Whenever port manoeuvres are discussed, it almost always strikes a chord. The topic has been generating an extraordinary amount of interest for years — both in the editorial office and at trade fairs, webinars and in bookshops. Talks on the subject are regularly packed, and the book “Port Manoeuvres: Step by Step” Published by Delius Klasing, it has long been one of the best-selling specialist books, and the YACHT webinars are also attended by hundreds of sailors year after year to refresh their knowledge or clear up any uncertainties.
Harbour manoeuvres: Why they put even good sailors under pressure
There are several reasons why this topic remains as relevant as ever. One of them is the changing structure of the sailing community. The proportion of charterers has grown. Unlike owners, part-time skippers often spend only a limited amount of time on a boat and, on every holiday, face the task of familiarising themselves with a different vessel. Anyone who does not know the yacht inside out naturally finds it more difficult to manoeuvre in a cramped harbour.
What’s more, the boats themselves have changed. What used to be considered a large yacht is now often just an entry-level model. In the private yachting sector, 30 feet is now generally regarded as the lower limit, and even manufacturers such as Hallberg-Rassy are shifting their model range upwards accordingly: the HR 310 will be phased out at the end of 2024, with the 340 taking over as the entry-level model.
In the charter sector, yachts over 40 feet have long been the norm. Marinas, on the other hand, are not keeping pace with this growth. This means that larger boats are encountering infrastructure that remains the same or even seems more limited: less room to manoeuvre, tighter berths, and smaller tolerances.
In the harbour, size quickly becomes a factor
Added to this is another effect of modern design. The desire for greater comfort below deck calls for more volume, greater beam, higher freeboard and larger superstructures. However, it is precisely this that increases the windage area. At the same time, many hulls are becoming flatter, keels narrower and frame shapes more modern. Under sail, such yachts often perform superbly — but in harbour, particularly in a crosswind, they can quickly be blown off course.
This is precisely why manoeuvres need to be carried out with greater precision. Mistakes are no longer so easy to correct, because wind and inertia have a more immediate effect. And the larger the yacht, the greater its mass is usually. If a collision does occur, it is rarely just a harmless bump. Or to put it another way: Force is mass times acceleration.
10 mistakes that make harbour manoeuvres hectic
- Do not brief the crew
- Preparing the lines too late
- Deploying the fenders incorrectly or too early
- Failure to check the wind direction properly
- want to use too many lines at the same time
- give unclear commands
- Failure to test the machine in good time
- Do not clear the deck
- getting their hands or feet caught between the boat and the jetty
- not have a Plan B
Perhaps that is precisely why harbour manoeuvres are regarded by sailors as almost a discipline in their own right. They require a good overview, timing, preparation and a keen feel for the boat, the wind and the space around it. If they go wrong, it rarely goes unnoticed — and it is not uncommon for this very fact to add to the pressure.
That’s why, especially at the start of the season, it’s worth consciously going through the basics once again. In this guide, we’ll show you how to prepare the yacht before setting sail and returning to port, which aids are genuinely useful, and what you should bear in mind when choosing a mooring. 20 tips.
Further articles on harbour manoeuvres
Harbour Manoeuvres Tip 1: Involve the crew
The biggest mistake during harbour manoeuvres is being pressed for time. A few minutes’ briefing and information can prevent misunderstandings. Involve the whole crew, explain which manoeuvre is planned and who is to carry out which task. Where possible, assign a task to everyone, such as keeping an eye out for oncoming vessels or holding a spherical fender at the ready. People on board who have nothing to do – especially children – tend to get carried away and, in the worst case, can cause disruption and chaos during the manoeuvre.
Harbour Manoeuvres Tip 2: Prepare the mooring lines
Before mooring, have at least four mooring lines ready – two at the bow and two at the stern. This ensures the crew is prepared for any situation, even if the original plan has to be changed at short notice. Run the mooring lines from on board over the bow or stern platform or across the railing, then route them from the outside inwards, passing under the lower wire, and secure them to the relevant cleat. This way, the mooring line can be thrown or passed over the railing whilst mooring and will still be correctly routed afterwards.
