Alongside location of rafts

The usual warp arrangement of springs and shore lines long enough to cope with the full range of tide is all very well if a yacht is alongside alone, in benign conditions. In ports with ranges of 4-plus metres where a raft of ten or more yachts may form for a number of days whilst riding out a gale, things are very different indeed for the yacht on the inside. Surging to and fro, or blowing two metres out from the quay, are difficulties compounded by the presence of a steel ladder, which can cause untold damage to topsides and toe rails. An excellent way to avoid these problems is to additionally attach a line tightly between the low-water and top rungs of the ladder, after first running it through a block. The fixed end of the block is shackled to a strong point on the boat, via a well-padded line. The yacht is now held positively, both laterally and fore-and-aft, allowing the reliable placement of fenders and fender board, regardless of tide height.

Alongside location of rafts
Alongside location of rafts