10. Picking up a mooring buoy
Ensure the dinghy painter is tied off short on the bow or amidships and is
clear of the prop.
Approach the mooring buoy, keeping the bow into the wind or current,
whichever prevails.
Have a crew member on the bow to pick up the mooring pennant with the
boat hook.
The bowman will direct the helmsman to the mooring, using the already
established non verbal communication system. Once at the mooring,
inspect the buoy and pennant for any signs of wear and tear; if you are
unsure about a mooring buoy’s integrity, choose another location to moor
up.
The bowman should ready a line to a bow cleat to slip through the eye of
the mooring pennant. This line is then shortened and brought back to the
same cleat.
Once set your mooring buoy will be attached either on the port or
starboard cleat and the yacht will be head to wind. Remember to
centralize the wheel and lock in place to avoid the yacht sailing around
the buoy.
Next attach a second back up line to the mooring. Attach a line from the
opposite bow cleat and if possible attach it directly to the mooring buoy.
It is always easier to do this from the dinghy. Do not try to make the lines
of equal length, the first line should be taking all the weight of the boat.
To depart, release the back up line first. Slowly motor the boat forward
to create slack, release the line from the cleat and allow the pennant to
slip from the line into the water. Fall back with the wind or current, and
be careful not to foul your prop on the pennant.
Remember to tie your dinghy away from the stern whenever you
are maneuvering in close quarters.
