How Do Superyachts Pick Up Ground Lines?

Have you ever been walking along the dock admiring all those big shiny yachts and wondered what the small lines connected to the dock next to each bollard were? Well now you need wonder no more with this handy video that shows exactly what they are used for!
Furthermore, don’t forget to check out Part 2 of my Superyacht Mooring video, here:
• Superyacht Deckhand Du...
which will show you exactly how the lines are made secure on the yacht.
This week marks the channel’s first milestone of 50 subscribers, so I’d like to say a very big thank you to all of those who have shown their support. If there are any topics in particular that you would like me to cover then please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Thanks for watching!

[@SuperYachtCaptain]

Thank for this video, we’ve shared it on our KZbin community as it’s one of the FAQ. 👍

[@WorkonaSuperyacht]

Hello Tristan. This is amazing news! Such a boost to be recommended by a big channel like yours. Thank you.

[@mikegyver6265]

Just found your channel through Tristan

[@SuperYachtCaptain]

Work on a Superyacht No Worries, views are doing well 😉👍

[@WorkonaSuperyacht]

@Mike Gyver Hello Mike. I'm so grateful that he recommended my video to his community. Welcome to the channel!

[@WorkonaSuperyacht]

@Super Yacht Captain They sure are! Again, thank you so much.

[@etravix]

Perfect, thanks for sharing.

[@PB-fo6dq]

Thank you. I was among the curious. 😎

[@neilgibbs3880]

Thanks Matt, just what I needed to know. Sent here from SYC. 👍

[@WorkonaSuperyacht]

Thanks Neil, and welcome to the channel! It is an honour to have a video recommended by Tristan, and I'm really pleased to hear that it helped explain ground lines to you.

[@rudideghelt]

I saw the advertisement made by "Super Yacht Captain". Very nice video, I subscribe to your channel.

[@WorkonaSuperyacht]

Thanks Rudi! Welcome to the channel; I really appreciate your support.

[@Sledge59]

Thx. Very good explained

[@ianlambert6864]

Tristan has sent me here. Thank you for the video. Have subscribed.

[@WorkonaSuperyacht]

Hello Ian, and welcome to the channel! Thank you for the feedback. I'm so grateful to Tristan for recommending this video. Between his explanation and mine, I hope we've finally answered all the questions about ground lines!

[@ianlambert6864]

@@WorkonaSuperyacht glad to be on board. I like your technical descriptions. I ask Tristan do the ground lines get marine growth on them. Tristan said yes. So I presume the port staff regularly clean the ground lines of marine growth.

[@WorkonaSuperyacht]

@Ian Lambert In my experience, the ground lines don't get cleaned. For ones that get used often it isn't such a problem; the marine growth dies and gets washed away whilst the lines are tied to the yacht. However, if you are unfortunate enough to pick up ground lines that haven't been used in a while, they can make a real mess of the foredeck! They often sit in mud on the bottom and the dirt gets everywhere! As a result you will often see mud streaks running down the flare of the bow from the forward fairleads. In addition, the marine growth on them can be very sharp, so it is sometimes necessary to wear gloves.

[@ianlambert6864]

@@WorkonaSuperyacht fully understand. Having scuba dived on a racing yacht i crewed on and cleaned the hull, the growth can be horrible.

[@WorkonaSuperyacht]

@Ian Lambert It sure can! What were you racing?

[@blewyd]

I have been looking for the answer to this forever. Thank you for making this video. Edit: I just subscribed to you

[@WorkonaSuperyacht]

Hello blewyd and welcome to the the channel. I'm very happy to have finally answered your question! Thank you so much for subscribing.

[@Putzickle]

So have I and unfortunately I still don’t have an answer. How do the guys on the tender grab the ground lines, do they dive in and grab them or are there floats on the end? Can’t imagine there will be floats as they will foul props etc.

[@WorkonaSuperyacht]

Hello Putzickle. If you watch the video from 1:15 you'll see the guys in the boat take hold of the smaller line that is connected to the dock. This line runs along the seabed and at the other end is connected to the bitter end of the ground line. So, they follow these lines in the boat until they reach the bitter end of the ground line. This is then passed up to the yacht, and the smaller lines continue to stay on the bottom. Does that make it any clearer?

