Mooring on tideway

[Soundings]

Most are well aware of the need to turn into the flow when mooring as it give more control over the boat. What, though, when slipping off, say, the next morning when the the tide has turned and you are moving off with the flow behind the boat? What is the correct procedure for there is a real risk that one will clout the boat in front

[senator]

Hi Soundings. That is a really good question to ask as I would have loved the answer before I mounted the hire boat in front with the hire boat I was in all those years ago in Great Yarmouth.

If you think about it then things become obvious, difficult to think with 3 knots up your chuff and a boat getting bigger in front of you though.

if the water is coming from behind push the stern out then back out. When you get to the middle of the river just go forward on the lock and away you go..

If the wind is holding you onto the bank as well, rig a couple of fenders on the bow, bring the bow line to the next post towards the stern of the boat and motor forward against the rope with full lock on to kick the stern out, then once enough angle has been created for you to back out, swiftly reverse back, slipping the bow rope as you go.

[Soundings]

Thanks Senator, that is kind of how I saw it. I was just a little worried that the push of the river might just spin the boat round rather than let it back out gracefully - if you get my drift

[senator]

The river will not turn you to anymore than 90 degrees to the bank, as you will have an equal force on the front and back of the boat once you get there but in any normal conditions as soon as the bow shows itself you will go backwards at that angle but with the whole boat moving forward with the tide.

[Soundings]

That makes perfect sense and is so blindingly obvious now you have said it, Senator