use it and it works fine. Half the price

View attachment 33424

TudorSailor
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I found a USA source of "Loop Straps" 1.5 in., 3000 lb breaking strength, with eyes already sewed. They do not have undyed, so I got yellow - it will eventually bleach out in the sun. At about US$50 for 150ft it seems reasonable.

http://customtiedowns.com/product2...._length=0&webbing=cw15-y4pe&catlist=1&store=1
 
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