During our passage on the Lipari sailing catamaran, I had the opportunity to practice mooring. First, I learned how to secure fenders. These are buoy fenders that prevent the hull from scraping against the dock. They need to be tied using this knot:
This knot is convenient because it easily slides, allowing you to adjust the height of the fender relative to the hull, as dock heights can vary.
For stern mooring, we usually use lines with permanent attachments on the seabed:
To retrieve the mooring from the bottom, you need to hook a rope connected to it and covered with a layer of mud onto the dock, and then pull it along the side of the boat until the mooring appears.
The sequence of actions depends entirely on the wind direction. If the wind is blowing from the dock, it is logical to first secure the stern, and then tighten the mooring lines. If the wind is blowing towards the dock, you should set the stern lines and prevent the boat from hitting the dock with the engines, secure the mooring lines, and then tighten the stern lines. In this case, the boat should not come too close to the shore.
Except when stopping for a 10-minute refueling, where it is possible to moor more tightly.
When the wind is coming from the side, it is the most challenging situation because it cannot be simply compensated for by the engines. In this case, you can sometimes lean against a neighboring boat and immediately tighten the opposite stern line and mooring. Much depends on the situation and the number of helpers on board. If it is possible to perform all actions quickly and simultaneously from all four corners, it follows one tactic, but if there are only two people on board, one of whom is at the helm, then another tactic is used.
Steering on a catamaran during mooring is done only with the engines, and the rudder must be fixed in the neutral position. You can turn around, rotate in place by engaging one engine forward and the other in reverse. You can also make slight adjustments by varying the engine speeds. For example, when moving forward, giving more throttle to the right engine will cause the catamaran to turn to the left. If you need to approach the dock and position the boat with the starboard side, you can initiate a rotation by briefly engaging the left engine in reverse and leaving the right engine in neutral. The catamaran will turn towards the dock and continue to move sideways due to inertia for a few more meters. Of course, all maneuvers are done smoothly and at very low speeds.
After mooring, it is common to set up diagonal springs — these are long ropes usually stretched diagonally or led to distant cleats. The short ends are slackened. The springs, due to their length, act as springs and thus soften jerks caused by waves or gusts of wind.
In general, it is customary for yachtsmen to help their neighbors during mooring, especially in difficult conditions. This is also an opportunity to chat and share information about your route, where you came from, and where you are headed.