Whether the fixed end is secured to a cleat with an eye, and whether an eye needs to be tied into the loose end, depends on the conditions on site. If the situation is unclear, the fixed end can initially be secured with a figure-of-eight knot, as shown. This allows the mooring line to be hauled in quickly from on board. To secure the line quickly to cleats or bollards ashore, you can also hand over the entire length of the line; this way, the mooring line is tensioned more quickly than if it were hauled in from on board. However, this requires a practised helper on shore.
Harbour Manoeuvring Tip 3: How to secure the mooring lines correctly
Run the mooring lines out in large bays, starting from the fixed end and working towards the loose end. This will untwist any kinks. Lay the bundle of lines loosely on deck so that it cannot accidentally fall into the water and get caught in the propeller. Place the first loop towards the fixed end at the bottom and the loose end at the top – that way you’ll be prepared for any eventuality. If there are mooring rings on the jetty, for example, the loose end at the top can be found very quickly.
Harbour Manoeuvres Tip 4: Protect your hands
Mooring lines are often not only disgustingly muddy, but also very coarse and covered in barnacles. These can quickly cut into your hands. But even a clean mooring line can cause nasty burns if it slips through your hands under tension. So, as a precaution, wear gloves – as thick as possible, but ones that still allow you to grip firmly. Because of the muddy mooring lines, it’s advisable not to wear your best clothes, as mud often splashes up when you’re hauling them in. Also, always wear shoes!
Harbour Manoeuvres Tip 5: Casting lines correctly
To ensure that a helper on shore does not have to untangle the entire bundle before he can secure the mooring line, the crew on board should master the correct throwing technique. To do this, first uncoil the line from the fixed end in large loops. Hold the bundle loosely in the hand that is not throwing. Then take two or three loops off the line with the throwing hand. Depending on the distance, throw these with full force or a gentle swing; take care not to accidentally close your hand around the bundle whilst doing so. If there is a lot of momentum, the entire mooring line will run out; otherwise, excess line will initially remain on board until it is hauled in.
Harbour Manoeuvres Tip 6: How to position fenders cleverly
When mooring without bollards, as is the case in the Mediterranean, the fenders must be in place before manoeuvring between other yachts. However, if bollards are present, the fenders should only be deployed after passing the relevant bollard, as otherwise they may become wedged between the hull and the bollard, potentially damaging the railing and bringing the manoeuvre to an abrupt halt. Therefore, simply lay the fenders out on deck and route the fender line under the lower wire and over the top one. This way, they won’t be accidentally lost whilst being fitted and – more importantly – they can be easily kicked overboard whilst mooring.
Harbour Manoeuvres Tip 7: Use the centre-jump
If there is a third pair of cleats on deck, these are often more suitable than the cleats aft for mooring between bollards, for example. However, to ensure that this mooring line can be operated by a small crew or even single-handed, it is necessary to guide it aft towards the helmsman after threading it through the cleat bases. The helmsman can then, for example after securing the line through an eye on a bollard, manoeuvre the yacht whilst simultaneously operating the mooring line via a winch. It is important that the line lies over the fenders that have been deployed on the outside of the boat; otherwise, the fenders may pinch the line.
Harbour Manoeuvres Tip 8: How to handle and secure mooring lines correctly
Mooring lines are usually very thick and stiff. They often need to be hauled in with some force. Make sure you maintain the correct posture: keep your back straight, and use your legs to haul the line in by bending and straightening them. Normally, the line is fed from the front, from the outside in, round the rear horn of the cleat and hauled in tight. If there are lip cleats – that is, guide eyes open at the top – the mooring line should be pulled through these right from the start; once it is fully taut, it is almost impossible to feed it through. If the distance between the lip cleat and the cleat is too small, as shown here, the mooring line must first be guided round the front horn of the cleat; otherwise, the friction will be too great. Guide the line once completely round the cleat, then once across, and finally secure it with a half-hitch.
