Singlehanded Mediterranean moor

[steve]

I will probably have to do this this summer and find the prospect a bit daunting. I haven't been able to find any suggestions, and so have come up with the following:

Flake out and secure more chain than necessary on the foredeck. Carry the anchor back to the cockpit outboard of everything. When in position to begin backing, drop anchor and then ignore while backing in, letting the chain run out freely. Get stern lines ashore and put engine ticking over in forward to keep it off the dock. Go forward and haul in the extra chain.

I have a wind vane so I don't want to drop the anchor off the stern. Any comments or suggestions for a better way will be more than welcome.

 

[Guest]

Speaking from a position of supreme ignorance (I haven't tried it), as there're no other replies I'll hazard some suggestions.

I think I'd let the anchor go from the bow rather than carrying it back to the cockpit, just as if one were anchoring normally. Maybe you've got a good reason to let go from the stern, but it seems to me simpler to nip up front for a few seconds to release it. I think I'd estimate the maximum that I might possibly need, then add a bit, then secure the chain at that point, just to limit the amount I will have to wind in later. If I nevertheless underestimated, then no harm done except having to come round a second time.

If there're other boats already there, I'd consider (having let out the anchor chain etc.) coming alongside one on your leeward side rather than trying to come right up to the quay and potentially have to hop over the stern to secure a line, especially if there's a cross wind blowing.

If there's no wind blowing, then I suppose one has all the time in the world to complete the manoeuvre.

If there is a cross wind, but there are no other boats around to come alongside, then consider first heading astern towards the quay at an angle upwind from where the anchor has been dropped, then turning the stern downwind as you come up to the quay, so that the bow is turned somewhat towards the wind. This will give valuable seconds before th bow is blown off to allow you to secure the stern and start winding excess anchor chain in.

No doubt seasoned Med salts will tell this is all nonsense, and I bow to their experience, but hopefully it will at least get the ball rolling!

 

[Ric]

I single-handedly stern too moor in the way you describe, except that I have an electric windlass. I lower the anchor, drag it until I can feel it biting, then back in feeding out chain as I go. Once within leaping distance of shore, I hop off and put at least one, if not both stern lines on, then stick the motor in idle forward, tighten up the chain, and I'm in.

You don't have an electric windlass by the look of your post, so this procedure will not be quite so easy. In your position, I would try first of all backing in on a lightweight kedge anchor, attached to a warp which you could control by hand as you back in. Once in, you could deploy your main anchor and chain with your dinghy or swim it out on a fender for flotation if you don't have a dinghy.

 

[jfm]

Electric winch would make it much easier. Ditto bowthruster. Otherwise the plan you suggest makes good sense

I'd add just a few points:

I dont like Ric's swim idea purely because the water in most med marinas is disgustingly dirty

Remeber, many marinas have lazy lined ground tackle so no anchor needed

Always try for a berth where the wind is blowing you straight off the quay. We bought our berth in such a location that the prevailing easterly blows us directly away from the quay. Berthing in a cross wind is 10x harder. Check out the LdeB and specifically ask the port office for a berth on this quay or that, to avoid crosswind

Once you are in between your 2 neighbours, well fendered, it isn't too hard

Quite a few sailboats moor bows to, in case you're interested in doing it that way round, with a stern anchor set up and sometimes a bow passerelle

 

[Swagman]

I think your plan is the best you can do without an electric winch or someone to ease out the chain as you reverse in.

Strongly suggest (have done this so know how silly it looks) that you do not preset the chain length and fix it off. If it is too short and the anchor bites your yacht will fetch up short of the jetty and at the mercy of the wind! Your idea of a long line running out, reverse in , moor the stern, gentle ahead, you go forward to tighten the bow - should work in all but the strongest breeze.
And do not forget to radio ahead and ask for someone to meet you and take stern lines........that will speed up one step for you.
JOHN

 

[Sea Devil]

Steve I used to do it single handed all the time in the med in Bambola - unless there is a very big crosswind it's pretty easy -

Of course your anchor chain is marked up every 5 or 10 mtrs....


position the bows a bit upwind of the slot you are reversing into - further off than the planned position for the anchor - stern pointing at the slot.