[@bthedude8735]

Thank you!!

[@albertmyers7176]

Great vid thank you

[@solopianoamico...6719]

Great channel! Subscribed for a while!

[@WorkonaSuperyacht]

Thank you! 😊

[@ZoliAkiApa]

Great video, great channel!

[@WorkonaSuperyacht]

Welcome to the channel, Zoltan! I really appreciate the comment.

[@pietercoetzee9376]

Hi there Matthew, thank you for giving us more insight on what it entails to work on a yacht. I myself am interested in becoming a yacht deckhand and are convinced about all the pro`s but require more info about harsh realities (con`s) in order to make an informed decision whether proficiency is for me. Id like to take you up on your offer to answer some direct questions to the best of your ability, as I'm sure everyone interested around the world has some of the following questions: • Working hours, on average a total of 45h per week is the max according to the labour relations act, but surely it's more on a yacht? how many hours is the average for a working day on a yacht while chartering? Do you get weekends off (2days, a day, none?) or do you work 7 days a week? How does the schedule normally work throughout a year, do you get a month off as vacation? • Free time, if you do get off days, where can you go while chartering, the staff room and sleeping cabinets only, or is there a bit more freedom to walk around the deck? How much do you get to climb off when docking and roam free vs staying onboard and doing "porthole tourism" (sight-seeing through a glass window)? How frequently do you charter around, and how many destinations do you get to see on average during a charter? • Deckhand duties, does a deckhand wash throughout the night or daytime only, if so, what else is there to do other than washing? night watch maybe? Does a deckhand normally work without shoes because of water activities, or can you wear it regularly, even on the inside, like the staff room? Are watches and other jewellery such as bracelets allowed? How does bad weather affect your working day, if it rains, what else is there to do as work? What is the minimum training requirements to be hired as a deckhand? Is it required for a deckhand to interact with guests as much as a steward does? Is it fairly easy to grow in your career based on the training you undergo? What`s the next level, a Bosun, how does that differ in terms of work difficulty and responsibility? Why is there a trend of people working for some few years then leaving as apposed growing in rank, is it really that demanding work, it sounds like it is a job that's not for the fainthearted? • Salary, what is the average minimum start out wage, and is it heavily taxable or do you know if there is a way to qualify for seafarers tax exemption. (Mediterranean) • Sleeping arrangements, how cramped is the room cabinet, and how many people do you have to share with on average, is there a designated washroom for staff? • Food arrangements, how many meals a day are provided? • Finding a job on a yacht, is it best to do deck walking? or can you suggest a better approach? Any other recruitment suggestions? Have you ever been to Malta, if so, how good is the probability to do deck walking there? Thanks again for answering what you can Matthew, it will give us all much greater clarity in pursuing this career.

[@WorkonaSuperyacht]

Hi Pieter. Thank you for taking the time to write down your thoughts. Please look out for a video coming tomorrow that will answer all of these questions! (Edit) Here's a link to the answers: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nYWkoYaNaq6Vmpo

[@axxelods4914]

Good day mate) thanks for videos) make more, we are waiting!!! can you also tell us about painting and varnishing .

[@WorkonaSuperyacht]

Hello Oleksandr. It's great to know that you're watching! Yes, please stand by for a video introducing the topic of painting next week.

[@jkbp38bower97]

Sure wish i could hear you,. You seem to have good information and experiendes that could be helpful

[@WorkonaSuperyacht]

Unfortunately, I was only using a mobile phone back when I made this video. I now have a proper camera and microphone, and I hope you can find some value in the more recent uploads.

[@googlevoicer]

@@WorkonaSuperyacht - I just saw a recommendation for this vid from Tristan’s channel. I didn’t think the sound was THAT bad. Good video all around. 👍

[@paulhasbany5622]

Thank you!! It’s been driving me insane wondering how they get those lines on deck and where they are mounted underwater. Well done! I assume at one point you were a Bosun?

[@WorkonaSuperyacht]

Thanks Paul. Yes, I served as bosun on a large yacht for 1 year before stepping up to first mate on a smaller yacht.

[@paulhasbany5622]

@@WorkonaSuperyacht I have to ask, do you ever watch that show Below Deck?

