Close-Quarters Handling in Wind and Tide

Prerequisites

You should be able to berth and leave a pontoon in moderate conditions on single and twin-engine boats, as expected at Intermediate Powerboat level. The Engines, Drives and Propellers lesson in this course explains how each drive type steers and how to steer a twin-engine boat on its engines; the High-Speed Handling lesson introduces close-quarters twin handling. Towing alongside is introduced in the Emergencies and Rescue lesson; here we look at the boat-handling side of it in more detail.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson you should be able to:

• Assess the effect of wind and tide on a berth and choose the best approach (RYA syllabus: boat handling, berthing in strong wind or tide).
• Berth and leave a pontoon or wall in strong wind and tide, on single and twin engines (RYA syllabus: boat handling, berthing and leaving).
• Use twin engines to pivot, hold position and move the boat sideways (RYA syllabus: boat handling, twin engines).
• Use springs to leave and come alongside in difficult conditions (RYA syllabus: boat handling, use of springs).
• Ferry glide across a stream into or out of a berth (RYA syllabus: boat handling, ferry gliding).
• Pick up and drop off crew safely from a pontoon, another boat or a beach (RYA syllabus: boat handling, picking up and dropping crew).
• Tow another boat alongside in confined waters (RYA syllabus: boat handling, towing alongside).

RYA Syllabus Map

Reading the Berth

The Advanced Powerboat course expects you to handle the boat in the conditions you find, not the ones you would like. That starts with a careful look before you commit.

Which is stronger: wind or tide?

Powerboats have high windage and little grip at low speed. A RIB or sports boat with high topsides can be pushed sideways by a Force 4 faster than a yacht with a keel. On the other hand, a 2 to 3 knot stream will move any boat.

• Watch moored boats. Boats on swinging moorings lie to whichever force is stronger on them. A yacht with a deep keel lies to the tide; a high-sided motor boat may lie to the wind. If both point the same way, you have a clear answer.
• Watch the water. Look at the stream running past pontoon legs, buoys and posts. A bow wave on a buoy shows the direction and rate.
• Stop the boat in clear water near the berth and watch how it drifts and turns. This is the most reliable test: your boat, in these conditions.

General principles

1. Approach into the stronger element wherever possible, wind or tide. It gives you control at low speed over the ground, and stopping is easy.
2. Use the minimum speed that keeps control. Bursts of power, not a constant throttle.
3. Have a plan B and an escape route. Know where you will go if the approach goes wrong, and abort early.
4. Brief the crew on the lines, the order of making fast, and that nobody jumps or fends off with hands or feet between boat and pontoon.
5. Fenders and lines ready on the correct side before the final approach.

Effects on different drive types

• Outboards and sterndrives steer well ahead and astern. Bursts of power with the leg turned move the stern quickly.
• Shaft drives steer poorly at low speed; use prop walk and the engines.
• Waterjets need thrust to steer; use short bursts with the nozzle turned.

Berthing in Strong Wind and Tide

Wind or tide from ahead

This is the easiest case. Approach into the stronger element at a shallow angle, around 20 to 30 degrees to the berth, using just enough power to make slow progress over the ground. As you arrive, steer the stern in with a burst of power (on an outboard or sterndrive, turn the wheel away from the pontoon and give a short burst ahead to kick the stern in). Get a bow line or a midships line on first, as it holds the boat against the stronger element.

Wind blowing onto the berth

The wind will push you on, so the danger is landing heavily.

• Stop the boat parallel to the berth, one to two boat widths off.
• Let the wind blow you alongside, controlling the angle with small bursts ahead and astern.
• Use plenty of fenders: the boat may land along its full length.
• Leaving is harder (see Using Springs).

Wind blowing off the berth

The wind tries to push the bow off as soon as you slow down. RIBs and sports boats with light bows are badly affected.

• Approach at a steeper angle, 30 to 45 degrees, aiming slightly upwind of where you want to land.
• Get a midships spring on first: a line from a cleat amidships led aft to a cleat on the pontoon. With the line made fast, motor gently ahead with the wheel turned away from the pontoon (on an outboard or sterndrive). The boat lies alongside against the spring, and the crew can then make fast bow and stern lines at leisure.
• On a twin, the inner engine (the one nearer the pontoon) ahead, with the outer in neutral or astern, swings the stern in.

Tide from astern

If you cannot turn round to berth into the tide (a narrow fairway, for example), you have to stop the boat by going astern while the tide pushes you along. Approach very slowly over the ground, with the bow line and a stern line ready. Get a stern line on first, as it holds against the tide; a bow line first will spin the boat round. Better still, if the boat handles well astern (outboards and sterndrives do), consider going in astern, so that the bow faces the tide and you can use the engines ahead to control the approach.

