Berthing under power Alongside


Berthing in any vessel short of a small ship relies in general upon the deployment of four lines. Depending on the length of dock available and the nature of the deck hardware, these may vary in detail. Note that the spring lines may be called by different names. The bow spring, for example, can be given the name ‘backspring’. Some authorities describe a backspring as leading aft from a midships cleat or bollard, while others say it leads forward from aft. The ‘fore spring / backspring’ nomenclature is far from the universal favourite among small craft sailors although some with a naval background may prefer it. Whichever term you adopt, make sure the crew is in no doubt what you mean. The terminology in general used by small-boat and yacht seamen is set out below: • Bow line — runs forward from near the bow to the dock. Its functions are to keep the boat alongside and to stop the boat moving aft.


• Stern line — leads aft from the stern, keeping the boat in and stopping her moving ahead.


• Bow spring — leads aft from the bow or ‘shoulder’ of the boat. Generally secured ashore somewhere abaft amidships, it serves to stop the boat surging ahead, helps to pin the bow in, and can also be used to help in manoeuvring.


• Stern spring — leads forward from the quarter, mirroring the bow spring.


This arrangement of lines allows full control of the boat whether alongside a pontoon in sheltered water or a tidal wall on a windy day.


Short docks


Where the length of available dock does not permit full- length bow and stern lines, ‘breast lines’ are used instead. The task of stopping the boat surging fore and aft is then taken by the springlines. The breasts serve merely to keep bow and stern in.


Bow line or bow breast


Bow line


Bow spring Bow spring


Stern spring


Stern spring


Stern line


Stern line or breast spring


64 | MANUAL OF SEAMANSHIP


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