How to Pick up a Mooring over the Stern Singlehanded

Sharpen Up: Episode 9 - How to Pick up a Mooring over the Stern Singlehanded follows up my previous video on this, and gives the full explanation and example, done by one David, his first time attempting this.
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Main camera: GoPro HERO 9 - courtesy of Adriatic Hero / Comtrade Distribution
Filmed and Edited by Nick Hathaway, 45 Degrees Sailing

[@maddogmaz1576]

I like that you showed some mistakes that can happen. I think showing the mistakes is just as valuable as showing what's right. You can't fix wrong if you don't know what wrong is.

[@45DegreesSailing]

Totally agree. No one does it perfect every time. Mistakes are how we learn.

[@eriksmith1419]

Thank you for the video, you do a tremendous job explaining why things are done and in the end it all makes sense! For example, making the bowline with a large loop so it’s easier to get to when you need to untie it. I look forward to the next video.

[@45DegreesSailing]

Thanks Erik. Glad it was helpful. Will keep working on more content!

[@jeanmarcfranchi2086]

Great demonstration as always !!!!

[@45DegreesSailing]

Thank you sir. This would be a good one for you two for sure :)

[@davidmesser8401]

I accidentally found your videos and you are really good at teaching sailing . Well done

[@micokastela]

Great work team! Well, David...

[@45DegreesSailing]

Indeed! When will the great Michael Freer be doing his next 'manning a yacht'?

[@paulrutt7525]

Great video, thanks Nick

[@45DegreesSailing]

Cheers Paul

[@mennovanrij9334]

My wife and I sailed near Zadar earlier this month with a brand-new rental Bavaria. All mooring fields we used in the evening & for the night, have buoys that are only safe with the boat line is attached under the buoy (the type that's mentioned in the comments below). The 'reversing trick' shown here didn't work in our case because the (mooring) lines on the boat were too short - a little less than the boat's length. There was a 50m long line to the ship, but that 'pile' of rope isn't making it more manageable! We're a little older than most people we saw on boats, so we took it easy: one line through the top ring for a while. The, bring the dinghy into the water and use that to secure two lines from the bow to the buoy, using your 'bowline trick' as well! More work? Yes. But we took our time and everything went super smooth. Others we've seen try to hoist the buoy from the water with the hook and then another member struggled to get the line under the buoy. That was not a good idea, we've even seen people fall overboard when trying to reach the underside of the buoy. I have 55+ years of sailing experience and I've never seen so many potentially dangerous moves on boats around us! Finally, can you make a video of a type of mooring field we encountered: the buoys were close together and there was a lazy line from the shore (rocks) to the buoy. We needed to use the mooring line and then pick up the lazy line that had to be attached to the stern cleat, thus 'lining up' the boat with the others that were parked there.

[@45DegreesSailing]

Thank you so much for this comment, I have been so slow to respond as I have wanted to give it proper time! Also it has been on my list to film this video you mentioned and I got some footage for it this week so coming soon! As you said it can be a really dangerous and or stressful situation so well for taking your time. I am so glad the video was helpful. This issue of not having the suitable line available is annoying, especially on charter boats you never really know what you are going to get or what condition it may be in. And yes the 'pile' or tangle of 50m of line could be more a hinderance than a help! Thanks for watching, keep an eye out for coming videos regarding the mooring field you explained and also the types of mooring bouys here in Croatia. Cheers!

[@c0ntag10n]

Great channel! I don't have a boat and I've never sailed but this is very interesting to watch nonetheless

[@45DegreesSailing]

Well thank you! Glad you enjoyed it. Remember to subscribe for more interesting if not useful videos

[@deborahdoyle6743]

Good demonstration.

[@florianbreger1819]

Great Job

[@45DegreesSailing]

Hvala Florian.