Port Manoeuvres Tip 9: Communicate visually
Loud commands often lead to stress and bad tempers, and are also great entertainment for onlookers at the harbour cinema. The most common piece of information that needs to be exchanged between crew members and the person at the helm is the distance to the berth. A simple hand signal has proved its worth here: each finger represents one metre; the person giving the signal counts down the metres one by one, whilst a clenched fist means to stop.
Harbour Manoeuvring Tip 10: Make the most of your boat’s width
When mooring in a berth with stern posts or alongside, the crew should stand near the shrouds, hand over the lines there, and also step ashore at this point. This is because the yacht is at its widest at this point, so the distance to the post or the shore is shortest. Furthermore, the crew can hold on to the shroud to secure themselves, lean out or climb over. This also enables the helmsman to manoeuvre the yacht on a direct course to the mooring. Otherwise, the helmsman must make several course corrections to bring a person standing at the bow close enough to the bollard or floating jetty and then position the boat neatly; this complicates the manoeuvre unnecessarily.
Harbour Manoeuvres Tip 11: Using a boat hook correctly
To pick up the mooring line and pull the yacht alongside a neighbouring vessel or jetty, the boat hook must be within easy reach. It should therefore be removed from any holders and laid out ready before the manoeuvre. A suitable place for this is behind the handrails on the superstructure, but it can also be placed on the side deck by the footrail. Cockpit benches, on the other hand, are not a good place. Often, several crew members are standing in the cockpit during manoeuvres. Trying to handle the long pole quickly in such circumstances can end in a jostle.
The boat hook is suitable for pulling the yacht in, but less so for pushing it away. This is because if the tip slips, the person doing the pushing may end up being dragged along behind it and overboard. To pull the yacht in, you can hook it behind another yacht’s railing. This is designed to bear loads outwards; it offers significantly less support when pulling inwards. But no owner likes to see this. It is therefore better to attach the hook to a cleat and, as a general rule, only use it on another yacht if no other option – such as the use of lines – is feasible.
Harbour Manoeuvres Tip 12: Keep the sails clear
Whether you’re casting off or mooring: the mainsail and genoa should be rigged, free of tarpaulins and ready to be hoisted quickly. After all, the engine could fail; all it takes is a plastic bag in the cooling-water inlet, a line caught in the propeller or dirt in the fuel tank. In such cases, the sails are the only way to manoeuvre the yacht out of a dangerous situation.
Harbour Manoeuvring Tip 13: Use your body sparingly
Equipment can always be replaced, but body parts generally cannot. That’s why it’s better to risk a few scratches on the hull and the deposit than to risk your own health. However, gently pushing away or pulling towards you is fine; the shrouds are very well suited to this; your own shroud serves as a safety line in this case. However, never place any part of your body between your own yacht and a neighbouring yacht or a jetty. This can lead to bruising or, if you slip, to falling overboard.
Harbour Manoeuvres Tip 14: Reversing into narrow channels
If it is not entirely clear whether there is enough space in an alley to turn round, the yacht may also be approached in reverse, provided its manoeuvring characteristics allow this. If no mooring is found in this alley, you can simply leave it again by sailing forwards. If, on the other hand, you approach it forwards, there is a risk that, when reversing, the stern will be displaced due to the ‘wheel effect’ and the yacht will end up in other mooring lines or be pushed against a row of bollards.
Harbour Manoeuvres Tip 15: Anticipating the mooring situation
Preparing for harbour manoeuvres also involves having a thorough understanding of the local conditions. When gathering information about an unfamiliar harbour, it is important to be aware of mooring options with sufficient draught, as well as, in the case of mooring posts, spaces with enough clearance for the yacht’s width and length. The layout of the jetties, the width of the channels and the manoeuvring space required for turning are also important details. It is therefore essential to study the harbour map before every departure or arrival.
