Stopping - What Do You Mean There Are No Brakes!

A technique of stopping the boat whilst sailing, (a bit like going into nuetral) which involves setting the sails to work against each other. This sounds complicated but is actually pretty easy to acheive. The boat is simply tacked through the wind without touching the sails and the wheel then turned all the way towards the wind. Some adustment may be needed to try and hold the boat steady and modern fin keeled boats are generally not as happy to stay hove-to as their older full keeled cousins. Crash stopping the boat in this fashion often forms part of the MOB (Man Over Board) drill.

Anchoring a boat in a beautiful secluded spot is one of the last great freedoms in the UK and long may it continue. Although it looks from an onlookers perspective to involve little more than lowering the anchor and raising a black ball in the rigging it actually needs to be given quite a bit of thought in order to be safe and enjoyable. Successful anchoring requires a number of decisons based on the boat's shape, draught and anchoring equipment, the area, the weather whilst at anchor as well as tidal heights and streams. Also the presence or appearence of other boats and how that might change things.

Very handy for a lunch stop and not needing quite as much research as an anchorage, mooring buoys still require a bit of forward planning and simply sailing up to one brandishing a swirling lasoo is not to be recommended. The first thing to find out is whether you can actually use the buoy (many are privately owned). Having established that it's OK next do a drive by and have a good look at it. This can help you establish it's condition and decide the best method of attachment. It also shows you exactly what the tide is doing next to the buoy helping you decide on the best approach and on which side to pick it up. Leaving the buoy is easier but still benefits from a co-ordinated plan of action.

Each alongside manouevre is really a unique event as the factors involved are slightly different every time and can change even whilst it is in progress. For example a quick gust of wind as a boat approaches the pontoon could help out nicely or spoil it all requiring a bail-out and try again type decision to be made at the last moment by the helm. Try to be a useful part rather than a spare part as the boat comes alongside. Every one on board can be of use doing one or more tasks. Taking lines ashore, calling distances, checking clearances, being at the right place with a roving fender or just keeping an eye on other boats coming or going and informing the helm if it is going to affect your boat are all important and it's one of the times when you can't have too many people onboard. So for the sake of the person steering try to help out as much as you can. You'll be grateful of crew that do when it's your turn to have a go.