SINGLE-HANDED: How to Pick Up a Mooring Buoy in VERY Windy Conditions | Bali 41 | Komiza, Croatia

If you have no place to dock your boat over night, a mooring buoy is the best and safest option. You don't want to anchor somewhere and then the anchor come loose and then next thing you know, your boat drifts on to a rock. Especially when you are trying to moor in windy conditions - A mooring buoy is the next safest option aside from docking at a marina.
Captain David demonstrates how to pick up a mooring buoy in very windy conditions - without chaos. There is no need for your crew to be up at the bow of the boat scrambling to pick one up. Trust me- everyone will be watching the show. Unless you have got an 11-foot boat hook, your chances of reaching a buoy are not very high and you risk dropping your hook in the water.
The best method of picking up the buoy is to take a line from your bow that is led outside the guard rails all the way down to your outboard and then pick up your buoy from the back of the boat. Once the buoy is secured to your rope, you just walk it back to the bow of your boat and tie it up. This method allows you to have more control and a higher chance of success at picking it up. This method also will not cause a scene for other boaters to watch.
Thank you for watching. If you liked this video please like/subscribe to my channel.
Website: www.royalnavyyachtmaster.com
Instagram: Royal Navy Yachtmaster

[@JoaoArriagaCunha]

I am sorry to tell you but you are a total savage when it comes to your engines and gearboxes. They won't last very long....

[@davidg2651]

Bowline knot on a buoy? Is that what they teaching you at the Royal Navy Academy? I'm sorry to disagree with your method, but this is crazy! You should loop the line through the eye of the buoy and run it back to the boat.

[@royalnavyyachtmaster]

I disagree. You can do it your way 👍

[@tristanheal]

@@royalnavyyachtmaster Using a bowline is interesting. I like that it will tend to reduce chafing of the lines. I don't like that it means you need to get into your inflatable in order to let go. What would you think about making the bowline big enough that you can undo it from onboard when you are ready to slip? Rather like when one rigs a preventer line to prevent accidental gybes, keeping the bowline big enough so it can be de rigged without having to pull the boom in.

[@tomaszzylik8342]

However, the ropes are the weakest at the knot, they lose strength even more than 50%. In addition, tying the knot to the buoy makes the departure maneuver difficult and forces the use of a pontoon. I think that mooring "on the run" is much better. One mooring line from each float. This allows you to disembark the buoy by removing the moorings from the cleats and pulling them on deck, even when you are alone. The maneuver itself is ok, but I recommend using a long rope from the bow to the stern. No risk of it going overboard when being carried. The yacht will then turn by itself after catching the buoy, and we only have one end in hand.

[@Misteribel]

I totally agree. Never tie a not on the buoy itself, nobody will recommend that, unless maybe for very specific cases. It's cumbersome and if you need to leave in a hurry (wind, other danger) you cannot. It's simply a safety measure to always use a loop back to the boat (similar to docking).

[@michelzanghellini4278]

Hi, very interesting video. Thank you. but be careful of two things: it's better to pass the line through the ring under the water surface, only that one is hooked to the concrete plinth on the seabed. second, do not twist the mooring lines, they wear out too quickly. thanks again for the videos, good wind!!. Michel

[@bertielloydwebber]

That's really helpful and very clear. Can you do a video showing how to enter a marina berth single handed please? Would these techniques work on a mono hull?

[@royalnavyyachtmaster]

Yes thank you check my channel they are there 👍

[@allievance632]

Great video! 👍

[@royalnavyyachtmaster]

Thanks for watching 👍

[@sitatt]

Cheers, mister! Poole Harbour, ex crab-fat with a little Contessa on a swinging mooring. Often single-handed, springs against wind - this advice is invaluable. Thanks loads for sharing! Fair winds, boss! Subscribed.

[@royalnavyyachtmaster]

My pleasure . Ex-Fish . 👍

[@jonny-dn]

Thanks for the valuable insight. I was always taught to use a double sheet bend to join two ropes together. A bowline to bowline will eventually chafe under load. Also one knot is better than two....

[@royalnavyyachtmaster]

Good stuff!

[@dudedavid522]

I love this video!

[@royalnavyyachtmaster]

Awesome. Thanks so much for watching!👍

[@davidllewelyn]

Great video and the breaking down into stages is key to being both safe and relaxed. And always good advice that someone should be comfortable downing it sole. Only comments would be to approach the Bouy from downwind going astern, if only because you have a lower profile to the wind. And secondly, you could secure the Bouy tight to the stern and then have a separate line from the bow which you can then pass through the eye and back to the bow. Release the line on the stern and spin around. Saves the potential risk of the line coming under load when you are moving it up to the bow. I solo a mono here in Croatia, so some different considerations, but the structure and approach is the same.

[@royalnavyyachtmaster]

Hi David great comments thank you for your input and you’re absolutely right that second technique of securing with a stone line and then taking a separate line from the bow was definitely a very very good option Nice to see 2 David’s with Welsh surnames-7 I am from Swansea where are you from?👍

[@royalnavyyachtmaster]

Hi David thank you for some great comments and insights you’re absolutely right very good alternative method would be is to secure the stern with one line and then bring a separate line down from the bow you are spot-on with that one thank you by the way we both have Welsh surnames I am from Swansea where are you from? 🙂👍 Cheers 👍

[@royalnavyyachtmaster]

Sorry for the duplicate replies I’m in the gym and didn’t think the first one had posted LOL

[@davidllewelyn]

My mother’s family is from Mid Wales and my father’s from Swansea! Small world! Let me know when you’re back in Croatia as it would be great to grab a beer 👍

[@waltobringer2928]

Thanks!

