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17. 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 it 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.