Stern to shore lines

[RupertW]

Just settled into a lovely anchorage in Korcula (Croatia) and watched all but two of the many boats leave to avoid being here overnight. Bit windy but hope it's the maestral.

The last 3 nights have been at different ancorages tied stern to trees or rocks. Have 220m of cheap line. Once we have the first line ashore and tautened then it's been fine but our method isn't right yet.

My wife reverses in toward the shore with plenty of room between two other boats. I drop the anchor two or three boat lengths ahead of their bows and dump 30m of chain as we reverse. When the boat is as close to the shore as feels safe I swim off the stern with the end of the line with the line fed to me as I go then tie it to a tree or rock.

The idea was for my wife to winch up the slack but each time we've drifted down to lay alongside the nearest boat until I've swum back and hauled us away. We've had fenders out and the dinghy tied alongside as a big fender so no damage done at all but it feels amateurish.

Each anchorage has been fairly busy and we've gone for the biggest gaps.

Apart from me swimming faster, any thoughts?

 

[vyv_cox]

Leave the engine running in reverse. Otherwise, lots of hints here.

 

[duncan99210]

We have a slight variation on the theme. The line lives in a bag (60m of old 10mm climbing rope) which is in the tender, tied on to the stern of the boat. Anchor is dropped and controlled by SMWBO, I am at the wheel. Once boat is snug on the anchor at the right distance from the shore, I leave the engine astern, get into the tender and row ashore and fasten the line to the nearest available point. SWMBO has meanwhile made fast the anchor and made her way to the stern, where she puts the line round the winch and hauls in the slack.

I can then return to the boat, collect further lines as required and tidy up the situation.

It's worth trying to spot a good belay point for the first line before you start the whole business. Preferably close to the water's edge so you it minimises the time before the line can have some effect.

Hope that helps.

 

[sarabande]

Two stern lines in a Y configuration to give you better lateral control ?

 

[jimbaerselman]

Couple of thoughts.

If you're going to swim, wear plimsolls to protect against sea urchins. And only take a light messenger line.

As Duncan mentioned, rowing the dinghy is probably best, and the line should be flaked on board the dinghy, paying itself out as you go. Don't pay it out from the boat. Towing the line only slows you down. And, of course, aim up wind.

I found it very useful to develop a technique for pull-sculling the dinghy with a single paddle over the bow. Top of the paddle tucked in the shoulder, then side to side feathering the blade to pull to the shore. You're then in a good position to see where you're going, and quickly jump ashore.

 

[dslittle]

Confession time!

Each anchorage has been fairly busy and we've gone for the biggest gaps.

Apart from me swimming faster, any thoughts?

Tying up is not always the problem. We did a similar mooring on Meganisi in nill wind once and as I came in on the anchor the German beside me said something like 'nice sailing'. I smiled at the compliment as my wife swam ashore with the line. It was not until she returned and pointed out that I still had the main up that I realised what my neighbour was talking about. As I took the sail down (very embarassed) our neighbours proceeded to strip off and swim off the back - it wasn't a pretty sight!!! After a couple if minutes we decided that we couldn't get any more embarrassed so we removed our shoreline and went to Spartahori for a very pleasant night...

 

[CharlesSwallow]

Two stern lines in a Y configuration to give you better lateral control ?

But then it becomes a "moor" rather than "anchoring with a line taken ashore" and is not only much more difficult to let go in an emergency but stops you from responding to wind changes and moving with the neighbours. It also leads to a whole mess of too many lines going to the shore. This trend to using two lines and putting yourself at odds with the locals is becoming all too common in the eastern med these days. Fifteen years ago, before the evening class know-it-all yottiemashters got on the scene, nobody used two lines to make this vulnerable moor.

Incidentally, we ALWAYS use the dinghy, taking the unattached line ashore and paying it out as i motor back to the yacht. This way my wife can control the yacht with no fear of the shoreline getting around the prop.

Chas

 

[Carmel2]

This might sound a daft question, so please bear with. We are about do this for the first time using Ankarolina with 2 meters of chain on the end to go round whatever is at the other end, is the process any different to what's been described so far?

 

[vyv_cox]

This might sound a daft question, so please bear with. We are about do this for the first time using Ankarolina with 2 meters of chain on the end to go round whatever is at the other end, is the process any different to what's been described so far?

I refer you to my link above. Many boats use Ankarolina or some equivalent for lines ashore.

 

[laika]

Apart from me swimming faster, any thoughts?

Motoring back against the anchor never seems to completely work for me in any kind of a cross wind: delays sideways drift but often not enough. What we find helps after reversing and whilst the rower/swimmer is heading for the rocks is to chuck the kedge over the back. Usually dampens or eliminates sideways movement until you can get the lines fixed up, and as it's on a short scope and not dug in it's not hassle to retrieve once you're tied up.

I'm sure there must be a fatal flaw in this strategy as I haven't notice it mentioned much but it works for us.

 

[duncan99210]

A minor addition to the above. Either wear swimmers when using the dinghy or REMEMBER to secure it before you leap ashore with the line......... If wearing swimmers, you can retrive the dinghy; if not, just hope SWMBO will deign to leap in to recover the situation .

 

[Appleyard]

Motoring back against the anchor never seems to completely work for me in any kind of a cross wind: delays sideways drift but often not enough. What we find helps after reversing and whilst the rower/swimmer is heading for the rocks is to chuck the kedge over the back. Usually dampens or eliminates sideways movement until you can get the lines fixed up, and as it's on a short scope and not dug in it's not hassle to retrieve once you're tied up.

I'm sure there must be a fatal flaw in this strategy as I haven't notice it mentioned much but it works for us.

Done that with the kedge on many occasions. It gives me plenty time to launch the dinghy and get the lines prepared without any hassle.As you say,it is easy to retrieve when you are secured.
PS before anyone asks,I never tow the dinghy when under way. It feels wrong and looks silly.

 

[RupertW]

Thanks

Thanks for all the different ideas. We will give them a go and see what suits us.

Interesting debate on twin lines - we had to put a second line on in our last anchorage as other boats had them so were rock solid during wind shifts

 

[Chris_Robb]

But then it becomes a "moor" rather than "anchoring with a line taken ashore" and is not only much more difficult to let go in an emergency but stops you from responding to wind changes and moving with the neighbours. It also leads to a whole mess of too many lines going to the shore. This trend to using two lines and putting yourself at odds with the locals is becoming all too common in the eastern med these days. Fifteen years ago, before the evening class know-it-all yottiemashters got on the scene, nobody used two lines to make this vulnerable moor.

Incidentally, we ALWAYS use the dinghy, taking the unattached line ashore and paying it out as i motor back to the yacht. This way my wife can control the yacht with no fear of the shoreline getting around the prop.

Chas

It seems now that every one uses 2 lines ashore, so if your neighbours are already doing that then you need to follow suit. I agree that it's not really necessary,