Mooring Etiquette : Questions

[downunder]

Originally Posted by kmacdonald

Whatever that means.

If you don't understand that it explains your anchoring issues.

[StuM]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

All hat,no cattle... comes to mind

As does "all mouth and trousers".

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by kmacdonald

Raft-ups are common practice in a lot of areas. They are necessary to get more boats in a smaller anchorage. If you open your eyes you will see one in the pictures posted above. Like I said before there are conditions that would make rafting-up ill advised. Sorry you missed it.

I'm not answering this because I think kmacdonald is going to pay attention to it, but to avoid having misinformation posted on this site to mislead newbies.

Rafted-up boats at anchor need MORE room, than boats swinging separately. This is done for social purposes only, and experienced sailors do not do this in a crowded anchorage. Many of us have had to explain this to charterers.

[kmacdonald]

Originally Posted by StuM

As does "all mouth and trousers".

Atta boy. Way to show your colors.

[kmacdonald]

Last time I checked 5 boats rafted together take up one swinging circle instead of 5. See, the math wasn't that hard.

[Uncle Bob]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

All hat,no cattle... comes to mind


Jim

Jim, this so describes some of our politicians .
BTW you guys definitely are Aussies, even if you don't have the passport!

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by kmacdonald

Last time I checked 5 boats rafted together take up one swinging circle instead of 5. See, the math wasn't that hard.

They swing differently and interfere with other boats. Besides that, much greater risk of dragging. That's why it's not done in crowded anchorages except by inexperienced charterers on flotilla holidays.

It's never done to "save space in a crowded anchorage". You just made that up.

We have to give you credit for creativity, however, I must say.

Sent from my D6633 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Peculiar.

[Dave_S]

I was told two things about dropping anchor in a crowd.
1. Cats anchor with cats. Mono's with mono's
2. Drop the anchor level with the back of the boat beside you.

Any other rules I should know?

[Pelagic]

Dockhead,....on the radar thread, their was a brief discussion of using Radar at anchor.

A technique, I use often when anchoring a Superyacht in crowded anchorages is to:

1. set anchor hard and Mark position when fully stretched out.

2. When settled down calculate how much closer I am to plotted 'Let Go' position.

Assuming no drag when anchoring, I then transfer that data to 2 offset VRM'S placed at anchor point to scribe out our full swing circle in stretched and prevailing conditions

This then shows with my much larger swing, whether there would be a conflicts if a small yacht arrives inside.

Usually we swing in synchronicity, but are more affected by tidal changes, so are more vigilant at those times.

[valhalla360]

1) You parked so close you felt the need to stand watch.
2) There was other space available.


That tells me you parked too close and you admit it.


Your son was right, you should have apologized and moved further away.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Pelagic

Dockhead,....on the radar thread, their was a brief discussion of using Radar at anchor.

A technique, I use often when anchoring a Superyacht in crowded anchorages is to:

1. set anchor hard and Mark position when fully stretched out.

2. When settled down calculate how much closer I am to plotted 'Let Go' position.

Assuming no drag when anchoring, I then transfer that data to 2 offset VRM'S placed at anchor point to scribe out our full swing circle in stretched and prevailing conditions

This then shows with my much larger swing, whether there would be a conflicts if a small yacht arrives inside.

Usually we swing in synchronicity, but are more affected by tidal changes, so are more vigilant at those times.

Ha, "great minds think alike". I do exactly the same thing, except I never thought of the second VRM. Now that you've given me the idea . . .

I don't spend much time in crowded anchorages anymore since I started heading North at the summer, but radar is a great tool in anchorages. Because you can't really judge distances that precisely by eye, but the radar gives you your precise distance to any given vessel or object.

We are not a superyacht, but often also do have this same problem with different swinging distances, so sometimes you have to have a really well thought out picture of how various boats are going to swing.

The tide is usually the dominant factor here, unless it is blowing quite hard, and that does help keep all the boats lined up.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Dave_S

I was told two things about dropping anchor in a crowd.
1. Cats anchor with cats. Mono's with mono's
2. Drop the anchor level with the back of the boat beside you.

Any other rules I should know?

That's a very good start

See post #92 to support your 2. The idea is that you want maximize the distance between the ANCHORS, to reduce the overlap of swinging circles as much as possible and minimize any conflict. The stern of the boat next to you should define the edge of his swinging circle. If you drop your anchor at the edge of his swinging circle, then you only overlap by about 50%. That is very good with almost zero risk of any conflict, even with boats of different types. If necessary, you can drop the anchor further ahead (see the diagram in post #88), but the more overlap, the more attention you have to pay to matching scope and boat type.

I would add:

3. Try to find out how much scope other boats have out (ask them), and match it as much as possible.

4. Be happy, don't worry. The main thing is to anchor well, just like you'd do if you were alone in the anchorage. In order to prevent any dragging. If you've done that, the rest of it is not so important. Boats colliding in anchorages is extremely rare. If you've made someone else nervous, just move. And try not to be nervous yourself -- have another G&T. As Jim said in his excellent post above, it's dragging which causes problems in anchorages, not swinging into each other.

[AiniA]

Originally Posted by TheThunderbird

My boat hives back&forth on hook, and i found the other boat to my port side, at a distance varying from 40' to 100+' beam to beam (as both boats moved under guts of wind, not in synchrony).

Perhaps you might consider a riding sail to reduce sailing at anchor.

I am part of the school that says you were too close. Your actions suggest that you knew this to be the case. As to the idea of rafting to get more boats into an area, we have been in many dozens of anchorages all over the world and have never seen this other than for socializing where the rafts break up before dark.

[kmacdonald]

Originally Posted by GordMay

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Peculiar.