Now commit the sin of droping the anchor and pourning out on top of it enough chain to easily get the stern to the wall.....

pop back to the cokpit and put her in astern and motor back pulling out the chain - the fact the head of the boat is held by the weight of the chain makes this really easy in terms of direction...

On arrival at wall get the lines ashore or pass them to a friendly passer by - leaving yourself a meter or so off the wall .. Just let them tie the stern line(s) any way they like for the moment... b

back to the bows and winch in the spare chain until you feel the anchor digging in..

To the stern and sort out mooring lines - easy!

 

[walker]

Only thought on your suggestion is how are you going to stop the whole length of flaked chain being dragged overboard by the weight of the chain led aft to the cockpit?

 

[beachbum]

If there's a crosswind, secure only the windward stern line and motor against it, quite hard if necessary, to stop the bows blowing off whilst you dash back up to the foredeck to make off the anchor. Also handy if using lazy lines, which also require an extra trip up forward for the single-hander.

 

[steve]

Thanks for the input, everyone. Michael's suggestion about dropping all the chain in a pile sounds interesting and I'll definitely try it.

 

[paulskent]

I have moored in a couple of Spanish marinas and there was never a need for the anchor as there was a chain running down the middle of the alley which was attached to a line running to the dock. You just attached this line to a forward cleat and the boat was held in station.

The only people I saw using anchors had major problems getting them up again because they fouled on the aforementioned chains.. ?

PK.

 

[tcm]

Re: quick and dirty way

unless it is empty, reverse in alongside another boat with mid cleat and tie your mid cleat to his on v short line. Then plenty of time to think about things.

other idea is to sit on the fuel pontoon from 8pm till 7am sharp free of charge most places...

 

[pwfl]

Are you really determined to always go in stern to?

With a windvane I would consider the damage that could occur in the event of any surge (if not from the weather, even from powerboats whizzing by), if you are stern to.

Even without the windvane, you should always consider damage to your rudder itself, depending on the nature of the quayside - is it a solid wall, is it totally vertical or possibly with shelving seabed / rocks next to it, or a floating pontoon in deep water?

The determining factors will be: the strength & constancy of the wind - if the wind is constant in direction, you can drop your stern anchor from your windward quarter as you come in - the yacht & steering gear will always be held off the rode.

The design of your windvane - will it really be hurt by a rope being pulled across it at a slight angle, even if the wind reverses? (I assume that if you are using a stern anchor, you will be using mainly rope, not chain?).

If so, how long are you planning to stay there - can you remove the most delicate parts of your windvane easily?

There is also the issue of privacy if you are stern to.

Obviously, there are advantages to being stern to - it's usually easier getting on & off, plus with your windlass, it'll be easier retrieving your anchor when you leave.

All in all, I would consider every situation on its own merits, & be prepared to do it either way.

 

[Guest]

Yes, come to think of it, I anchor frequently by the stern, bows tied to a rock in the Scandinavian style - which is in effect like anchoring bows to a quay in the Med. I also have a windvane, and it does not interfere with the stern anchoring process. Mine's a Windpilot type.

 

[steve]

Well, let' see. To reply to the different points raised:

Yes, the problem of the chain dragging overboard had occurred to me and I figured I'd try to work something out on a trial run.

I am planning to go to the Aeolian Islands and Sicily, where the information I've seen so far says that some ports do not have lazy lines.

I have a plastimo windvane which is rather delicate.

The fuel dock is always my first choice when I'm not planning on spending more than 1 night somewhere.

I do much prefer to go bows to when there are lazy lines, but in that situation I can give my whole attention to the stern line and the boat's no longer moving.