You arrive at a mooring field where a light breeze blows from the north but a strong tidal current runs from the east. The boats already moored are pointing east. From which direction should you make your approach?

From the west, heading into the current

From the south, heading into the wind

⚓ Picking Up a Mooring Under Control

A mooring is a permanent anchor on the seabed connected to a floating mooring ball on the surface. Attached to it is a pennant (or pick-up buoy) — a short line or loop you actually secure your boat to. Picking one up well is really just a slow, deliberate approach: the goal is to arrive at the ball with almost zero speed, exactly like the controlled stop you practised when anchoring.

The golden rule is approach into the wind or current — whichever is stronger. Boats on moorings naturally lie bow-to the dominant force, so watch how the other boats point and copy them. Coming in against the wind lets you use it as a natural brake: as you ease the throttle, the boat slows on its own, and if you stop too soon you simply drift back, not forward onto the ball.

Assign roles before you arrive: the helm steers and controls speed, and a crew member on the bow points at the ball (the helm loses sight of it up close) and reaches down with a boathook to grab the pennant. Aim to stop with the ball right at the bow, never under the hull. Once the pennant is aboard, cleat it off promptly — a moment's delay and the wind can blow the bow off before you're secured. If you miss, don't lunge: circle around and make a fresh, controlled approach.