How scary is the bow mooring⚓🚢 #sailboat #sailing
February 26, 2025 · 5 min · 2K views · Porto San Nicolò, Riva del Garda
What this video covers
Bow-to (prua) mooring on Lake Garda at Porto San Nicolò, Riva del Garda, is the focus, with Maurizio explaining three specific reasons to choose bow-in over stern-to.0:45 First, the lake bottom near the quay at Porto San Nicolò has not been dredged, so a stern-to approach risks the rudder touching bottom — a hazard compounded by fluctuating water levels driven by rainfall.0:59 Second, bow-in mooring hides the cockpit from passersby, providing privacy.0:43 Third, in the frequent 15–20-knot winds of the area, a stern-to approach requires crossing the boat beam-to the wind, risking leeway into neighboring boats and dock lines; entering bow-first keeps the boat aligned with the wind.0:46 The practical sequence shown: a crew member at the bow picks up the dock line with a bowline ready, while Maurizio steers; at the stern, a buoy tied to the mooring line lets him retrieve it easily and cleat off before going forward to adjust bow lines.1:35 The critical skill is timing the reverse gear engagement — the propeller produces less thrust astern than ahead, so approach speed must be calibrated carefully to stop close to the quay without overrunning it.3:08
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