Boat Safety Briefing: Mooring and Anchoring
Sailing in the Virgin Islands on a BVI or USVI itinerary gives lucky travelers a chance to island hop around some of the most scenic islands in the Caribbean. To experience the beauty of the land and sea, you will want to take advantage of the different islands and dive spots. That requires dropping anchor or visiting a mooring station in many cases.
This article is a boat safety briefing on the tools you will need while mooring and anchoring. The goal is to help you locate the equipment and know how to operate each tool when you take ASA courses or charter a bareboat with Go Sail VI.
Mooring and Anchoring Tools
There are several tools you will want to familiarize yourself with when mooring and anchoring a sailboat. Here is a helpful look at some of the most common tools and how to use them!
Boat Hook
The boat hook is an indispensable tool used when mooring or docking a boat. When you take ASA sailing courses, we dock the boat for you, but we do give you plenty of opportunities to learn how to anchor and moor. A boat hook is a tool you can use to grab hold of the mooring ball and feed the rope through it. It’s also a convenient instrument you can use to point at objects and locations to direct your helmsman.
If you want to avoid learning the hard way, we recommend always carrying an extra boat hook—just in case yours falls overboard. On our sailboats, you’ll generally find an extra boat hook on board, but let your charter checkout attendant know if you can’t find the extra before you leave the dock.
Dockline
A dockline is the rope used for mooring and docking a boat. It is a single piece of rope that is usually up to 75% as long as the sailboat you are using. The most common docklines are spring lines, which cross the boat diagonally. Typically, you will guide the line starting at the stern.
Trying to avoid common sailboat problems? You want to run the dockline outside of the hull to prevent the boat from drifting off in either direction.
Windlass
When anchoring a boat, it is common to use a windlass to guide the anchor in and out of the water. Most windlass have a motor that powers a wheel (gypsy)—this moves the chain of the anchor up and down using a handheld remote.
Windlass Remote
You can operate the motorized device controlling the anchor with the windlass remote. If you haven’t used one before, don’t worry. The buttons are clearly labeled, and a charter checkout attendant can walk you through how to use the different features.
Some things to keep in mind when using a windlass remote include:
- Use the Remote in a Safe Location: Because the windlass remote usually has a cord, it can be caught in decklines or anchor chains. Always make sure you are in an open space away from potential hazards.
- Carry a Backup: Fun fact– the dinghy remote and windlass remote are the same on many sailboats, so if you lose one, you may have another already on board!
Bridle
When anchoring and mooring a boat, you always want to try to reduce unwanted movement. A bridle helps reduce swaying and drifting by using two separate ropes and having them meet at a 1 ½ times the beam of the boat. The V-shaped design helps transfer weight off the anchor chain, which can help stabilize the boat and minimize stress on the chain or the windlass. The bridle can also prevent your anchor from dragging, protecting the seafloor so you can practice eco-friendly travel.
Understanding How to Use Mooring and Anchoring Equipment
You can avoid common boat problems by understanding how to use the mooring and anchoring tools on board the sailboat. This article is part of our Boat Briefing Series and is intended to explain the basics of mooring and anchoring tools. When you take ASA sailing courses or charter a bareboat, you can ask a charter checkout attendant any specific questions you may have.