Med Mooring - Stern to

Top tips to help you with your med mooring

Mediterranean mooring is usually stern-to the quay for ease of access ashore. But when unsure of the depth, going bows-to will keep your drives in deeper water. Alongside berthing is normally only available at fuel or waiting pontoons.

Stern lines are used to stay close to the quay or pontoon, whilst either the anchor or a line from the bow holds the boat away. A passerelle or wooden plank, carried by the boat, is used to go ashore.

You should talk to the marina or town quay to agree a berth, or chose a preferred spot, between other vessels is often better. You’ll also need to confirm how to secure the bow, either with lazy lines or anchor.

Here are a few top tips to help you with med mooring stern-to…

STERN-TO WITH LAZY LINES

Lazy lines

Lazy lines are used in busy harbours and marinas where multiple anchors would become fouled. Instead of the anchor holding the bow away, the bow is connected to a heavy bow line, which is pre-attached to a concrete block on the seabed. The bow line is also attached to a lighter ‘lazy line’, which is led to the quayside/pontoon. The lazy line is retrieved from the wall and led to the bow and the heavier line hauled in and tied off.

Preparation

Rig up fenders on either side and at the stern.
Rig two stern lines - they should be long enough to go ashore and come back to the boat.

The approach

Reverse towards the quay/pontoon.
Connect windward stern line to quay/pontoon first.
Pick up the lazy line, lead it to the bow and tie off.
Connect second stern line.
Adjust bow and stern lines.

To hold the boat in position once the windward stern-line is attached use small nudges ahead on the leeward engine. If you have a single engine boat, turn the wheel to windward and use ‘ahead’ to keep the bow up to wind.

Often the stern lines are eased and the bow line is re-tightened, then the stern lines are hauled in taught. A tight bow line reduces the chance of the stern bashing the quay or pontoon. Springs which are diagonal lines from either quarter to the quay can stop the stern moving sideways.

STERN-TO UNDER ANCHOR

In harbours with no lazy lines, you’ll need to drop your anchor.

Preparation

Rig up fenders on both sides and a large fender on the stern.
Rig a stern line from both quarters.
Prepare the anchor to drop, ensure that the chain is either flaked out on the deck or untangled in the chain locker so it will run freely.
If possiblelook at where the other vessels anchor chains are laid and don’t cross them with yours.

The approach

Reverse towards you intended berth, start from a good distance away to ensure the vessel is under control
About four boat lengths away from the quay drop the anchor and ease out chain, this needs to run out easily.
One boat length from the quay, stop easing the chain so that any kinks in the chain are removed and the anchor digs in. Be ready to ease out more chain if required.
Connect the windward stern line to shore, followed by the leeward stern line.
Once positioned the correct distance from the quay, take the strain up on the chain. To ensure the stern stays away from the quay/pontoon - often the stern lines are easedand the chain tightened, then the stern lines made taught again.

Crosswinds

In a crosswind it may be necessary to reverse into wind initially to get steerageway.
It is imperative that the chain runs out freely or there is potential it will snub the bow and alter or ruin your approach towards the berth.
When slightly upwind of the gap, drop the anchor and reverse into the space.
Ensure the leeward side is well fenderedin case you drift onto the downwind boat.

Onshore wind

If the wind is on the bow, treat the stern-to mooring as a normal anchoring exercise.

Drop the anchor four-boat lengths out
Gently reverse into the gap with the stern lines ready
One boat length away from the quay, snub the anchor so that it digs in
Connect the stern lines.

Recommended reading

All illustrations are from the RYA Boat Handling for Sail and Power eBook (E-G68). Gain a fuller understanding of boat handling in a wide variety of situations, the text combined with interactive illustrations make this eBook an essential tool to everyone who takes a boat out on the water.

For more information about RYA training courses and RYA books.