[@bmpowellicio]

I like this. I admit I've never thought of reversing up to a buoy. My normal method is to motor towards the buoy but with a very high and wide bow I cannot see the target, and my crew can't reach it anyway. We sometimes let the buoy run down the side of the boat and catch it as it floats past, and with a long line from the bow, we can loop over the buoy or get the line through the ring and let wind and tide do the rest. But reversing up looks much better and worth the try with the usual caveat that standing on the stern gets you close to the propellers and that has great danger. BTW, in Sweden its common to moor bow on to a rock with an anchor deployed off the stern so that the rudder of the boar remains in deep water. The bow is tied to a tree or metal spike driven in to the ground. There is practically no tide so boats can stay like this for a day or two without problem. Its the reverse of the Med-mooring, and is the reason why many boats in Sweden have an anchor with line permanently attached to the stern and a walk-though pulpit. You might try it yourself one day if you want a new challenge!!

[@45DegreesSailing]

Thanks for the feedback! Yes the propellers of course a danger, this is why we approach slowly and in control so there is less chance of such an event. Also with less speed there is no need to 'stop' suddenly using fwd thrust. I would indeed love to try it! I have just been theorising how I could do it without a stern mounted anchor .. could be silly but good fun haha. If I had my own kitted out yacht I would have a stern mounted anchor and windlass for secondary anyway. So I like this :)

[@ratusbagus]

I used to do this by tying a stern to bow bridal. We'd get that through the ring and reverse past the buoy keeping to it's leeward side. When the buoy was forward of midships, release the aft end of the bridal and take it forward around the outside of everything including the bow and make off to form a bow bridal. All was well on monos but It went wrong the second time we tried it on a catamaran though. It was windy and we ended up not being able to get the bouy forward of midway. So on monos, I aim to try adding a 2nd line. Threaded at the same time as the beam bridal goes through the buoy ring and then use that to drag the bouy forward, along a now shorter and tighter beam bridal. Then when the stern end is moved forward you will have two looped lines up there, for your comfort and convenience, to tie off as you see fit. Each to it's own cleat or as two doubled up bridals to each bow cleat. No fiddling with boathook and threading from the bow. Shall i expect to see a further sharpen up video then? 👌 What do you think?

[@2299jsimon]

Thank you for the instruction...

[@45DegreesSailing]

You are welcome!

[@warrenthorp]

I’m really getting a lot out of your boat handling videos mate. 👍

[@45DegreesSailing]

Good to hear Warren!

[@jonnydotnet]

Hi Nick, Thanks for a very informative channel - duly subscribed! We are a couple just starting out and have a Broadblue 346 catamaran. We have tried lassoing from the front with some success but am keen to try this technique out as we have a permanent swim platform at the stern with good access. The places we moor are very tidal so I guess we would need to reverse into the tide rather than the wind when it is running fast? Also a quick question if I may; The last time we moored the tide was running at 90 deg to a strong wind. Even with a longish bridle, the boat swung around in complete circles and was constantly trying to "sail" off as the wind gusted. Eventually I got so concerned I decided to leave. Any tips on how we could make the boat more stable under those conditions?

[@45DegreesSailing]

Hey Jonny. Thanks for the comments and the sub!

[@ljukmr]

Hi Nick, very good demonstration. I am a fan of reversing to buoy, but I have one comment and would like to hear your thoughts on it. When tying to a buoy the instruction is never to use top loop for that. Top loop is intended to catch it and never for putting a rope trough it. Every time the below loop should be used. Of course this is much harder, as they are usually smaller and full of marine growth, but then connection is directly to a chain. Yes, they are some buoys that allow the top loop to be used as they have a chain trough, but most of them in Croatia are not like so. Can you please comment on that as well. Thank you so much!

[@45DegreesSailing]

Hi Luka. Thanks for the comment. There is merit in what you are saying, this particular design we hooked up to here is designed with a steel rod through the bouy affixed to the shackle you are referring to underneath. So it is strong and safe to hook up to. My best practice is to have one through the top loop, and the second through the underside to mitigate anything that could go wrong or a defect in any part of the system. Some in Croatia and many other places have a ring at the top which is only affixed to the rubber of the bouy and definitely not to be attached to! These ones, if set up correctly should a section of rope attached that you can thread your line through OR attach directly to the yacht - such as the mooring field at Luka Vis.