A harbour can also change its characteristics fundamentally depending on the wind direction and strength. Even if you moored quite comfortably against the wind the day before, the wind may have shifted overnight and is now pushing the yacht towards its berth. The yacht’s turning circle can also change depending on which direction the wind is coming from. Particularly when entering an unfamiliar marina, a useful aid can be a sheet placed over the harbour map. First, mark the wind direction, then the areas where the yacht might be pushed against the quay, and finally mark shallow areas and narrow passages. It’s also a good idea to ring the harbour master on your mobile or via radio. They often have a suggestion for a berth or can assist with mooring or casting off using a dinghy.
Harbour Manoeuvres Tip 16: Focus on the windward lines
Attempting to secure all four mooring lines at once whilst manoeuvring into the berth with a small crew, despite a crosswind, is risky – there is too great a danger of drifting sideways into neighbouring boats if you miss the windward bollards. You should therefore concentrate on the two windward lines; this will ensure the yacht remains stable initially, despite the crosswind. You can cast the leeward lines later at your leisure, for example using the dinghy. Incidentally, the ‘windward line principle’ also applies when mooring in reverse using an anchor or mooring line and two stern lines.
Where is the wind from? It sounds obvious, but it cannot be repeated often enough: the wind vane on the mast is the best indicator of wind direction. The order in which the mooring lines are cast off or secured depends on this. When mooring, the rule is: secure the windward line first, then the leeward one. When casting off: first cast off on the leeward side, then on the windward side. A quick glance upwards is all it takes: Wherever the tip is pointing, cast off.
Harbour Manoeuvres Tip 17: Temporary mooring
Nobody needs a flurry of activity on board, especially in a tricky situation. If there’s a strong breeze and a berth in the harbour basin can’t be found straight away, the helmsman in particular is faced with a host of demands: manoeuvring the yacht safely whilst at the same time keeping track of the harbour, the conditions and the crew’s tasks. To prevent dangerous chaos from arising, the crew would be well advised to take a break – in other words, to moor temporarily: simply look for a bollard or other mooring point to windward and secure the yacht there with a bow or stern line.
The yacht is pushed leeward by the wind and hangs securely on its line. Now the crew can take their time to sort things out, let tempers cool, get their bearings and, if necessary, seek help – either by radio from the harbour master or from skippers moored nearby.
Harbour Manoeuvring Tip 18: Check the engine
Before setting sail, or when mooring before reaching the harbour, start the engine in good time, let it warm up, and test the forward and reverse thrust. Ensure the fuel is of good quality (avoid ‘diesel pest’) and check the filter. If there is a risk that suspended particles in the tank could clog the filter due to pitching in rough seas – which could lead to engine failure – consider whether it would be possible to navigate under sail. Use the outboard motor in combination with the sails in steep waves, as the submerged propeller provides insufficient thrust and the boat is quickly swept off course. Refuel in good time!
Port Manoeuvres Tip 19: Clear the deck
Where possible, remove windbreaks such as the sun awning, sprayhood, bimini and railings in strong winds. This reduces the wind-exposed surface area and thus minimises drifting when travelling at low speed. Close hatches and lockers; otherwise there is a risk of injury. Furthermore, sheets or mooring lines may become caught on open hatches and damage them. Securely lashing down all items on deck, such as the dinghy. Also ensure that loosely suspended life-saving equipment, such as life collars or rings, cannot be torn from their mountings by lines.
Harbour Manoeuvres Tip 20: Anchor ready to be dropped
The anchor should be ready for an emergency manoeuvre, so remove any safety pins and, in any case, engage the safety catch on the windlass and briefly check that it is working properly. If the yacht drifts due to engine failure and there is a risk of running aground in a situation from which it cannot sail free, the anchor is the last hope before stranding.
The video accompanying the article
More videos on harbour manoeuvres
Lars Bolle
Chief Editor Digital