Leaving in a strong wind or stream

Plan which end to release first so that the wind or tide moves the boat clear of the berth rather than pinning it.

• Wind or tide from ahead: let go the stern, then the bow. The bow blows off; motor away ahead.
• Wind or tide from astern: let go the bow first, let the stern swing or spring off (see below), then motor out astern.
• Wind onto the berth: use a spring, as below. Simply motoring off will drag the boat along the berth.

Twin-Engine Pivots and Control

The pivot

With one engine ahead and the other astern, a twin-engine boat turns on the spot. Applied at the same revs, it spins about a point near amidships. This is the most useful close-quarters tool on any twin boat, and the main way to turn a twin-shaft boat in a tight marina.

• Shaft drives: wheel amidships. Port astern and starboard ahead turns the bow to port.
• Outboards and sterndrives: with the legs straight, the effect is the same. With the legs turned, the pivot is faster but less predictable; many skippers keep the wheel centred for pivots.
• In wind, a pure pivot drifts downwind. Add a little more power on the engine that drives the bow into the wind to hold your position.

Holding position

To hold a twin boat stationary in a breeze, beam-on to the wind waiting for a berth, use alternate short bursts: a little ahead on the engine that holds the bow up to the wind and astern on the other, adjusting as the boat moves. Avoid continuous power; it builds speed you then have to remove.

Moving sideways

On twin outboards or sterndrives, the boat can be moved sideways by opposing the gears and turning the legs. For example, to move to starboard: port engine ahead, starboard engine astern, legs turned to starboard. The bow and stern are both pushed to starboard. Exact settings vary by boat and take practice. Joystick systems do this automatically. Shaft-drive boats generally need a bow thruster to move sideways.

Single engine on a twin

As covered in the Engines, Drives and Propellers lesson, one engine alone turns a twin boat strongly. Plan a slow approach with the good engine on the outside of the turn where possible, and use it to kick the stern in or out.

Using Springs

Springs are lines running fore and aft along the boat: a bow spring (bow line led aft) and a stern spring (stern line led forward). The boat can pivot against them under power, which lets you leave or come alongside when wind or tide make it impossible otherwise.

Springing off the bow (stern out)

Use this to leave when the wind is blowing onto the berth, or when boats are close ahead and astern.

1. Rig a bow spring: a line from the bow, led aft to a cleat on the pontoon about level with the console, and back aboard so it can be slipped.
2. Put a good fender at the bow, where the boat will pivot against the pontoon.
3. Release all other lines.
4. Turn the wheel towards the pontoon and go gently ahead. (On a twin: outer engine ahead, inner neutral or astern.) The bow is held by the spring and pushed against the fender; the stern swings out.
5. When the stern is well out, perhaps 30 to 45 degrees, centre the wheel, slip the spring and go astern smartly into clear water.

Springing off the stern (bow out)

Use this when there is room to go out ahead and the stern can pivot safely.

1. Rig a stern spring: a line from the stern led forward to a cleat on the pontoon, and back aboard.
2. Fender the stern quarter well.
3. Release all other lines.
4. Go gently astern. The stern is held and the bow swings out.
5. When the bow is out, slip the spring and go ahead. Watch the outboard legs or propellers do not touch the pontoon as you pivot.

Springing off the stern is less effective on outboards, because the legs are at the very stern and can hit the pontoon. Most powerboat skippers prefer springing off the bow.

Coming alongside on a spring

As described above for wind off the berth: get a midships spring on first, then motor gently ahead with the wheel turned away from the pontoon. The boat lies against the pontoon under control while the crew make fast. This is one of the most useful techniques in this lesson; practise it until it is automatic.

Line handling

• Rig lines as slip lines (both ends aboard) so they can be released from the boat without anyone stepping ashore.
• Make sure lines will not foul the propeller when slipped. Pull them in quickly.
• Never put hands or feet between the boat and the pontoon; use fenders.

Ferry Gliding

Ferry gliding uses the tidal stream to move the boat sideways. Point the bow into the stream and use just enough power to match the stream's speed. The boat is stationary over the ground. Angle the bow slightly towards where you want to go, and the stream pushes the boat sideways across it.

How to do it

1. Position yourself up-tide of the gap, bow pointing into the stream.
2. Adjust the throttle until the boat is stationary over the ground. Use transits on the shore or other boats to check.
3. Turn the bow a few degrees towards the berth. The boat moves sideways towards it.
4. Control the rate with the angle: a bigger angle moves you faster. To stop moving sideways, straighten up into the stream.
5. Adjust throttle if you start to drift up or down stream.

