To raft or not to raft, protocol?

[TeamSpirit]

(3) When in Cowes, particularly during Cowes week, do not hand your lines to anyone who might 'look' like a sailor. I've done that in the past, only to find they simply continue holding it not knowing what to do, 'cos its the first time they have ever been on a yacht & are only there for the Pimms!

and also dont expect everyone to be sensible and respectful when rafting up.
A racing crew rafted up against us in the Haven when we were away from the boat. We returned to find it had put one fender of the inflatable kind out, no springs or shorelines and had only fore and aft lines holding us together, bow to bow and spreaders within a whisker of colliding. No sign of any crew but a trail of muddy footprints through the cockpit !!!!! on asking the boat next to us on the pontoon about 8 people had come off and disappeared into the beer tent.
On complaining the boat owner was contacted by phone, he had it out on charter to a city firm and his paid skipper was supposed to be in charge! on hearing the complaint by the time I got back to the boat the 'paid' skipper was blowing up his other fenders and putting out lines. he muttered a reluctant appology and I guess that was the moment I forgot to tell him we were leaving at o5.30hrs the next morning. He and his crew looked very tired fragile and bewildered as they were awoken (shame) as we extracted ourselves the next morning.
Rafting is fine as long as it is respectfully managed and performed, isnt it?

 

[snowleopard]

If you raft alongside a boat with a sign saying 'Leaving at 5am', do you bang on his deck to wake him at 5am sharp? (I do)

 

[Touchwood]

If you raft alongside a boat with a sign saying 'Leaving at 5am', do you bang on his deck to wake him at 5am sharp? (I do)

 

[bendyone]

If you raft alongside a boat with a sign saying 'Leaving at 5am', do you bang on his deck to wake him at 5am sharp? (I do)

Works the other way round as well 4.30am in St Peter Port I had to wake them up to move -- they weren't happy but had been told.

 

[Poignard]

PS
As for the dinghy alongside brigade. I have often seen them repel boarders all afternoon only to go ashore and find they are host to large, lively and well crewed neighbour on their return. I regret to say this gives me more joy than it should.

Yes that is a laugh. I saw something similar in Camaret a few years ago. The couple in a very chi-chi British yacht spent the afternoon glaring at potential rafter-uppers until it was time for them to go ashore for dinner (they looked the sort of people who delude themselves that the head-waiter in their chosen eatery is a personal friend). Whilst they were away I had the pleasure of seeing a big rust-streaked Scandinavian ketch complete with piratical-looking crew come alongside them. As a post-dinner treat they had the pleasure of listening to sea-shanties until the early hours; thoughtfully provided by the now very drunk Scandinavians.

 

[sailorgirl]

Poole town quay.

I'm in the middle so small the HM did not see me or charge me for the night. The outside boats were together and took me out on the town for the night. Cant remember much but I guess it was good.

Slightly off topic but I think we are the Jeanneau third boat out... its a long while since we were last there.

 

[bendyone]

Slightly off topic but I think we are the Jeanneau third boat out... its a long while since we were last there.

2004?

 

[bendyone]

 

[sailorgirl]

Thx for the close up - definitely not our boat but a slightly smaller Jeanneau with very similar collection of bits on the back...

 

[Goldie]

If you raft alongside a boat with a sign saying 'Leaving at 5am', do you bang on his deck to wake him at 5am sharp? (I do)

I do!

When the boot is on the other foot, I have a laminated notice which hangs on the guardrails which says: "You're welcome to moor alongside, but please note that we shall be leaving at...." with the appropriate time entered in chinagraph.

You'd be amazed how many think it's a ploy to deter mooring alongside and are decidedly grumpy when they're woken!

 

[Rigger Mortice]

are decidedly grumpy when they're woken!

If I haven't already got up, I'm perfectly happy to be woken in that situation.
However, I may just have to ask you to put up with me being grumpy. I am not one of lifes natural early risers! or should it be ?

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

I too dislike the 'anti-rafter' brigade...

If I'm off early, I tend to tell someone trying to come alongside in a way that doesn't come across as a 'sod off'... Usually by offering to slip and come back on the outside... Demonstrates that you are serious about your departure!

I have however once been on the inside of a 6 deep raft upon returning to the boat and when I explained that I was leaving early we shuffled all the boats about to get me on the outside, and then when we saw the weather upon arising at 0500, didn't leave.... Whoops!... Not a big issue though as they were all Dutch, and consequently pretty laid back!