[@caio.m200]

One idea for videos: Age limit for deckhand start, and the season during the quarantine. Have a good one!

[@WorkonaSuperyacht]

These are some great ideas. I know there are lots of questions about finding work during this difficult time. I'll start putting something together

[@caio.m200]

thanks for the video!!

[@WorkonaSuperyacht]

You're welcome! Thank you for the support

[@paulmajcherczyk1586]

Thanks for this clear explanation. When the yacht leaves, I presume the yacht crew "hand back" the ground lines to the port team rather than just dropping into water.?

[@WorkonaSuperyacht]

Thank you, Paul. Yes, we ensure that the port team have secured the ends of the ground lines to the dock (or the lines of a neighbouring yacht) before dropping them and leaving the berth.

[@paulmajcherczyk1586]

@@WorkonaSuperyacht thanks

[@lusoyachting36]

Great stuff

[@WorkonaSuperyacht]

Thank you!

[@mitchellbarnow1709]

Matthew, this video was really excellent and answered my question, too. I've seen seen a video where a diver had to bring up the ground lines. That could've been Monaco?

[@lynnedecision9867]

Thanks. Now I can stop feeling like a dummy.

[@WorkonaSuperyacht]

You're welcome! Thank you for commenting.

[@philmaxwell1858]

The line with chain goes to the concrete block I believe. Where does the black line go? Are the two lines coming out to different concrete blocks, one on each side? With the lines snug to the dock, how do you handle tide rise and fall? Thanks.

[@WorkonaSuperyacht]

Hello Phil. Yes, the lines coming out of the forward fairleads are running to separate concrete blocks. The black line will probably also be connected to a chain; we just can't see it beneath the water. I'm unsure of what you mean by the lines being snug to the dock. With respect to tide, it is negligible here in the Mediterranean; the rise and fall on most days is no more than about 0.2 metres.

[@athommen1]

So, that little plastic ball is big enough to float, once you leave and drop the line into the water?

[@WorkonaSuperyacht]

The little plastic ball isn't really designed to keep the end of the line floating on the surface of the water. Instead, before we leave the tails will either get reattached to the dock, or if there isn't room they will just attach them to the ground lines of neighbouring yachts.

[@athommen1]

@@WorkonaSuperyacht TY for coming back on this matter as it's the exact part that I never understood. Made me happy, Thank You!

[@littleboatcaptain6962]

Hopefully you pick this message up ! Just wondering if you have managed to watch my interview with super yacht captain It's about my new invention GROUNDGRAB I would love to have your thoughts on it Many thanks Lee

[@hc3932]

I bet those ground lines get a bit mucky and mess up your nice clean windlass and deck.

[@WorkonaSuperyacht]

You're absolutely right! It's even more fun when coming into port with guests on board, and you're dressed in evening uniform! They can also have a lot of very sharp marine growth on them, so wearing gloves is advisable.

[@captainjack15mini]

What happens when you let them go? Or do you literally pass them off to the harbour masters boat again?

[@WorkonaSuperyacht]

Hello Jack. Yes, we just drop them into the water, making sure that they sink before pulling out of the berth. The ends of the ground lines are still connected to the dock, which allows the port boat to find them again.

[@captainjack15mini]

@@WorkonaSuperyacht that makes sense! Thanks for the reply - subbed!

[@WorkonaSuperyacht]

@Jack Rogers Thank you, Jack! I really appreciate the support. Any other questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

[@googlevoicer]

@@WorkonaSuperyacht - if still connected to the dock, how? If you ran the end through the fairleads? I mean hadn’t the Marina crew already disconnected them from the dock? I guess I feel a little daft and maybe missed something. LoL

[@anthonyfrancis5315]

Chief which Co ur from n what agency u go through

[@WorkonaSuperyacht]

In the beginning, I recommend signing up with multiple agencies. Over time you'll find certain ones that you prefer, and can focus more of your attention on them.

[@anthonyfrancis5315]

@@WorkonaSuperyacht Thanks Chief 👍

[@garethhofhuis4456]

You had 50 subs when you made this....

[@WorkonaSuperyacht]

I never imagined it would be 100x that a year later!

[@jaime8974]

100% rupert....

[@IsmailNuzaifKokky]

.