Uses

• Berthing on a pontoon with the stream along it: come in sideways and land gently.
• Leaving a pontoon against the stream: angle the bow out and the stream pushes you clear.
• Moving between moorings in a river without turning.
• Holding position while waiting for a berth.

Wind complicates ferry gliding. A strong wind across the stream may require a larger bow angle or more throttle. On a RIB with light windage at the bow, the bow may blow off; on twin engines you can hold the bow up with differential power.

Picking Up and Dropping Crew

Many Advanced Powerboat tasks involve putting crew ashore or picking them up: from a pontoon, a harbour wall, another boat or a beach. Most injuries happen at the moment someone steps across.

General principles

• The boat must be stopped relative to the landing point, and the engine in neutral, when anyone steps on or off. Never let anyone step or jump while the boat is moving.
• The helm decides when it is safe and gives a clear signal.
• Use the most stable point of the boat: usually amidships, by the console grab handles, not the bow.
• One person at a time, with three points of contact.
• Lifejackets on.

From a pontoon

Approach as for berthing, but you may only need to hold position for a few seconds. Use a midships spring or hold the boat alongside with the engine as described above. With wind or tide, approach into it.

From a harbour wall or ladder

• Watch for swell surging up and down the wall, and for fouling on ladders.
• Approach slowly, put the bow or shoulder of the boat to the foot of the ladder and hold it there with gentle power ahead.
• The crew steps on to the ladder at the top of the swell, and climbs immediately.
• Keep the propeller and legs clear of the wall.

From another boat

• Approach the other boat from downwind or down-tide, so that you can stop easily.
• Agree the plan on VHF or by hail first: which side, fenders, where people step.
• Both boats under control: if the other is drifting, you match its drift.
• Transfer at the point of least motion; avoid the bow and stern in a seaway.
• In waves, pick a moment when the boats are moving together.

Onto a beach

• Check the beach for swimmers, rocks, and the surf.
• With an outboard, approach slowly into the wind or swell, trimming the engine up as you near the shallows, and stop before the propeller touches the bottom.
• Crew step off over the bow or side into shallow water, holding on.
• Back off immediately. Never let the boat broach side-on in surf.
• Never approach near people in the water with the engine running. Stop and use the paddle if needed.

Towing Alongside

The Emergencies and Rescue lesson describes setting up a tow astern and alongside and being towed. Here we look at handling a tow alongside in close quarters.

When to tow alongside

Towing alongside gives far better control than towing astern in confined waters such as marinas, rivers and harbours, where you need to stop, turn and come alongside a berth.

Setting up

1. Fenders between the boats, plenty of them.
2. Position your boat with your stern well aft of the towed boat's stern, so your propeller and rudder are clear and you have steerage. Your engine's thrust then pushes along the towed boat's side.
3. Rig three lines: a bow line, a stern line, and a forward spring from your bow to the towed boat's stern quarter (it takes the load when going ahead). A back spring helps when going astern.
4. Make all lines tight, so the two boats move as one unit.

Handling

• The combined unit turns more easily towards the towed boat, because the towed boat's drag pulls the bow that way. Turning away needs more space and power.
• Go slowly: the towed boat adds weight and windage, and stopping takes longer.
• Plan to berth with the towed boat on the berth side, so you can put it alongside and then step it in with the lines.
• Use wind and tide as for normal berthing: into the stronger element.

Example

A disabled RIB needs to be brought into a marina berth on your port side. You come alongside on its starboard side, stern well aft, and rig bow line, stern line and forward spring. You motor in at walking pace, turn towards the towed boat to swing into the fairway, and approach the berth into the tide with the towed boat on the berth side. The towed boat's crew step ashore with its lines; you release and back off.

Worked Example: Leaving a Pontoon in a Strong Onshore Wind

You are skipper of a 7.5 m RIB with twin 115 hp outboards, lying port side to a pontoon. The wind is from the starboard beam, Force 5 gusting 6, blowing you hard onto the pontoon. Boats are berthed close ahead and astern, with about 3 m between your bow and the next boat. The tide is slack.

Assess. If you simply let go and motor off, the wind will blow you down the pontoon and onto the boat astern. You need to get the stern well out into the wind first.

Plan. Spring off the bow.

