In Croatia (and more Mediterranean countries) you have to deal with ports where you moor with a mooring line.
A very nice system, but you have to understand how it works….
But after reading this article, you too will be a fan of this way of mooring!
But first: what is a mooring line?
A mooring line is a line facilitated by the port.
It lies from the edge of the quay, underwater to a large concrete block to which the line is attached.
This is like a fixed anchor that you as a passerby can use to tie the nose of your yacht to.
How to do that, you will read below.
To dock at a place with a mooring line, you come in reverse.
You throw your stern lines to the quay and make sure they are secured.
At the same time, you pick up the end of the mooring line hanging from the edge of the quay.
The easiest way to do this is with a peg hook.
You take this line to the front of your yacht and pull it as taut as you can, toward the end attached to the concrete block underwater.
Once this line is under tension (think of it as pulling your anchor taut), your stern lines will also come under tension.
Now you’re basically lying right: one line from the bow to the concrete block underwater, and two stern lines to the dock.
Just like docking at anchor, only here the concrete block that is already ready acts as your anchor.
To sail away from a place with a mooring line, start the engine first.
If you have a forward wind, you will have to put the engine forward a bit (always check that there are no lines hanging in the water that can get into your propeller), so that you don’t get blown backwards against the quay when you untie the mooring line.
To loosen it, it is easiest to loosen your stern lines a bit.
This will take a little of the tension off the mooring line and will make it easier to untie.
You can just drop the mooring line in the water and do nothing else.
Then wait until the mooring line has sunk far enough so that you can sail over it without it getting into your propeller.
It is useful to agree here that the person at the front of the mooring line will give a signal to the skipper when the line has sunk deep enough.
