To moor alongside a quay, place one crew member at each
mooring line, forward and aft. Approach the quay slowly,
keeping the bow into the wind or current; the boat should form
an angle of around 45° with the bank. When you are two to
three metres away, slow down by going into reverse. As soon
as the bow touches, a crew member should jump ashore and
make fast. The stern can then be pulled in by hand.
BOAT HANDLING
Mooring parallel to the quay
How to avoid accidents
Most accidents occur when a boat is being moored or in a
lock. Here are some rules to follow:
never let children put their feet or hands out of the boat
while approaching a quay.
if you make a mistake, do not try to limit the damage by
pushing the boat out with your hands or feet.
check the nature of the ground before jumping ashore.
never moor with your lines across a towpath. Anyone
passing could injure themselves badly.
Mooring stern to the quay
In many ports, you will be obliged to moor your boat “stern
on”. This manoeuvre can be particularly difficult, especially
if there is a strong wind or current. It is important to come in
forward, as close as possible to the place you wish to moor.
Turn around making sure you allow for wind or current, and
finish in reverse gear. If necessary, a crew member should get
off to help the manoeuvre.
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