1. Brief the crew: one person on the bow spring, one on the stern line, fenders well forward and on the port bow quarter.
2. Rig a bow spring from the port bow cleat, led aft to a pontoon cleat abreast the console, and back aboard as a slip line.
3. Release the stern line, then the bow line, leaving only the spring.
4. Wheel centred. Starboard engine gently ahead, port engine gently astern. The bow pushes against the fenders, held by the spring, and the stern swings out to starboard into the wind.
5. When the stern is out about 45 degrees and well clear of the boat astern, both engines to neutral. The crew slips the spring and brings it aboard, checking it is clear of the props.
6. Both engines astern firmly. The boat backs out into the wind, the bow following clear of the boat ahead. In clear water, pivot with one engine ahead and one astern to turn the bow into the wind, then motor away.

What could go wrong. If the spring jams or the crew cannot slip it, the stern stays out and the bow is pinned; leave the engines engaged gently so the boat holds its position, and sort the line out calmly. Abort plan: go back alongside under control and try again with better preparation.

Common Mistakes

• Not stopping to read the conditions before committing to an approach.
• Approaching downwind or down-tide when you could have turned round.
• Too much speed, so the final burst of astern is not enough.
• Wrong line first: bow line first with the tide from astern, which spins the boat.
• Letting crew jump or fend off with hands and feet.
• Lines left trailing after slipping, and fouling a propeller.
• Continuous power when holding position, building up unwanted speed.
• Wheel hard over on a twin outboard while pivoting on the gears, so the stern swings wildly.
• Towing alongside with loose lines, so the boats move independently and the tow is uncontrollable.
• No escape route if the approach goes wrong.

Summary

• Read the berth: watch moored boats and the water, and stop to see how your boat drifts. Approach into the stronger element.
• Use minimum speed and short bursts of power; have an escape route and abort early.
• Wind onto the berth: stop parallel and drift in. Wind off the berth: midships spring first, then motor ahead against it. Tide from astern: stern line first, or berth stern first.
• Twin engines pivot the boat with one ahead and one astern; keep the wheel centred for predictable results.
• Spring off the bow to get the stern out against an onshore wind; spring off the stern only where the drives are clear of the pontoon.
• Ferry glide by matching the stream's speed and angling the bow towards where you want to go.
• When picking up and dropping crew, the boat must be stopped and in neutral, one person at a time, from the most stable point.
• Tow alongside with your stern well aft of the towed boat, tight lines and a forward spring; the combination turns more easily towards the towed boat.

Check Your Understanding

1. How can you tell whether wind or tide will have more effect on your boat at a berth?

Answer: Watch moored boats (deep-keeled boats lie to the tide, high-sided motorboats may lie to the wind), look at the water past posts and buoys, and stop your own boat nearby to see how it drifts.

1. The wind is blowing off the pontoon. Describe how to come alongside.

Answer: Approach at a steeper angle, 30 to 45 degrees, aiming slightly upwind. Get a midships spring on first, then motor gently ahead with the wheel turned away from the pontoon (or the inner engine ahead on a twin). The boat lies against the pontoon while the crew make fast the other lines.

1. You have to berth with a 2-knot stream from astern. Which line goes on first and why?

Answer: The stern line, because it holds the boat against the stream. A bow line first would let the stream swing the stern round. Alternatively, berth stern first so the bow faces the tide.

1. Describe how to spring off the bow from a pontoon with the wind blowing you on.

Answer: Rig a bow spring led aft to a pontoon cleat and back aboard, fender the bow, release the other lines, go gently ahead with the wheel turned towards the pontoon (or outer engine ahead on a twin) until the stern is well out, then slip the spring and go astern into clear water.

1. Explain how to ferry glide sideways onto a pontoon parallel to the stream.

Answer: Point the bow into the stream, use just enough power to stop over the ground, then turn the bow a few degrees towards the pontoon. The stream pushes the boat sideways. Control the rate with the angle and adjust throttle to stay level with the berth.

1. On a twin-engine boat, how would you turn on the spot to bring the bow to starboard?

Answer: Port engine ahead and starboard engine astern at similar revs, with the wheel centred.

1. What are the key safety rules for dropping crew onto a harbour ladder?

Answer: Approach slowly, hold the boat at the foot of the ladder with gentle power, keep the propeller clear of the wall, stop and select neutral before anyone steps, one person at a time with three points of contact, and step on at the top of the swell and climb at once. Lifejackets on.

1. How do you rig a tow alongside, and which way does the combination turn more easily?

Answer: Plenty of fenders, your stern well aft of the towed boat's stern, tight bow and stern lines and a forward spring (plus a back spring for going astern). The combination turns more easily towards the towed boat.

Further Reading

• RYA Advanced Powerboat course syllabus
• RYA Advanced Powerboat Handbook (G108)
• RYA Powerboat Handbook (G13)
• RYA Motor Cruising Handbook, for twin-shaft handling
• Related lessons in this course: Engines, Drives and Propellers, High-Speed Handling, Emergencies and Rescue