[@philwinner1806]

I have sailed Croatia for about a month and have found the mooring balls to be highly variable, so I dive each one to assess the most secure way to connect. I use two lines, a primary and a secondary, off each bow cleat. My primary goes to what appears to be most secure: usually the top rings. I have found some chafing underwater, so I put my secondary there. I drink water before I go to bed to get me up in the middle of the night to look at the stars and to make sure were in the bay and not on the beach.

[@derveltensail]

Why don't you use the line from the bow directely and put it through the ring when approaching backwards? That's how I am doing it, which of course assumes that a sufficiently long leash is available 🤙🏽

[@45DegreesSailing]

In reality when I do it myself I do that. This system/process is designed to learn it in stages, especially if it is windy, so that you can slow down and do piece by piece without panic or need for speedy line work.

[@geraldwoodcock2333]

Wouldn't it be better to make the bowline loop much longer so the knot reached over the bow so it could be tied directly onto a cleat rather than faffing about with an additional line.

[@45DegreesSailing]

For sure make the bowline longer, as David discovered once he got to the bow to retrieve it. The second line that depends which you are referring to: The first step to throw a stern line captive over the bouy? Or the second line on the bow? I will always secure the yacht at the bow with two separate lines. And usually, one of them will actually be secured to the loop/shackle underneath the bouy itself, not the top ring, as this is the mooring point and strength. This way if the rod inside the bout is rusted or damaged and gives way, we are safe on the second line.

[@sailingsegundo4644]

It's not a bad idea I would eliminate the first step with using a longer line from the bow. This can save a potential argument between me and the first mate . Put fairness to her is we use a 12 foot boat hook and it gets to heavy for her to Hold out. (If we are in an open anchorage she can drive boat and I hook.)

[@Vukobratina]

this is always good to know! Great work you are doing. You are waking up people to get in love with the sea, sailboat, and all. Where will you be this summer? I will be on my boat in Cro, if free, let me take you and the crew out for a dinner.

[@45DegreesSailing]

Thanks so much for taking the time to leave this comment. I apologise for being so slack in replying. Have you already been and gone, or are you still here? We are out on the water at the moment. Currently sailing around the south side of Vis island. It is a GLORIOUS day out here on the Adriatic!

[@PJCelis]

I've never seen anyone do stern first and then the bow line with a bowline knot. It makes a lot of sense now why the bowline know is called what it is!

[@45DegreesSailing]

Always something new to learn!

[@debdoyle119]

That was funny and pretty dangerous hanging off a sugar scoop. In the US they have pickup lines. In a full keel you would also go up wind but past the bouy and get it from the cockpit side.

[@45DegreesSailing]

Interesting take on it Deb. Can you explain the danger in accessing the mooring bouy from the sugar scoop for me?

[@debdoyle119]

@@45DegreesSailing Too each their own but a single handler reaching out on the sugar scoop takes a chance of slipping and failing off the boat. I love sugar scoops and wish I had one particularly for dinghy boarding. No idea why I said funny. It was a good video well executed.

[@debdoyle119]

@@45DegreesSailing I think this influenced me recently kzbin.info/www/bejne/fZDZhISfjNOUhtE

[@oldshipmatesadventures]

great series with the new owner. but pls show the guy how to do a proper cleat hitch, he seems to have no idea ;-)

[@45DegreesSailing]

Mate. Where you been. We don’t do cleat hitches over here at 45D! All about the 0800. Not knocking a cleat hitch, just not my style.

[@oldshipmatesadventures]

@@45DegreesSailing no? OK, what is the alternative when tieing on a cleat? I am always up for new things.

[@45DegreesSailing]

@@oldshipmatesadventures We do a full O around the clear. Then and 8 (criss cross no hitch) the. 2 more O’s. Doesn’t slip, holds firm and the hitch doesn’t bind. Can do single handed. There are some caveats. Like if you have a big cleat and thinner slippery line you may need an extra 8 on there. That’s at skippers discretion 😉

[@oldshipmatesadventures]

@@45DegreesSailing interesting, thanks for sharing, will try this next time going out. sailing solo mainly, and your tipps are great. When I learned boat handling a few years back, the cleat hitch was one of the few the examiner actually wanted to see. works fine for me too.

[@jaymclure4482]

Thanks for letting us learn from your mistakes. If everything went perfect we wouldn't learn as much.

