RYA Day Skipper: Boat handling - Spronging 180

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[@ushi120]

Thx for the video. Something I want to add: The line to the outside cleat has to be as long as possible. If the line is to short (f.e.3m) this technique don't work. The wider the stern, the longer the line. How it works: At the beginning the outside cleat is the fix point and the propeller pushes the boat forward (at the center line). So the leverage is half width of the Stern. Why you should steer to the pontoon? The propeller pushes the water like a jet on the rudder. And the rudder pushes the stern to starboard. That's the only way to protect the stern. Recommendation: As soon as the stern is free from pontoon it's possible to steer slowly to starboard. The 180degrees turn will be faster. Regards

[@rel53]

very nice. Wish two point would be better explained. 1) why use the "outside cleat" ? what would have happened if I use the inner? (most videos i have seen always use the cleats on the dock side 2) Can explain the physics of pulling to the port and not starboard as most folks intuitively think? " would love to see the video of "what would have happened?" :)

[@ilyesdaoud3231]

I second this. I have the same questions. Thanks.

[@Misteribel]

The most upvoted answer explains these, see the top chat. But here's a short version. If you use the port aft cleat, going in forward, you would push your boat to the quay (it turns time port). With the starboard cleat, if you were to point the rudder to starboard, this would mostly still work, but it'll take much longer, you'd need more fenders, and in some conditions the forces may even balance (the force that pulls to the left vs the force that pulls to the right due to the starboard spring). Hence, it helps the turn to steer to port. There's more to it, and there are other ways to turn as well. This is just one technique. However, it's arguably the easiest, and it can be done single handedly (I use it identical to get off the quay, as opposed to going in reverse with a port aft forward spring, which always pushes the boat against the wall, with chance of damage).

[@ruperthewson6512]

Great technique which I have taught on several occasions, unfortunately in most Solent marinas we now end up theorising it due to them bring a tad busy!

[@TheCriticalEngine]

Being a “Sailing Academy”, you should know how to tie a proper cleat hitch. Especially in a demonstration video. That there at 3:23 is a disaster waiting to happen.

[@alistercarmichael4990]

Absolutely. My skipper only last week did this with the stern line on the boat. He went ashore to do things while I dressed the ropes and put the springs on. Tightening the spring going forward put enough tension on the stern line for it to unwrap leaving me with nothing to get the boat back while.it was being blown off into the neighbouring boat. Fortunately I had watched him doing this and caught on to what had just happened. I don't wish to know why anyone thinks it's acceptable to just wrap a rope round a cleat without locking it off.

[@bobrose7900]

I've watched this a few times now.... my only comment would be that the port side of the transom rubs along the pontoon because the starboard line pulls the transom into the pontoon. A port stern line, or preferably a spring line would mean the transom could be held clear of the pontoon. There are very many videos on this and its quite an art but well worth learning particularly when it needs to be done in limited space between other boats.

[@LeithNauticalSailingAcademy]

Bob, many thanks for your comments and I hope that you have enjoyed the video. This is a wonderful technique to have available giving the skipper another option to consider. It works really well when we wish to turn the boat around, and when the wind is blowing us back onto the pontoon. We could always spring the bow or the stern out if we don't need, or wish to turn the boat. Swapping the starboard line to a port stern line is less likley to get us off the pontoon if the wind is blowing us on. The port stern of the boat comes into contact with the pontoon at the start, and is easily fendered off. We then quickly come away from all contact with the pontoon. Give it go, we'd love to hear how you get on.

[@bobrose7900]

@@LeithNauticalSailingAcademy Hi and thanks for the reply. I seem to see more problems with docking and mooring than anything else. Our first boat, a Sweden 54, is undergoing repairs at the moment but should be ready for mid March. We are spoilt with a front bow thruster to help get us out of trouble but I've been watching in earnest the 101 techniques you need to cover all situations - wind and tide on a deep keel. It's a case of awareness and planning - like everything in life! One thing is for sure you never get enough training and nowadays these blogs and videos are an amazing source of information - I've watched very many of the Leith videos, as tonight and they've been a great help with the courses I'm on. Thanks again.

[@patmacdonald9545]

Thank you! Good video, good trick for a new y.. like me😅

[@kaptnblaubar2102]

Moin 03.35 Eine Klampe richtig belegen sollte man aber noch mal üben. Der Rest ist ein perfektes und gelungenes Manöver

[@Veniceredmask01]

What would happen if there are boats across on the other mooring leaving less room

[@alexxela754]

It gets harder. And if it’s too little room you can’t do it.

[@TonySaxby]

Sproining?

[@kujon1968]

I have a tiller and need to spring off from my slip each time we leave, but facing the opposite direction....so line on far cleat at stern and tiller to port?

[@AthelstanEngland]

Well if trying to accomplish the above you push tiller to starboard which causes rudder to try to turn boat to port. Then the counter force of the sprong line causes it to move to starboard. Here he has a wheel so turns to port.

[@Graimthu1]

QUESTION: if you were doing this maneuver but facing the opposite way to start, would you have the rudder full to Port?

[@LeithNauticalSailingAcademy]

Hi william, thank you for watching the video. Yes the rudder is turning in the opposite direction to the boat. Give it a go, it is a really useful technique.

[@kujon1968]

Thank you. I have a tiller and always get confused when someone says "wheel turned to..." Do you mean you steer as if you want the bow to go to Port? So in case of a tiller, you would push the tiller to the starboard side?" I have a tiller and need to spring off from my slip each time we leave, but facing the opposite direction....so line on far cleat at stern and tiller to the port side as if I am steering to starboard?

[@ushi120]

You are right Bart. Tiller to Starboard.

[@cynikalX]

curious why you chose to keep the wheel hard to port if you're' turning to starboard.. my guess is that with the tide, the keep and (backed) rudder will drift/swing the boat around, pivoting off the dock from the mooring line. i can't for the life imagine what would happen if you had the wheel over to starboard, wouldn't something similar happen, just quicker ?

[@stevieoneil1]

I was thinking that also. hard to stbd would be quicker ?

[@ratusbagus]

No. Not Similar. It's to prevent $$$$$'s of repairs to the stern, by pushing it off the the jetty. Not everything is intuitive.

[@patclements3067]

They’re using the current to turn. The rudder is keeping the boat radial to the rotation axis created by the dock line.

[@jjjtttggg]

I think if you steer to starboard you’d end up coming alongside bow first...

[@philipkenneth24]

@@stevieoneil1 kzbin.info/www/bejne/fmeyZ5qnmKuripI

[@garyhawkesford2253]

SPRONGING ?????

[@5jhexp]

I believe that everybody is copying a typo from very old Yachting Monthly video. If you google it and look for the history, it all goes back to the single YM video, which they themselves called "springing off" in a later repost on Facebook. Funny how new sailing terms come up. :)

[@svanteylvinger8726]

Wow! Let us play since the harbour is empty.

[@Utilisateurpasvalide]

Good info, but OMG this is so boring to have a video without any sound !.. A voice over instead of written notes would be a lot more enjoyable...