Lester Evans wrote:
Going out single this weekend. Not worried about leaving and sailing
etc .. it is the coming back in that has me in butterflies.


I was disappointed in most of the suggestions here. Oce you
get the hang of it, no butteflies.

This is a 30' sailboat. Not huge, but not small.

How do you approach a mooring for pick up? The boat has a full keel
so she is heavy. The mooring is in a tight area. I want to do a one
time pick up .. no going around and trying again.


This is not a good set-up, but it's a bit late to convince
you to get a different boat or move to a less-crowded
geographic region


My thought.. get the boat going in the right direction. Once I am
getting close, put her in neutral. Try some coasting. See if I can
coast up to the mooring, leaving the mooring ball on the starboard
side ( this way, if I must go on I can turn to the port which is
where the escape route is,, the deep water ).


An important part of making this maneuver a success is to
*know* what you're minimum steerage way is, and which way
prop walk will put the bow. Practice the basic maeuver in
open water, near something with will serve as a reference
point (a channel marker or such). Develop confidence that
you can put the boat right were you want it, then the close
quarters will not seem so tight.


Anyway,,, I will have my mooring pick up stick at the ready. Once I
grab the line, get the line on deck and cleated..


Here is where I saw a total lack of useful suggestions.

Proper preparation prevents ****-poor performance!

Why fumble about trying to scoop up your mooring with a boat
hook? Why not put the mooring line on a vertical pole...
like a man-overboard pole only with the mooring line
attached? That would be quick & certain.

Needless to say, some attention to the deck layout is in
order. The first step in such a maneuver, which almost
everybody skips including myself half the time, is to CLEAR
THE DECKS FOR ACTION (just like in the Hornblower novels).
Get all the loose irreleveant "stuff" out of the way, and
you don't have to worry about tripping over it.

One thing I used to do when singlehanding a very
inappropriate boat was to stop while out in open water,
clear the decks, and lay out the lines. To pick up a
mooring, I might take a line from the bow cleat, outboard of
all, and put it aft where I could reach it easily from the
helm. Then all I need to do is scoop up the mooring, make it
fast to the line from forward, bump it into reverse for a
moment to back clear, and we're secure. I can get the
mooring line shortened up & secure later.


I thought that I might ask for help if there is a friendly boater
around.

That's a great idea. Prefereably somebody who can bring
along some lunch.


Stephen Trapani wrote:
I suggest putting it in neutral far from the buoy and practice coming to
a stop a few times on your actual approach line, keeping the boat in
control. If it starts to drift, engage forward and keep it straight (you
didn't mention if there was a current but if there is, go against it).

This is a great way to gauge your drift & set, as you
approach. A necessary part of successful mooring or docking
when there is wind and/or current.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King