Techniques
& Maneuvers (Page 2)
Leaving
and Returning to a Mooring or Jetty (under power or sail)
If your yacht is normally kept afloat, you will have to learn how to leave and return to the mooring, which is usually marked by a small pick-up buoy.
Picking up and leaving moorings in tidal waters is a relatively simple process - just as long as you take the tidal stream into account. Assess the effect of the tide by looking at yachts on swinging moorings or looking at the flow of water past objects fixed to the seabed.
On non-tidal water the boat will always point into the wind when left on a mooring, so that you can hoist the mainsail and jib before casting off.
In tidal conditions the boat may point into the tide, the wind or a combination of both. If Wind and Tide are together, proceed as outlined on the neighboring diagram. Bearing in mind that when you slip the mooring you will immediately start moving with the tide and so your route needs to be well planned to clear other boats moored nearby.
If the boat is not lying head to wind (most likely in a strong tide and opposing, light wind), first hoist the jib and then sail gently clear of the mooring under jib alone until you reach a clear space where you can turn into wind and hoist the mainsail.
When returning to a mooring, first try to assess how your boat will end up lying at the mooring by seeing how other, similar boats are lying. Then reverse the steps of the procedures (outlined alongside) for leaving moorings.
To summarize:
1. If the yacht
is wind-rode, leave or pick up moorings with both sails.
2.
If tide-rode, leave or return under
jib alone.
3. Finally, always plan
an escape route in case your first attempt fails.
The same principle applies to leaving or returning to a jetty, and coming alongside a moored boat, except that your choice of escape routes will be restricted by the jetty or boat itself.
Approaching
a Mooring
Wind and Tide together
1.
Assess direction of wind and tide
2.
Choose a close-hauled or close reach course to the buoy
3. Prepare the yachts mooring line,
leading it through the bow fairlead and stay ready with the boathook.
4. Let the jib fly.
5. Ease the mainsail to reduce
speed and steer so that the boat stops with the buoy on the windward
side of the bow.
6. Secure the mooring line.
7. Lower sails and de-rig the yacht.
Leaving
a Mooring
Wind and Tide together.
(See Above Diagram)
1. Assess
direction of wind and tide.
2. Prepare mooring line
for slipping
3. Hoist mainsail and jib.
4. Back the jib, slip the mooring
line and sail away.
