How to squeeze a yacht into a tight marina berth

James Stevens considers an issue despatched in by a Yachting Month-to-month reader who asks squeeze a yacht into a decent berth?

Jane is on a cruising vacation on board Storm Petrel, her 10m yacht. The boat has an extended fin keel and skeg. When participating astern there’s a robust prop kick to starboard however as soon as the yacht is transferring astern it’s moderately straightforward to deal with.

Jane has been the proprietor for 5 years. She has two crew who’re each fairly skilled. She is approaching a marina the place she has been allotted an in a single day berth A2, port facet to if bow in. The marina is full apart from her berth.

To achieve A2 she has to cross between pontoons A and B nearly to the landward finish after which flip into the berth. The wind is about 13 knots and is blowing diagonally down between the pontoons. This implies
if she enters between the pontoons forward it is going to be on her starboard quarter. It additionally means the wind is blowing off berth A2. There is no such thing as a tidal stream.

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Berthed in A1, which is simply to leeward of A2 and in the identical field, are two fragile- trying clinker day boats which might simply be broken if Storm Petrel, at 7 tonnes, comes alongside in a following wind.

The marina, which was constructed within the days of smaller yachts however is now populated by bigger vessels, has solely a few boat-length of house between the rows. Jane appears to be like anxiously on the berth.

Is it doable with out shoreside help and in that case how will she handle it?

Marina diagram

How one can squeeze a yacht into a decent berth

Sure it’s doable, but it surely requires information of the boat and a few very correct boat dealing with.

First it might be wise to have fenders and warps on each side and a roving fender prepared. Finally the yacht will enter the berth port facet to, so the crew should be ready to step ashore rapidly and safe the traces earlier than the wind blows them down on to the dayboats. Jane ought to enter the hole between A and B pontoons astern.

It will be simpler to have interaction astern far from the pontoons to beat the prop kick and acquire full steering. If house may be very restricted earlier than going astern Jane ought to make a starboard flip and, whereas turning, interact astern which can straighten the boat on to the unique heading.

As soon as between the boats carry on the upwind facet in direction of B pontoon. Jane must cease the boat with the strict very near the cross pontoon on the finish and solely a few metres from the yacht on B1.

Utilizing very cautious throttle management she wants to carry the yacht in that place and let the wind blow the bow to starboard till Storm Petrel is pointing at A2 then motor in and safe rapidly.

If there are marina workers out there, it would then be doable to motor forward between the pontoons and safe the traces because the yacht turns into the berth earlier than the wind catches the strict. It will nonetheless require cautious boat dealing with.


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