Mediterranean Mooring

[Andrew Troup]

I would like to think I would find more a lot more satisfaction from pulling off a shorthanded Med moor under difficult circumstances with nobody watching,

than to do the same thing perfectly, with an audience, with the difficulties reduced (by specialised technology aids) to a level I could have coped with at age eight.

I speak as someone who worked for a period on perfecting hardware for enhancing the user interface of Dynamic Positioning for large workboats. And had a lot of fun in the process.

I guess what I'm wondering: is the glow which comes from demonstrating one's hard-won purchasing power comparable with the glow from discovering a hitherto unperceived vein of (equally hard-won) adaptability and resourcefulness?

I'm not pretending there is no glow, in the first scenario, my question relates to quantity and quality.

I'm trying to remember a brilliant riff which seems to me applicable, about the perils of specialisation, but so far without success. It was by one of the great writers of SF.

[DoubleWhisky]

Originally Posted by Andrew Troup

I would like to think I would find more a lot more satisfaction from pulling off a shorthanded Med moor under difficult circumstances with nobody watching, than to do the same thing perfectly, with an audience, with the difficulties reduced (by specialised technology aids) to a level I could have coped with at age eight.

I speak as someone who worked for a period on perfecting hardware for enhancing the user interface of Dynamic Positioning for large workboats. And had a lot of fun in the process.

I guess what I'm wondering: is the glow which comes from demonstrating one's hard-won purchasing power comparable with the glow from discovering a hitherto unperceived vein of (equally hard-won) adaptability and resourcefulness?

I'm not pretending there is no glow, in the first scenario, my question relates to quantity and quality.

I'm trying to remember a brilliant riff which seems to me applicable, about the perils of specialisation, but so far without success. It was by one of the great writers of SF.

Andrew, You became a lttle philosophical here, but I can only agree with You. Knowing own boat well, knowing how to handle her properly are the basics of sailing enjoyment, and no proud of ownership of fancy piece of equipement can replace them

On the other hand weavis' post was regarding the unfair pleasures of Statler and Waldorf watching the misfortunes of other boaters

It is a little strange for me how many people around do not use their own senses (and instruments) for assesing the situation. Instead they look to others, assuming thet well executed manouever of other boat does indicate benign and undemanding conditions. It seems they do not take into account the possibility that another boat is just sailed perfectly, or simply is equipped with all those "magic wonders" more and more popular today. They are measuring others by own abilities and standards. It remains me my colleague sailing Southerly boat. Once upon a time he crossed some shallows with the keel up. When he realized Jeanneau 53 is following him quite closely, he tried to communicate on VHF, but it was too late and sparkling new Jeanneau got badly damaged on the rocky bottom...

Anyway, some auxiliary equipement is really useful
Simple tunnel bow thruster - at least at larger boats add to comfort and safety in tight quarters. Especially when the given boat is directionally unstable when backing - very often it is a case, now even more, with twin rudders becoming common designer choice.
Bow thruster has also the merit of being "additional crewman".
Med mooring is typically three hand task, but with remote control for anchor winch and with bow thruster taking much of workload off the helmsman executing it two handed is easy even on rather large boat.

Of course - it can fail, and one is back to basics - shorthanded

[hoppy]

Originally Posted by Andrew Troup

I would like to think I would find more a lot more satisfaction from pulling off a shorthanded Med moor under difficult circumstances with nobody watching,

than to do the same thing perfectly, with an audience, with the difficulties reduced (by specialised technology aids) to a level I could have coped with at age eight.

I speak as someone who worked for a period on perfecting hardware for enhancing the user interface of Dynamic Positioning for large workboats. And had a lot of fun in the process.

I guess what I'm wondering: is the glow which comes from demonstrating one's hard-won purchasing power comparable with the glow from discovering a hitherto unperceived vein of (equally hard-won) adaptability and resourcefulness?

I'm not pretending there is no glow, in the first scenario, my question relates to quantity and quality.

I'm trying to remember a brilliant riff which seems to me applicable, about the perils of specialisation, but so far without success. It was by one of the great writers of SF.

Or you do it solo with an audience in F6 (admittedly coming from the dock), time and position the anchor release nicely, split the gap between the boats perfectly, handle the mooring lines without fuss (but help from the new neighbours) and then when they complement you on a well done solo effort, you tell them it was your first solo med moor attempt.