[@45DegreesSailing]

Exactly! We all make mistakes. Turning them into lessons is the key.

[@goonerbish]

Are any of these exercises ever filmed in real wind (say a force 6 to 8) and waves?

[@45DegreesSailing]

Some of them are, the docking ones when I get the opportunity to. Though trouble is having the time and situation to do such a manoeuvre. And it is dangerous flying the drone in more than 20knots. I cannot afford to damage or lose it! Similarly here in Croatia we will always choose moorings in sheltered areas. Not with waves. I will continue to collate some footage in higher winds when I get the chance to, amen endeavour to put some more videos together from it.

[@jarekkanios2697]

if you r getting so close why not just pick it up with the boathook?

[@45DegreesSailing]

Perfectly doable move, along with running the spring line directly through. The idea behind this is that you can get secured without having to hold the potential weight of the mooring ball by hand on a windy day. Designed to make the move doable in stages. Slow it down. Not have to use strength and or speed to get it done.

[@jaysonlima7196]

So that's a little different than the way I like to do it but I get the why behind all the steps, now my boat is a bit smaller and much older, with a full transom, so no swim platform for me I get to do it all from the cockpit itself. So I put the ball along side to port while coming up from leeward going ahead. (Prop walk is to port make it useful yeah?) So while going bare steerage way up to the ball when it is parallel to the aft end of the cabin and about a meter off to port give her a short burst astern for a second or two, which stops the boat and sucks her right up to the ball. Preferably get a line through the loop then but have a lasso loop ready just in case. And have my riding lines ready, one made fast on one end and lead aft on the port side (outside the lifelines please, which is easy on my boat as the life lines are set a few inches invoard of the toe rail) so once i have the lasso line on I can draw the bouy close and get the first riding line on it, which a double boat length long, which lets me bring the end I just passed through the bouy forward, and cleat it off after it goes around the windlass a time or three. Walk back and just untie one end of the lasso line and haul it in, and go forward and use the windlass to winch the eye of the bouy right up to my bow cock, loop the other rider through and drop the bouy back in and adjust the slack until I like it. Then cleat everything off. Then like you have a beer. All told takes a few minutes less than it does in the video, but that's because it was his first time, and I do it on the regular, on my own boat, not a fair comparison. But it is always interesting to see other ways of doing things as you just may find something you like better, or that is at least worth a try! Great video keep it up mate!

[@45DegreesSailing]

Definitely a moment for the prop walk to shine! We really need to use all these intricacies to help us instead of them inhibiting us. Especially the wind. Love your use of the windlass for the hoist. Older boats are just built better (bowsprit/anchor mountings/rollers/cleats) for these type of practical manoeuvres. And better quality too. Nice work! Thanks for watching, sorry about the slow reply! Been a buys few miles on the sea.

[@jaysonlima7196]

@@45DegreesSailing busy is good, especially in the charter business! Been a very very rainy summer here and where I do mostly short day trips (typically about 4 hours) the rain has really cut into the bottom line for the year!

[@p.a.ch.3861]

I would pick up a mooring buoy at Stern /portside or starboard side , more effective

[@jonscott8586]

The opportunity to thread the 2nd line was when the 1st was done. No need to struggle

[@45DegreesSailing]

Yes that is possible of course. Though there is is something to be said about keeping it simple. Having to manage two lines on the transfer adds a layer of complexity. Not to mention you would need another line that has the suitable length to make it all the way back to the stern. For those getting to know this manoeuvre for the first times I would still suggest just using the one.

[@shumerianian2115]

Doing a rope work without gloves looks unsafe.

[@45DegreesSailing]

@@shumerianian2115 I would say that is a personal preference. I almost never wear gloves anymore. My hands are conditioned to it. If technique is good the it is not unsafe in my view.

[@davidllewelyn]

@@shumerianian2115 if you are letting a line run through your hands (gloves or no groves) in a way that could cause you harm. Then you are doing something wrong in my opinion.

[@p.a.ch.3861]

I would not throw any lines ( despite the float type ) behind a propella.

[@45DegreesSailing]

Fair enough. Everyone has their own ways.

