When tying up to cleats either on the pontoon or on board try front is forced outwards. When sufficient outwards angle has
to use the RYA’s recommended method of round turn, figure been reached, the helm applies forward gear and the crew is
of eight, round turn. Locking turns are not necessary. Locking instructed to get the spring line on board, with luck we can
turns can jam under high loads and can become impossible now clear the berth and get underway. The same technique
to cast off. This will cause real problems, usually at difficult can be used to force out the stern, if required, by placing the
times. Remember the number 0800 it will help you remember spring rope on the bow, and motoring forward until casting
the cleating off procedure. Personally I prefer my dock lines off. Make sure the boat is adequately fendered at the point
to be tied on with a round turn and a bowline on the dock, of contact with the berth as considerable pressure is exerted
with the long end onboard. This enables me to adjust the as the boat is sprung off. With a wind pressing the boat on
lines from onboard at any time. It also makes it harder for remember that once you have cast off, the front will attempt
unhelpful people to cast off the lines for fun or devilment. to blow downwind. How will that effect your exit plans?
Also it saves congestion on the cleat for neighbouring boats.
0800 – the preferred method for securing a rope on a cleat Stopping knots – almost impossible to release under load
Bow and stern lines should be made off to the outer hull Locks: Entering locks in a multihull can be a rather nerve
where possible to avoid snatch. It also allows the boat to racking experience.
travel up and down on any tide without hanging up on the
dock. Rule No 1. Make sure the lock you are attempting is
actually wide enough for your boat.
Using long lines for springs will also help with tidal rise and Rule No 2. Never enter or leave the lock until any water
fall. disturbance has dissipated.
Rule No 3. On entry always tie on the stern line first.
Before we leave the berth we will need to “single up the Rule No 4. Never make a line fast to a cleat without
lines”. This process involves untying all but two of the someone monitoring it.
dock lines and leaving just the fore and aft lines attached, Rule No 5. Absolutely no locking turns allowed
preferably to the inner hulls. These lines will be passed on cleats.
around the mooring cleats on the berth and taken back
to the boat with the short end ready for instant release.
Occasionally it might be preferable when singling up to leave
just a midships or breast line ready for casting off. All being
well we can then cast off easily when ready to leave.
We might be lucky and have a wind to help blow us off. With
a little current fore and aft it might be easy to gently motor on
the current and ease out from the berth. However, if we have
a wind pinning us on the berth or need to angle outwards
to miss other boats we could make use of a rope spring to
assist us in pointing either the front or back outwards.
To force out the front we will need to attach a rope to the
stern cleat and take it to a point amidships on the pontoon,
loop it around a cleat and take it back to the boats stern
cleat with a half turn around then to the hands of the crew
who holds it. When ready all other ropes are cast off. The
helmsman motors the boat backwards, or tries to, as it can
A spring line prepared so that when the boat drives astern the
not go backwards because of the attached spring rope the
bow will be pulled out and clear of the boat moored in front.
20  MULTIHULL REVIEW : MARCH 2009JULY 2009
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