Dear Tom, I've been a fan of yours for decades, long before the Internet, starting with Hand, Reef, and Steer. Your knack for the right phrase with just a tickle of proper British idioms comes across as well in print as it does in your live presentations. You seem a wonderful chap. Although I can't compare with your experience, I have a few miles under my keel as well, having managed a circumnavigation about 20 years ago. But it really is with humility that I must differ with you on the bowline on the cleat ashore. A bowline can't be easily adjusted or untied while under strain, so if this needs to be done you must get aboard. In most cases, this is just a minor inconvenience--and of course if I really wasn't up to an inconvenience I'd remain home on my couch. Keep up the great stuff; I look forward to every video.

The Birmingham Navy is developing a taste for the midships cleat. It is the device of the Gods as it facilitates short-handed sailing. We have a nice short line with a huge bowline in it that is dropped elegantly and effortlessly over the dock cleat as we arrive. One fender either side of midships, pull her in snug and the rest is history. None of this arse-out approaching with someone hanging off the shrouds obscuring the helm’s view. We have had to develop this technique because we have upset so many crew we have to sail alone.

Hi All Just had a note from my old mate Ian Redsell which needed a reply because it's important. Somehow, his comment has disappeared, so here goes! Ian suggests using a midships springline to hold the boat while you sort yourself out. On many boats that's a good option, so long as there's a cleat in the right place. It'll never work on my own yacht because the midships fairlead isn't where you'd want it in an ideal world, but I've used it successfully on others. As I mentioned at the outset, there's more than one way to skin the cat!Thanks

“Hops off like a spring lamb” Tom in all seriousness, there is not a better compliment to a crew member. My wife’s many jumps, leaps, and dashing around, make for more relaxed conversation with cocktails after we are all tied up.

Tom, It’s good you still enjoy your bike! I know once they get in your blood, that’s it for life ! What a combination of enjoyment! Sea and bikes 👍 Great video.

Find these videos so interesting. Wonderfully informal, it’s just like Tom’s giving you personal tuition. Thank you.

Very informative. Thanks Tom.

That's lovely Tom. Couldn't agree more. "Different Ships, different long splices" & One rope one job... perfect!

As simple as that. Brilliant. No “if you can’t tie a knot, you tie a lot” here - easy to adjust, loosen or tighten or whatever you need. TC’s seamanship is second to none 👍

Yes, like the method, I will try it. If I was leaving the boat for some time, I would definitely put on extra lines. Nice three-ply rope too!

Well done, flawless and nicely presentet.

In front of a lovely fire watching this with a beer anchored to my egg chair 😄👏👍 Always good to go over things happy sailing keep safe

Good video Mr Tom......my old marina (1984) Hamble Point. Now up to the Jolly Sailor for a pint.....thanks, Andrew

That was great guide line thanks for sharing your awesome video 👍

I love these chats - pleasant and informative for all

Well done & simple

there is nothing like good practical experience. great stuff.

Crisp advice as always, thanks.

Thanks for the great video keep up the good work and keep safe

Cheers Tom 🥃 Always great advice

Wonderful videos! I thought you did a video about going very slow to dock but can't find it. Also, do you have a video about docking and leaving on a boat with prop walk pushing the stern away from the dock? Thanks.

Thanks! 🙏🏻

Another wonderful Reithian video Tom. I try to down load a marina map before I set off so I can see where I4 or B22 etc. is. As you say better to be prepared, paticularly as I sail alone. Regards Buster.

One thing I’ve got is rubber shock absorbers that the line threads. I think it’s a good idea. I also used bowlines for my permanent dock lines, but I think that they can undo, so double bowlines or a figure of 8 loop would be better. If I’m only stopping a short while then I will use slipped lines, then they can be released from the boat and no-one gets left behind.

Another superb video. Good to stress the importance of spring lines, esp. from the stern. Unfortunately, I don't often have a "Ros" or a first mate to take lines to the pontoon. As a single hander, I secure a line around the coach roof grab rail mid ship before I step off, and wrap the bitter end around a pontoon bollard, then attend to cleat the bow and stern breast lines. Have to be nimble about it. Tom, how would you go about tying up when single-handing?

Saw a Canadian (I think) vid once, that promoted the "correct" way of tying up with bowlines aboard. The theme was that the marina "boatman" would be more likely to maintain your vessel's lines in your absence.... without having to go aboard.

Tom Cunliffe with a leather biker jacket and a frigging BMW bike is worth a thumbs up at just 0:07 in!

Here in Sweden we most often use thin booms that go out from the dock and that you can tie your lines to but which take up as little space as possible. This means you have to get off in the front or back of the boat, but since this is Sweden most boats and people are used to doing that as they tie up to different islands anyway so it's not a problem.

