How to secure ashore
Now it’s over to the crew. There’s no escaping the fact that, with a closed pulpit, this requires a certain level of agility and sure-footedness or, ideally, a rock with a ledge at exactly pulpit height. I tried crouching on the pulpit and springing down, sitting on the pulpit and launching down, Kieran tried stepping on the toerail outside the pulpit and stepping down. All worked but none was exactly risk-free. Even with an open pulpit it’s not without issues. I once jumped ashore and, unseen by the crew in the gloaming, slid spreadeagled down the greasy granite and into the water, like Wile E Coyote in oilies. Often, your best bet is to throw the line ashore then jump so that you have both hands to steady yourself on landing.
If there is any crosswind, secure the windward bow line first, having prepared the leeward bow line so that you can grab it from the shore. A round turn and two half hitches will do for now, you can change them for slip lines as you’re getting ready to leave. Secure the second line then liaise with the skipper, who will come up to check distance off, to fine tune the position.
In the event of a crosswind or cross current, it’s a good idea to rig a line from the windward side to the shore. Ideally it will be right off the beam but if there’s no rock there, rig the line as close to perpendicular to the centreline as you can. It will make a difference.
If you’re mooring somewhere that has
no iron loops provided, identify something to which the bow line can be tied while scouting the area – a rock or a tree. Throw the windward line ashore, jump after it and get it secured to your strong point. Then grab your bag of bergskils and a hammer and bang a couple into handy cracks in the granite. Secure bow lines to those.
How to slip the mooring
Double the bow lines so that the crew can slip them from deck. When the helm gives the word, slip the leeward line first, then the windward and signal to the helm that they’re off. The helm will haul in the rode, taking the boat astern, then the crew takes over to haul up the anchor, secure it to the pushpit and reel in the rode. Then coil the bow lines and cow hitch them to the pushpin so they’re ready for next time.
Other ways to moor to rocks
If the rock is sheer enough to dive off (it may be marked Badplats or swimming place), you can moor stern to. It’s like Med mooring but you secure the stern lines to loops in the rock. Mind your rudder!
Another option with sheer rocks is mooring alongside. Arrange your fenders and cover them with a fender board, then come gently alongside and secure bow and stern lines.