BOAT HANDLING
If the buoy has a
pendant, we would
normally use a
boathook.
Keep the gaff
of the boathook
towards you.
P
reparation is vital, because we bow and the other end to the cleat on the
want to attach ourselves to the starboard bow. Now we can lasso from
buoy as soon as we arrive. If either side. Pic 4
the mooring has a pendant or The key to picking up a buoy under sail
pick-up line with a buoy, we is to be able to stop. The tide will be our
would normally use a boathook. brake. If the speed of the tide is 1kn, we
If the mooring buoy simply has an iron want to be sailing just a little faster than
ring on top, lassoing it would be the that at, say, 1.5kn. That means we’ll be
simpler option. making half a knot over the ground. Also,
In order to lasso it, take a long rope, we need to know that we can de-power
wet it and attach one end to a cleat on the sail so the tide can stop us and we
the boat. don’t overrun the mooring.
Coil the rope, split the coils evenly and With the wind forward of the beam
make sure you have just a short length of we can approach under mainsail and with
rope connecting them. Pic 1 the wind on or abaft the beam we use the
Then, making sure that you keep a grip headsail. We shall be heading directly
on the running end, throw the coils out as into the tide, but where will the wind be
though you were throwing quoits. Pic 2 coming from?
Throw the coils wide so they encircle If it’s on the shoulder as we point
your target. If you’re lassoing a buoy directly into the tide we may be able to
from a boat, you don’t want to be too close reach directly to the buoy under
close, so lasso it when you’re a good 5ft main. If it’s on our quarter we may be
away. Pic 3 able to head directly there under headsail.
If you’re too close or on top of the Fig a If the wind is coming from any
buoy, the lasso may well come off when other angle we’ll be sailing across the
you pull it in. To avoid throwing the tide and will have to anticipate its effect.
running end into the drink along with the The wind angle in relation to the tide will
rest of the rope, it’s a good idea to attach dictate which tack you’ll be on, but if it’s
it to a cleat as well. When lassoing a a busy day out on the water and you’re
1
mooring buoy from the bow, attach one on starboard, so much the better.
end of the rope to the cleat on the port Here, the angle of approach is key. >>
SKIPPER SKILLS SKIPPER SKILLS SKIPPER SKILLS SKIPPER SKILLS SKIPPER
Something on
WIND
the shore
ANGLE
Bow
2
3 4
in irons - too close to the wind
Ahead Shoulder Shoulder
40° off the bow
Buoy
Beam Beam
Amidships
80° off the bow Abaft
Quarter Quarter
a
Stern
TIDE
Buoy
Pic 2. A coil the buoy from a
Keep the buoy between the pulpit
and the 1st stanchion and line this
in either hand about 5ft away.
up with something on the shore
ready to throw.
TIDE
Pic 4. Job done
Pic 3. Looping and the boat
Ferry Gliding
the line around safely attached.
July 09 Sailing TWINDoday 103
ST147 Handling_RTG.indd 103 13/5/09 12:50:03
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