windward or leeward pontoon berths/

[Skylark]

My AWB is wind-rode and will readily misbehave for all to witness my incompetence at berthing. I can't make an up-wind approach and turn hard to port to berth while being blown-off the finger (port side to). This is guaranteed to end in tears. The only way onto the berth when being blown-off is to reverse past the finger, then forward, turn to stbd and, hopefully, put a spring in place to hold her against the pontoon.

She's a hundred times more predictable and controllable when being blown-on to the pontoon. I've had my current berth for 5 years and in that time I've only burst one fender. I had some minor hull damage when the pontoon finger failed in a strong blow but it was repaired by the marina without quibble.

Fortunately, there's not a great deal of tide to complicate matters further.

 

[Bosun Higgs]

If I have a choice is the windward berth better : will be blown on when berthing but more difficult to get off in strong winds and the boat blown onto her fenders, or the leeward berth: getting off easier but getting back on more difficult but less pressure on the fenders.

The windward berth is better. You can always spring off and even if you cant, you're safe and secure. Imaginje trying to get back on to a leeward berth when its howling and you're single handed.

 

[shaunksb]

The windward berth is better. You can always spring off and even if you cant, you're safe and secure. Imaginje trying to get back on to a leeward berth when its howling and you're single handed.

Are we all not getting a little confused as to which is a windward berth and which is a leeward?



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[onesea]

Are we all not getting a little confused as to which is a windward berth and which is a leeward?



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"Other wise leeward same as most of the others."

I guess my post should of read "to leeward"... but I think we all knew what we where talking about until some one pointed where almost agreeing Now its shaping for another entertaining thread

 

[AuntyRinum]

Are we all not getting a little confused as to which is a windward berth and which is a leeward?

Not all.

 

[Kelpie]

It's harder to get out of your sleeping bag if you sleep in the leeward berth.

Oh, wait a sec...

 

[chubby]

Thanks for all the advice. My yard is having to modify the berthing layout and convert some swingers to linear pontoons, so little choice, I would have stuck to the swingers.

As a longstanding customer who has been inconvenienced I have been given the choice and have gone for the leeward berth in prevailing winds.

My fallback for getting back on in strong offshore winds would be to motor or reverse up to the pontoon and lassoo a cleat as though picking up a bouy and hang off it while running a line from the other end ashore and winching in. I would have the dinghy as these pontoons don`t link to the shore.

I am sure decent warps and fenders and a midships rope and all will be well!