Mediterranean Mooring

[DoubleWhisky]

Originally Posted by hoppy

That has been suggested to me although instead of a weight, use a bucket hanging off the fender.

We can always consult David Old Jersey on this, as a Chief Bucketeer here

[Andrew Troup]

Originally Posted by Palarran

What would the bucket do?

I'm glad Double Whiskey has spent so much time reviewing the aspects of these mooring techniques. I really need to work more on the stern to shore situations. Palarran takes up quite a bit of real estate which makes it hard to anchor in many bays. Plus, catamarans get back winded differently than monohulls so drifting together at night is a problem.

When you guys see these boats tucked into very small coves, do you ever worry about a wind shift and getting somewhat "trapped" in the cove? I'm talking about coves that are open and exposed to one side. Most of them have about 40 feet of space before your up against the rocks on the back of it. I just haven't gotten ballsy enough to commit.

It's less of a problem the shallower your draft, obviously, as you can tuck in deeper, and make best use of what shelter there is.

When a cove is exposed to one side, particularly if the opposite side does not have a good tree cover, I tend to use a two-anchor moor, with the best anchor in the exposed direction.

And I take what would normally be the stern quarter shoreline, on that side, forward to at least the chainplates so the boat can turn her bow up into it if it blows from the unsheltered quarter. Naturally the other end of that shoreline will be tied as close to the headland on that unsheltered side as possible, even if it means hammering in a spike, or contriving a deadman, to tie off to.

On the general topic of shallow draft: in some parts of the world where all the good spots are generally taken, it can make all the difference to be able to use bits of water too thin for the 'common herd'

[DoubleWhisky]

Originally Posted by Andrew Troup

It's less of a problem the shallower your draft, obviously, as you can tuck in deeper, and make best use of what shelter there is.

On the general topic of shallow draft: in some parts of the world where all the good spots are generally taken, it can make all the difference to be able to use bits of water too thin for the 'common herd'

It is very true
I think the forward looking sonar can be put to the best use in such a spots, to check bottom's profile and make things safer

[DoubleWhisky]

Originally Posted by weavis

Just love those guys, standing face to the stern while backing the boat into the slot....

[Nicholson58]

Thanks for the primmer.

My office mate ran the gun director on the USS Galveston

http://www.navsource.org/archives/04/1103/040103.htm He said they Med Moored it while in various Med ports.

MALTA in the photo. If they can do it, we can.

[El Pinguino]

Originally Posted by Palarran

When you guys see these boats tucked into very small coves, do you ever worry about a wind shift and getting somewhat "trapped" in the cove? I'm talking about coves that are open and exposed to one side. Most of them have about 40 feet of space before your up against the rocks on the back of it. I just haven't gotten ballsy enough to commit.

You just have to be very very sure where the wind is going to come from.

This notch is open from right ahead out to slightly abaft the port beam, I have on occasion sat here with white water 10 metres off the port side, and not a breath of wind over the deck as the wind always blows directly down the seno. 2 lines aft, a stbd bow line leading well ahead and 70 metres of chain in 20 metres of water off the port bow.
Its Puerto Angosto, where Slocum sat for a month or so on his second visit ( Chapt X in his book), one of the safest spots in Estrecho de Magallanes.

[Palarran]

Originally Posted by El Pinguino

You just have to be very very sure where the wind is going to come from.

That's of course the problem. Here is a picture of Korcula in Croatia. Here and in the Balearic Islands we had lots of opportunity to stay in small coves but couldn't be sure the winds wouldn't clock around. To me, if they did, that peaceful cove would quickly become a washing machine and retrieving your anchor could be an issue. I'd have no problem dropping it and retrieving it later but the danger factor just hasn't seemed worth it yet. But I do see boats in them all the time.

Has anyone been caught in a small cala in a wind shift situation?

[hoppy]

Originally Posted by Palarran

What would the bucket do?

acts as a sea anchor to stop the fender drifting. Everyone has a bucket on board

[hoppy]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

Never get irate folks, no matter who crosses who. The biggest issues are idiots that try and drive out pulling your anchor chain with then

Is it fair to get angry when they drop the anchor planning to moor to you port side, then when the attempt fail, they drift to your starboard and take the advantage to pull in there?

[Palarran]

Oops, here is the picture.

Hoppy, I still don't think a bucket will keep your fender in place. Definitely going to be something to practice to make perfect.

[hoppy]

Originally Posted by Palarran

Oops, here is the picture.

Hoppy, I still don't think a bucket will keep your fender in place. Definitely going to be something to practice to make perfect.

I was given this suggestion by a charter skipper/rya instructor I know.

I guess you need to be quick :-)

[DoubleWhisky]

Originally Posted by hoppy

I was given this suggestion by a charter skipper/rya instructor I know.

I guess you need to be quick :-)

You have a manoeuvrable boat, Hoppy
Good for You in such a situations

[DoubleWhisky]

Originally Posted by Palarran

Here is a picture of Korcula in Croatia. Here and in the Balearic Islands we had lots of opportunity to stay in small coves but couldn't be sure the winds wouldn't clock around. To me, if they did, that peaceful cove would quickly become a washing machine and retrieving your anchor could be an issue. I'd have no problem dropping it and retrieving it later but the danger factor just hasn't seemed worth it yet. But I do see boats in them all the time.

I do not know Croatia well enough to be sure how predictable the serious wind veering is there.
In Greece, with quite stable weather and cross-checked forecasts such tight coves are quite useful and, if chosen reasonable, rather safe in many places for overnighting

[DoubleWhisky]

Originally Posted by hoppy

Is it fair to get angry when they drop the anchor planning to moor to you port side, then when the attempt fail, they drift to your starboard and take the advantage to pull in there?

They are lot of things making me angry, and I think it is fair of me

I just do not want to make a spectacle of me for all those others waiting for it while sipping their frappe...

[weavis]

Originally Posted by DoubleWhisky

They are lot of things making me angry, and I think it is fair of me

I just do not want to make a spectacle of me for all those others waiting for it while sipping their frappe...

That is just so wrong.

Its a Latte.