Most Greek harbours mean stern-to mooring on your own anchor. A calm, step-by-step guide to getting it right.
In most Greek harbours there are no finger pontoons. Boats moor side by side, stern to the quay, held off by their own anchor. It looks intimidating the first time, but with a plan and a calm crew it quickly becomes routine.
Before you go in
- Get fenders out on both sides and prepare two stern lines.
- Agree who does what: one person on the helm, one on the anchor, one or two on the stern lines.
- Look at how the other boats lie and pick your gap. Note which way the wind is blowing.
Step by step
- Line up a few boat lengths beyond your gap, bow pointing away from the quay.
- Reverse slowly towards the gap and drop the anchor well out, roughly three to four boat lengths from the quay.
- Keep reversing while the anchor chain is paid out, without letting it go slack.
- When you are close to the quay, pass the stern lines ashore (or step off with them) and make them fast.
- Tighten the anchor chain to pull the boat a safe distance off the quay, then adjust the stern lines.
Crosswind
If the wind is blowing across your gap, drop the anchor slightly upwind of your spot and get the upwind stern line ashore first. Neighbouring crews are usually happy to help with a line, so do not hesitate to ask.
Long lines ashore in bays
In narrow bays, boats often anchor and take a long line from the stern to a rock or tree ashore. This keeps the boat from swinging and lets more boats share the bay. Take the dinghy ashore with the line and leave enough slack to adjust once the anchor is set.
Leaving
Bring in the stern lines, then motor slowly forward while the anchor chain comes up. If your anchor has caught someone else's chain, stay calm: lift both slowly, hold the other chain with a line and let your anchor drop free.