[@royalnavyyachtmaster]

Welcome!

[@JeoffMiles-lu6jf]

Oh god - I think we should all take a moment to appreciate poor Alison being made to film this on her holiday. Sooner or later she'll get fed up of you playing at being a sailing instructor and hide your Dummies Guide to Sailing book.

[@royalnavyyachtmaster]

Ah…. Think someone’s a little Jealous 😂😂

[@williampaton8565]

What a f☆☆☆☆☆g comedy act that was. He calls himself a yachtmaster ... OMG!!! I hope that the RYA are taking note!!!!

[@buoycatcher-thestressfreem1542]

Nicely done as a challenge with wind & tide but we are not fans of leaning overboard to pick up a mooring which is where a Buoycatcher on telescopic pole would keep you safely onboard during the operation.

[@royalnavyyachtmaster]

Understood but you can’t pull these buoys up to deck level so no choice

[@neilsbluesky8027]

Nice vid. I like how the stages were demonstrated - prob the most important part. For novices (like me) watching though - be sure to have all yr fenders well out of the way (like on the vid) and that yr Ropes are long enough. And that yr stern rope is tied on and ready. You may only have seconds and the buggers muddle awaits you 😭. My first attempt some months back in high wind didn’t quite go like that lol 😭😭👍😍 But hopefully it will next time - thanks to the vid 👍

[@royalnavyyachtmaster]

Hi Neils thank you so much for the kind words I’m happy the video was helpful. Another key Takeaway is make sure that when you are maneuvering the rope is firmly inside your guardrails and cannot possibly end up in your rudder or propeller because that would be rather a challenge. You simply hook it up and then maneuver the boat using the engines and the wind in stages as you saw taking time to reevaluate as you go through each state to check that when you want to happen is actually happening Thanks again- have fun be safe see you at the next year maybe👍

[@thepurplesband]

Is this a spoof ? Made me laugh a lot anyway

[@royalnavyyachtmaster]

Thank you 💁

[@greglivermore6700]

I think so, but it’s fun to watch. Thanks!

[@djboogieboy]

👍

[@royalnavyyachtmaster]

👍

[@ngrunsfeld]

This is a joke, right?

[@royalnavyyachtmaster]

Thank you . It was perfect wasn’t it 👍

[@p.a.ch.3861]

😅

[@royalnavyyachtmaster]

👍

[@pawelboczar153]

If he was really such pro, he would have the line prepared…..

[@royalnavyyachtmaster]

Um... it was prepared. Lead aft from the bow...

[@JoaoArriagaCunha]

Clearly, he is not a pro at all!

[@henrikstephenson2246]

Cheating. Using Engine for bouy maneuver.

[@royalnavyyachtmaster]

Um… not really. It was always intended to be under power ….

[@billgiles3261]

Easier with a twin engine. And too much rushing around. Poor preparation with first line. 👎

[@royalnavyyachtmaster]

Of course easier with a twin engine. Line preparation was superb. No rushing around occurred. One quick intentional movement from helm to stern to grab the buoy…. Because it was single handed in gusts to 28 knots so…… SMH

[@billgiles3261]

@@royalnavyyachtmaster the black line on the stern cleat was tied off and not readily available and then having to rush you nearly lost the boat hook. And you seem English so buoy is pronounced ‘boy’ not ‘boowie’.

[@royalnavyyachtmaster]

@@billgiles3261 the line was loosely tied to the stern cleat to ensure that it didn’t end up around the propeller, which is probably what you would’ve done. It is true, I dropped the boat hook, but then recovered. You seem to be oblivious to the fact that I was doing this on a 40 foot boat single-handed in 28 kn of wind I look forward to you, producing your own video with a superior performance. Lastly I have lived in the United States for 25 years where everybody pronounces it buoie not boy-which if you think about it is absolutely ridiculous.

[@billgiles3261]

@@royalnavyyachtmaster I am not proclaiming myself to be a master boat handler as you are, but if I made such a video I would not claim to be single handed and then have to get my crew to dash to stop the boat hook falling overboard.

[@royalnavyyachtmaster]

@@billgiles3261 I fumbled the boat hook, and as I was docking the boat -for real-single-handed in 28 kn of wind yes, I asked my videographer to grab it for me You got me on that one -aside from that it was a superb and masterful demonstration of seamanship unequaled anywhere on KZbin or any other social media platform

[@tregenna]

Typical Grey Funnel cleat hitch. Terrible example. Should have joined the Merchant navy. Proper mariners.

[@royalnavyyachtmaster]

It did the job until transfer to the bow. But…. How epically cool was my single handed manoeuvring and picking up a buoy in gusts to 30 was truly superb. The Royal Navy triumphs as usual…. I really loved launching helicopters off the back end at 28 knots while keeping sector screen position on the aircraft carrier ( HVU) while transiting the mine swept channel, avoiding multiple surface contacts …. Yawn…. Then tea and medals followed by a game of squash of alongside …. 👍🤙 How was that straight line transit at 16 or was it 22 knots ….? 👍👍