Shorthanded with no pressure from an audience is a piece of cake

[weavis]

Originally Posted by hoppy

Or you do it solo with an audience in F6 (admittedly coming from the dock), time and position the anchor release nicely, split the gap between the boats perfectly, handle the mooring lines without fuss (but help from the new neighbours) and then when they complement you on a well done solo effort, you tell them it was your first solo med moor attempt.

Shorthanded with no pressure from an audience is a piece of cake

If I havent been on a vessel for a while, and Im suddenly faced with piloting a vessel Ive never been on with twin engines........ the results can be varied in less than perfect conditions.

• Ive seen me make a right cods dinner of side mooring with counter rotating props.
• Ive seen me unable to move away from a side mounted dock with wind blowing on it with same rotating props.
• Ive seen me mess up turning the way I want to go with twin engines in wind and having a brain fart in the middle unable to think what to do.
• Ive seen me unable to steer a vessel in reverse with a single prop drive in wind over water.
• The best was twin outboards when the throttle cable snapped on one, so I was stuck with a fast engine on permanently during a marina exit. I could not get to the engine OR switch it off from where I was AND it was steered by the rudder not pivoting engine. (A friends boat in the 'experimentation' stage.) I was not popular at the yacht club for a long time, and I still maintain that the claim for hull scratches on the club secretaries yacht was bogus....... I saw it there the day before!

All of these problems are amplified in the Med. And with an audience.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by hoppy

Or you do it solo with an audience in F6 (admittedly coming from the dock), time and position the anchor release nicely, split the gap between the boats perfectly, handle the mooring lines without fuss (but help from the new neighbours) and then when they complement you on a well done solo effort, you tell them it was your first solo med moor attempt.



Shorthanded with no pressure from an audience is a piece of cake

There's a smell of male cow poo. Yep first time solo med moor no cock up. Sure. I'd like to hear about the 2nd time lol.

Dave

[weavis]

This is superb.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kw2r3Of0miE

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by weavis

If I havent been on a vessel for a while, and Im suddenly faced with piloting a vessel Ive never been on with twin engines........ the results can be varied in less than perfect conditions.

• Ive seen me make a right cods dinner of side mooring with counter rotating props.
• Ive seen me unable to move away from a side mounted dock with wind blowing on it with same rotating props.
• Ive seen me mess up turning the way I want to go with twin engines in wind and having a brain fart in the middle unable to think what to do.
• Ive seen me unable to steer a vessel in reverse with a single prop drive in wind over water.
• The best was twin outboards when the throttle cable snapped on one, so I was stuck with a fast engine on permanently during a marina exit. I could not get to the engine OR switch it off from where I was AND it was steered by the rudder not pivoting engine. (A friends boat in the 'experimentation' stage.) I was not popular at the yacht club for a long time, and I still maintain that the claim for hull scratches on the club secretaries yacht was bogus....... I saw it there the day before!

All of these problems are amplified in the Med. And with an audience.

Twin engines are not all there are cracked up to be.

Dave

[hoppy]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

There's a smell of male cow poo. Yep first time solo med moor no cock up. Sure. I'd like to hear about the 2nd time lol.

Dave

The worst was my 2nd last attempt...

I was dropping the anchor using the wireless remote slotting in between a larger cat and smaller mono with a gusty cross breeze. It worked well until I went up on deck to realise that I had dropped very little chain (remote terribly unreliable it seemed). It was a bit noisy with the wind and I was concerntrating on getting in and did not notice the windlass was cutting in and out.

It was a town key where 2 locals ran it like a marina and one of them joined me for the 2nd attempt and worked the windlass. this time We dropped the anchor a little too early and came up short 3rd attempt was fine.

After that I bought a cable that would allow me to mount a windlass remote at the helm. I wired it up to the windlass and for now just run it through the cabin. My next solo attempt went smoothly.

I could reposition the receiver unit for the wireless so that I get better reception at the helm, but it's a but fat and rounded and the normal wired remote makes it easier to steer and push the down button with one hand. So I will stick with the wired setup.

I have added an extra 30m of chain so coming up short will not be a problem. I am a little concerned that the extra chain in the locker will mean I need to attend to the chain sooner before it stacks up and jams when coming out. In the past I could get out beyond the other boats before I need to start with my chain stick.

