Harbour manoeuvres rarely go wrong because a skipper doesn’t know the theory. The main problem is usually a lack of clear communication: who is in charge of which line? When should the boat be stopped? Where might the boat drift in a crosswind, and what can be done to prevent this? This is precisely where the Voxtob Manoeuvring Board According to the developer, the manoeuvre simulator is designed to run through upcoming manoeuvres, to actively involve less experienced crew members and to analyse procedures afterwards.
Before setting off, rather than in the thick of it
The principle is deliberately simple: a manoeuvre is not merely explained, but planned out spatially in advance. This can be particularly useful for charter crews. After taking over the boat, they often have to cope with an unfamiliar vessel, an unfamiliar harbour and changing wind conditions. Even on your own yacht, a brief briefing is helpful before everyone is expected to act in unison when setting sail.
The benefit lies not in having additional technology on board, but in having a common language. If the helmsman and the bowman agree in advance who will monitor which distance, when the bow line will be handed over, and what the alternative is should the approach go wrong, this reduces the likelihood of frantic, individual actions. YACHT also summarises the most important basic rules for preparation, lines and crew duties in the 20 tips for stress-free harbour manoeuvres together.
A hands-on crew briefing
A tactile aid is particularly effective in situations where verbal instructions alone remain too abstract. The three-dimensional model is ideal for explaining the boat’s position in relation to the jetty, mooring posts or neighbouring yachts. To this end, the pier, jetties, bollards and harbour exit can be easily recreated on the blue board. The model boat features cleats, a rudder blade and a throttle lever. It is moored using a rope, just like a real yacht in the harbour.
This also sets it apart from digital training programmes. Apps and simulators can replicate driving behaviour, mooring manoeuvres and exercises. The Voxtob concept, on the other hand, focuses on joint preparation for a specific, imminent manoeuvre. For a crew briefing at the chart table or in the cockpit, this can be more immediate than a screen.
No substitute for practising on the water
A manoeuvring board is no substitute for experience at the helm or for assessing the wind, current and space. Particularly with larger cruising yachts, it remains important to familiarise yourself with your own boat in light traffic first: take the speed out of the boat, observe how it manoeuvres in reverse, check its turning behaviour and assess the effect of lines. For specific situations, YACHT offers its own articles on Mooring options for single-handed sailors and to Harbour manoeuvres with a catamaran.
However, as part of the preparation, the manoeuvre box can help to refine the crucial step before the actual manoeuvre: turning a vague instruction into a clear sequence of actions. This is a sensible approach, particularly when working with children, guests or crews who have little experience of manoeuvres.
The Manoeuvre Box S costs 49 euros. The Manoeuvre Box, which has a 40 per cent larger footprint and includes a second boat, is available for 64 euros.
Book recommendation
Port manoeuvres: step by step explains mooring and casting off under engine power and under sail, turning and repositioning in harbour, as well as anchoring and towing, using photomontages. The book complements the manoeuvre board by providing a systematic review of the basics or individual procedures prior to the crew briefing. For boat owners and charterers, it provides clear examples that can subsequently be applied to their own manoeuvre planning.
How do you prepare your crew for a tricky manoeuvre in port – with clear instructions, a sketch, or is it bound to go wrong anyway?
Michael Rinck
Redakteur Test & Technik