Long painter, long scope

Two of the boats in this photo display a very common sin: they have long painters but are secured on short scopes.

Earlier, the pontoon had been even more crowded with dinghies and was being chucked around by swell, causing difficulties for visitors who were unable to squeeze their tenders through the press of other boats and get alongside to disembark.

Securing a tender on a long scope is not merely polite; it is also safer for your fellow cruisers.