Solo Mooring Tips

Picking up a floating mooring as a solo sailor or with a small crew can be challenging. I explain a technique to simplify the process and make it safe and stress-free, even when solo or shorthanded.

The Problem: 

Pick up a floating mooring Solo

Traditional floating mooring pickup methods can be difficult for solo sailors or require good communication and coordination with crew. Normally one person stands at the bow giving directions to the float as the captain slows down and motors upto the mooring. a crew then picks up the mooring with a boat hook. sometimes it works perfectly and at other times your crew are in tears screaming at you. If solo coordinating motoring upto the mooring moving forward and picking up the mooring in anything less than glassy conditions is a pain in the ass, often resulting in numerious attempts before picking up the mooring. If the mooring is heavy it can also be difficult for crew to secure it without injuring themself.

This can lead to frustration, damage, or even injury.

The Solution:

The technique I adopted from an old seadog and modified for a heavier cruising yacht, when operating solo.

This technique uses a rope, a stainless steel krab and sheet winch to assist in picking up the floating mooring, making it easier and safer.

It can be adapted for use on various boat types, including catamarans.

Benefits:

Reduces reliance on crew or coordination.

Simplifies mooring pickup in windy or choppy conditions.

Minimizes risk of injury or damage to equipment.

Equipment Needed:

• Mooring line twice the length of your boat

• Secure loop spliced at one end of the line (knots also work, figure-eight knot or bowline)

• Stainless steel or aluminum carabiner

• Sheet Winch

Steps:

1. Identify: Mooring you want, drop sails secure, turn on motor, Position yacht down wind of mooring and Approach slowly:

2. Approach: the mooring with the wind on your bow, Slow down pass the mooring and once mooring pass's midship, select neutral, then select reverse to stop your boat in the water slightly towards the mooring, then select neutral. 

3. Pick Up and Secure: Lean over the side of cockpit and use the boat hook to grab the mooring. Clip the carabiner onto the mooring. Secure the boat hook and move to the sheet winch.

4. Winch and Secure: Take in the rope,  take up slack and secure the mooring line around the sheet winch, tie the mooring line to a cleat or secure to winch once the mooring is at the bow or anchor roller.

The Mooring line from the float or the mooring float should now be located at your anchor roller or a fairlead. Move to the bow and secure your floating mooring to your vessel. I secure mine with a heavy line from a cleat off each side of the bow, or if its a long mooring line I'll bring it over the anchor roller and secure to a heavy deck cleat.

If the line or the mooring shackle looks dodgy I will try run a line through the mooring chain and back to the yacht. I will also try lift any small mooring float out of the water to stop it banging against the hull.

Additional Tips:

Practice this technique before attempting it in real-world situations.

Adapt the technique to your specific boat and mooring environment.

Communicate clearly with your crew, if present, about their roles.

Use caution in windy or choppy conditions.

Use your anchor alarm on unknow moorings, they can and do break or drag.

I once had a solid mooring line snap, I was at Jervis Bay, NSW, Australia. a place called the eye in the wall, the mooring looked great. I was on overnight in dead calm conditions. Then with very little warning a very violent storm of 40 knots swept thru the bay and now placed me on a lee shore. It created lot of wave action and as TinTin was riding the mooring and I was getting sorted to leave, the mooring snapped, a 50mm mooring rope parted under load. I was 200m off the beach in 4m of water. My engine started and I just managed to claw my yacht from the shallow water as my depth alarm screamed at me, it took 2 hour of tacking back and forth along a lee shore to create the the room to escape. My motor did not have enough thrust or drive to fight directly into 40knots, the wind and waves.  Never trust a mooring. 

Conclusion:

By using this technique and following these tips, you can pick up moorings confidently and safely, whether you're sailing solo or with a small crew. This can significantly improve your sailing experience and reduce stress associated with floating mooring maneuvers.

Remember, safety is always paramount. If you're unsure about any aspect of this technique, listen to my podcast as I go into more details or send me an email.