I think that med mooring when dropping an anchor and backing into a town quay with someone on the dock to take the lines is "easy" in all but the most extreme conditions, I see no reason to fear it.

[weavis]

Originally Posted by hoppy

I see no reason to fear it.

Save time........... just fear it.

[DoubleWhisky]

Originally Posted by hoppy

The worst was my 2nd last attempt...

I was dropping the anchor using the wireless remote slotting in between a larger cat and smaller mono with a gusty cross breeze. It worked well until I went up on deck to realise that I had dropped very little chain (remote terribly unreliable it seemed). It was a bit noisy with the wind and I was concerntrating on getting in and did not notice the windlass was cutting in and out.

It was a town key where 2 locals ran it like a marina and one of them joined me for the 2nd attempt and worked the windlass. this time We dropped the anchor a little too early and came up short 3rd attempt was fine.

After that I bought a cable that would allow me to mount a windlass remote at the helm. I wired it up to the windlass and for now just run it through the cabin. My next solo attempt went smoothly.

I could reposition the receiver unit for the wireless so that I get better reception at the helm, but it's a but fat and rounded and the normal wired remote makes it easier to steer and push the down button with one hand. So I will stick with the wired setup.

I have added an extra 30m of chain so coming up short will not be a problem. I am a little concerned that the extra chain in the locker will mean I need to attend to the chain sooner before it stacks up and jams when coming out. In the past I could get out beyond the other boats before I need to start with my chain stick.

I think that med mooring when dropping an anchor and backing into a town quay with someone on the dock to take the lines is "easy" in all but the most extreme conditions, I see no reason to fear it.

What brand of windlass do You have?
Mine is Lofrans, and it has wired remote with chain meter at each of helm stations. Quite convenient solution.

[DoubleWhisky]

Originally Posted by hoppy

It was a town key where 2 locals ran it like a marina and one of them joined me for the 2nd attempt and worked the windlass.

Was it in Lipsi may be?

[DoubleWhisky]

Originally Posted by hoppy

We dropped the anchor a little too early and came up short
I have added an extra 30m of chain so coming up short will not be a problem.

Just curious - how long was Your chain before adding 30 meters?
And - how did You connect the parts of chain?

[Andrew Troup]

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy an audience as much as anyone, provided I happen to have done something worth being proud of.

Audiences can be unreliable, though.

I remember sailing into a particularly difficult jetty, in a notoriously fluky bay, in one of the Marlborough Sounds, which themselves are a venue where even keen sailors on big boats rarely get the sails up.

We were on our 20' junior offshore yacht, nimble and surefooted (and we weren't too bad either, after three weeks of solid sailing in sometimes testing conditions)

Despite getting alternately half-flattened and repeatedly put about while sailing a straight heading, we made a textbook landing without resort to the engine, at the jetty by the store, where the owner had rushed out to take a line.

He congratulated us in glowing terms, saying our final manoeuvre was perfectly judged, especially considering he'd never seen anyone make it all the way to his wharf under sail in thirty years etc...

Which was all very gratifying, but he somewhat took the gloss off our glow a couple of years later when we repeated the feat and got the same reception.

In every detail ....

[weavis]

Originally Posted by Andrew Troup

He congratulated us in glowing terms, saying our final manoeuvre was perfectly judged, especially considering he'd never seen anyone make it all the way to his wharf under sail in thirty years etc...

Which was all very gratifying, but he somewhat took the gloss off our glow a couple of years later when we repeated the feat and got the same reception.

In every detail ....

Ah yes........ but for 2 years you were happy.....

[DoubleWhisky]

Originally Posted by Andrew Troup

Despite getting alternately half-flattened and repeatedly put about while sailing a straight heading, we made a textbook landing without resort to the engine, at the jetty by the store, where the owner had rushed out to take a line.

He congratulated us in glowing terms, saying our final manoeuvre was perfectly judged, especially considering he'd never seen anyone make it all the way to his wharf under sail in thirty years etc...

Which was all very gratifying, but he somewhat took the gloss off our glow a couple of years later when we repeated the feat and got the same reception.

In every detail ....

Surely the store owner knew a thing or two about marketing