[@RockFan410]

My girlfriend and I did something similar with our 51’ power boat in a very strong current and honestly it was really scary temporarily being moored from the stern. I’ve heard that you are never supposed to do that. Is that the truth? I’m just imagining the current pushing the stern down and taking on water. What is you opinion? Thanks!

[@45DegreesSailing]

Hey Nick. That does sound a bit sketchy indeed! I have had a discussion about this with a couple people to think how it could happen and different experiences we have had. Certainly with a vessel with a blunt end (and especially with a low transom) you will have substantially more resistance when holding your stern to the current. And if you are on a swing mooring I would highly recommend that your transfer around to the bow promptly if you are in an area that is affected by strong currents/tides. As far as 'not supposed to' I would disagree, this is situational. Especially with yachts and launches there are places on the rivers, tidal estuary's etc that vessels are moored in line with the current from stern and bow which are of course subject to the flow running both fore and aft.

[@RockFan410]

@@45DegreesSailing Thanks so much for the replay and information. I appreciate it!

[@jack7358]

Personnellement j'utilise le Handy dock...very easy..

[@45DegreesSailing]

Easy for some. Difficult for others.

[@bottomline4284]

You are correct that using one long line doubled up is easier kzbin.infoHjAryzwYk9s?si=13_Ib4U45YJ93GkT

[@phillip1115]

I hope you taught David how to cleat a line off camera.

[@45DegreesSailing]

Why is that?

[@tmhudg]

@@45DegreesSailing because he did not cleat any of those line properly from what (and the commenter) saw. He did a couple of figure 8's around the cleat and then just wrapped it around the base. Look up cleat hitch and you'll see how it should be done.

[@JoaoArriagaCunha]

Good tutorial although it is done in absolutely perfect conditions. But, I wonder, what is the point of your hair cut?......

[@45DegreesSailing]

Same point as your question... Because we can

[@sandyallsopp6778]

This seems to me far too complicated to manage singlehandedly in difficult conditions. All these guys are having difficulty and making lots of mistakes in easy conditions. Also, props going in reverse near mooring lines is likely to cause tangling. There are better ways, believe me.

[@45DegreesSailing]

🤣 Sandy thank you for your input.. Perhaps you missed the point of the video.. this is an account of the absolute first time that David attempted this manoeuvre. He is doing in single handed. The point of the video IS TO SHARE THE MISTAKES that one may make or challenges you would encounter when learning this manoeuvre.

[@45DegreesSailing]

The great thing about this forum Sandy is that no one has to ‘believe you’. You can tell us right here what those better ways are. Or even more helpful, share the video you think demonstrates these better ways. I am sure viewers would be very appreciative of this constructive feedback. Thanks for watching 😌

[@reality9]

@@45DegreesSailing I really appreciate your content, and understand that you like to show it warts and all, but that is not my point. The point is that in my humble opinion, as one who often picks up moorings single handed from a 32ft motor cruiser in awful conditions of wind, tide, low light and limited time, this method you teach is going to land the exponents of it in some trouble sooner or later. I think your method relies a bit too much on luck, balance and skill and that there are far better ways that are more fool-proof for the average sailor.

[@ushi120]

​@@reality9 Please tell us what other methods. I am open to any suggestion. 😊

[@sascha_sailing]

Beer!

[@45DegreesSailing]

🍻

[@yankeeskipper2748]

suggestion: learn how to clest a line correctly.

[@45DegreesSailing]

😂 Hmm. Can you explain? How do you ‘clest’ a line?

[@tmhudg]

This is all I could see as well. It's astonishing that @45DegreesSailing doesn't know what a cleat hitch is.

[@charlesbechtel9976]

I've started two of your "instructional" videos and shut them off when you mention "bow thruster." At that moment you become useless to most sailboaters. Add to that your reliance on a wide sugar scoop without a dinghy dangling over your head and I become even more ready to shut you off. Train for the hardest circumstances, not the most propitious. Sorry, not watching any more.

[@jack7358]

Quel mauvais élève...

[@45DegreesSailing]

No such thing as a bad student

[@timseytiger9280]

That's pretty harsh, he got the job done and didn't break anything.