Yep on the midships cleat if you have one.. easiest way to dock...can do it single handed...good call Tom...

I have given up on docking stern too as I have a folding prop. You need a flow of 3 to 5 kts, before you have any steering in reverse, which you cannot get in a close maneuvering situation.

Excellent, Tom! I didn't realise two bowlines can share a cleat and each can be undone without disturbing the other. I'm now playing with two pieces of rope and a cleat in front of the TV....

Really like the bowlines ashore, will give it a go next season. Only addition I would offer is don’t hand the dock line for your bow to a stranger, (or powerboat neighbour), without clear instruction on handling as they almost always ruin a nice approach by hauling it in with all their might and send your stern out into the boat next door. Thanks for the great video once again.

I expected you to drive Triumph, mr Cunliff ;-)

That's how you do it!

Hi Tom, do i see it correctly that the lines over the cleats are not “locked”? Seems “2 rounds and one simple cross” only… We were taught to always clock a line on a cleat…

As Tom says, many ways to moor up. The only issue with bowlines on shore-side cleats is that some arse can easily cast your boat adrift... it's not as secure as taking the line back on- vessel for cleating. For example, I've seen this up the Medina, at Newport, IOW, where late arrivals have shifted boats so they can 'fit in'. Much harder for them to do this when the standing part of lines are secured on the boat away from meddling hands.

I'd only add one thing Tom, make sure your fenders are low enough make good contact with the dock. I've seen boats with high freeboard come in and the crew cant always tell. Gelcoat does not make a good rubbing strake!

This must have been reposted as I 'm quite shure I saw this not too long ago

In Mexico the marinas routinely send out two or three dockhands to help you tie up. Challenge is they are completely untrained and haven't a clue. Throw them a line and they try and hold the boat by strength alone (no turn on a cleat) or maneuver the boat by pushing on (and potentially bending) the stanchions. I actually miss single handed docking!

Great video Tom, from one biker to another get somebody to blur your bike registration out to keep the bike safe.

Excellent video Tom. What bike do you ride? I see it is a BMW but what model? Kind regards, Paul.

Great advice - I notice that this yacht doesn't have locking turns where they've cleated them off - how do you feel about them?

Hey Tom, what are your thoughts on having lines permanently set to slip? Thanks

Hi Tom as one as you would probably describe as not a real sailor if you were to see my docking lines can i just ask how the two of you would deal with the 4 bowlines when slipping the berth, especially when wind and/or tide is pushing you either on or off the berth?

Some great advice. How would you do it if you were sailing single-handed?

I will never disagree with another’s opinion. We’re all entitled to one. For me I’ll moor on a string. Better company...🤠

Thanks for the nice video! We are all waiting for the Pandemic to leave us and the summer to come. Different places different habits! I have stuck to the same procedures since I started sailing. That is four mooring lines, with spliced ends that are ready to be used before entering the port. In the Nordic countries, the chance to get help when entering a harbor is rare. You have to do the job yourselves maybe some fellow sailor will help you. I put the spliced end on my boat and the other end of the line via the onshore mooring cleat back to the boat. Then I can adjust the lines without leaving the boat. Sailing in the Skerries you must be able to leave the shore without jumping down on the rocks! When we have been sailing in Finland, we have to our surprise seen that most Finnish boats use carbine clips that they secure to the mooring cleat which means they have to get ashore when leaving their berth. Not a good idea! Regarding bowline, we had a long debate in the Kryssarklubben journal På Kryss. West Coast sailors insisted that the bowline was to used tying up the boat. Yrvind the well-known sailor with mini yachts ended this debate advising everyone to look at how the West Coast Trawlers did. They put the mooring line around their boat mooring pole a couple of times, the friction was enough to hold the line! Easy to unwind when leaving.

I'm a big believer in a breast line attached midship. Then other lines are attached from ship, around a bollard and back to the vessel where it's secured. Ferries use a breast line while passengers disembark and more come aboard.

The advice to pass your loop under the other so you can get either off first has always puzzled me. Of course it works if you do it while tiring up, but it works equally the other way. If you want to get the bottom loop off first just pass it through the other loop, off the horns, and then pull it back through. But the chances are the last line on will be the first off anyway unless you need to spring off in some way.

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

I like to have some lines redundant, so failure of one line will not get me into trouble. I find slack lines to give more comfort, and rather tight lines more safety. I am quite often adjusting for the circumstances.

I get the feeling I have seen this before

In NZ most marina's have those awful upside down U hoops instead of traditional T cleats. Why on God's good Earth NZ Marina's think those are a good idea is beyond me. Makes tying up short handed way more difficult.

Marinas are the reason I don't own a cruising boat. This make it even more discouraging. That line is singled up. Every ship I've ever tied up doubles up it mooring lines.The motorcycle doesn't give me confidence in your commitment to safety.