Mooring Accident

Posted by Grant Headifen on April 23, 2009 under Bareboat Charter, Skipper, Storm Tactics, weather | Be the First to Comment

While it is generally accepted that mooring is safer than anchoring, there are still some considerations. The following photo from Waiake beach in Auckland, New Zealand is proof of this.

Whilst visiting New Zealand for the purpose of spreading the NauticEd word, we came across this early in the morning after an overnight mild storm.

After talking with the locals, the mooring chains on all the moorings in the bay had recently been replaced about 6 months ago, and so that was not likely the culprit. Upon closer inspection of the boat, the cleat and bollard had broken off the boat due to age and lack of maintenance on the tie off points on the foredeck.

The storm was caused by high winds produced from a low combined with a high as in the following map.

High winds from two weather systems

In the southern hemisphere, lows spin in a clockwise direction and highs spin anticlockwise. The two systems then combined here produced 35 knot to 40 knot north easterly winds. This direction is completely open to Waiake beach (on the north east coast of New Zealand) and thus the moored boats in the bay are vulnerable to these high winds.

What should be done?

• Check tie off points on your boat for rot.
• Check for leakage of water under fittings. Often times water leakage under the fiberglass can rot out the plywood. Creating hidden rot and weak points.
• Tie off onto stronger points on the boat rather than weaker points.
• Use multiple tie off points to spread the load
• Dive the anchor point on the bottom
• Check all chain and rode connections
• Ensure rode is not able to be chaffed
• Use stainless steel wire to lock closed any d-rings
• Check chain for rust. Don’t buy cheap chain for a permanent mooring. You get what you pay for.

Feel free to add to this blog regarding mooring safety.

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Coastal Navigation Clinic Launched

Posted by Grant Headifen on April 15, 2009 under Coastal Navigation | Be the First to Comment

Yesterday we launched our most requested clinic. Coastal Navigation! We’re very excited to have this course completed and up. It was written by our resident faculty member Captain Ed Mapes with Offshore Voyages. Ed has taught navigation courses with thousands of students on board his ocean learning passages.

The Coastal Sailing Navigation course incorporates most all the elements required by the United States Coast Guard Captain’s License Navigation section. Some of the topics covered are Coastal Sailing Navigation tricks and techniques using lines of position, gps, running fix, bearing fixes, true versus magnetic bearings, using navigation tools, calculate set and drift from tides and current, determine your heading with a known set and drift etc. In addition there is a review of the ATONs (aids to navigation) during the day and at night which was presented in the NauticEd skipper course.

The course is presented with lots of graphics and video’s explaining the navigation techniques from very basic terms to ensure everyone grasps the navigational concepts.

Watch a NauticEd Coastal Naviation video

If you’re taking your boat out beyond the harbor, then you’ll enjoy the NauticEd Coastal Navigation course.