 

[Victoria Sponge]

We moored at Greenwich Yacht club last year. When we came back a Dutch couple had rafted against us. It made for an interesting time as when the high speed shuttles go past on the Thames, your boat rocks all over the place. My OH and the Dutch guy spent some time during the night becoming acquainted as they adjusted lines and moved fenders around.

 

[Chuteman]

Etiquette

Since the gang on this thread are much more experienced with this topic than I am, let me share this scenario - to get your feelings & opinions

Setting - warm, still evening, no bad weather either that day or forecasted,
very shallow anchorage with a full pontoon outside a marina area, mooring ball area near by with unattended boats & vacant moorings, open area to anchor without obstructing anyone.

Time - 2:15am - EVERYone in anchorage sleeping or engaged in private activities

Approaching boat 30-35' sloop claiming to be leaving at 5am - slams into boat and jumps aboard and rafts up. Of course, wakes sleeping crew - offers no apology or even a hello.

OK with You?

 

[Victoria Sponge]

Since the gang on this thread are much more experienced with this topic than I am, let me share this scenario - to get your feelings & opinions

Setting - warm, still evening, no bad weather either that day or forecasted,
very shallow anchorage with a full pontoon outside a marina area, mooring ball area near by with unattended boats & vacant moorings, open area to anchor without obstructing anyone.

Time - 2:15am - EVERYone in anchorage sleeping or engaged in private activities

Approaching boat 30-35' sloop claiming to be leaving at 5am - slams into boat and jumps aboard and rafts up. Of course, wakes sleeping crew - offers no apology or even a hello.

OK with You?

Of course not.

 

[Rigger Mortice]

Since the gang on this thread are much more experienced with this topic than I am, let me share this scenario - to get your feelings & opinions

Setting - warm, still evening, no bad weather either that day or forecasted,
very shallow anchorage with a full pontoon outside a marina area, mooring ball area near by with unattended boats & vacant moorings, open area to anchor without obstructing anyone.

Time - 2:15am - EVERYone in anchorage sleeping or engaged in private activities

Approaching boat 30-35' sloop claiming to be leaving at 5am - slams into boat and jumps aboard and rafts up. Of course, wakes sleeping crew - offers no apology or even a hello.

OK with You?

It's hard to understand why he didn't use the other mooring but he may not have been aware that they were clear.
If he hit your boat and damaged it then he certainly should have offered to sort it out.
If he is arriving at 2.15am and planning to leave at 5.00am it does sound as if he is pushing things a bit.

However, I see no problem with a boat coming alongside at 2.00 am and I certainly wouldn't expect, or particularly want, to have a "hello" from him at that time of the morning.
If I come in at that time of night I take extra care to not disturb people and, on more than one occasion, people have told me the following morning that they didn't hear me arrive. It doesn't always work out like that though!

 

[Chuteman]

More Pieces

RM - To fill in few more pieces:
The boat in question would have passed by the potential anchoring spots (less than 3m in absolutely still water),passed by & along side the mooring field and it was not a pitch black area. Actually a relatively small area

They were certainly not navy seals so their ability to be stealth in approach
and rafting technique would not have gone undetected on the QEII.

 

[rickym]

At that time of night just be quiet! I rafted alongside a boat in the small hours only to discover a rather suprised owner at 0800 "where did you come from" poor chap on waking thought he had been turned around in the night!

 

[johnalison]

I may have missed earlier comments, but I am mystified by the suggestion that leaving fenders outside would give rise to them getting tangled. This would only happen if the approaching boat is moving forward when at the point of contact, grinding the fenders against the the boat's topsides, a common reason for my being disenchanted with my neighbours (together with unwillingness to spring, smoking upwind of me, foul music & so on).

 

[Flying Penguin]

I may have missed earlier comments, but I am mystified by the suggestion that leaving fenders outside would give rise to them getting tangled. This would only happen if the approaching boat is moving forward when at the point of contact, grinding the fenders against the the boat's topsides, a common reason for my being disenchanted with my neighbours (together with unwillingness to spring, smoking upwind of me, foul music & so on).

Surely unless your fenders are perfectly flat (and hence useless) there is going to be fender to fender contact well before the fenders touch the boat? Unless you are coming in almost perpendicular to the centre line of the raftee (e.g. if ferry gliding or about to whack them with your anchor) you are going to be moving slowly forwards pretty much until boat/fender contact.

Cheers,

Jamie