Under engine a yacht does not drive like a car: she steers from the stern, slides sideways in the wind and has no brakes. Learn the few forces at work in a marina and you can make them work for you.
Why won't my yacht steer when I'm going slowly in the marina?
The rudder only works with water flowing past it, from steerage way or the prop wash. Turn the wheel first, then give a short burst ahead: the wash hits the turned rudder and pushes the stern sideways.
The rudder turns the boat only while water flows past it. That flow comes from the boat's own speed, called steerage way, or from the prop wash: the stream the propeller throws back onto the rudder. Drifting in neutral, almost stopped, you can put the wheel hard over and nothing happens.
So to swing the bow without gathering speed, turn the wheel first, then give a short burst ahead. The wash hits the turned rudder and pushes the stern sideways before the boat starts to move.
Between ahead and astern, pause in neutral for a moment so the propeller can slow down. Slamming straight through wears out the gearbox.
Wheel first, then power. No flow over the rudder, no steering.
Which way does the stern go when I put a charter yacht in reverse?
To port, usually: most charter yachts have a right-handed propeller, and its prop walk kicks the stern to port going astern, strongest from rest with plenty of revs. Berth port side to and the kick pulls the stern in.
A turning propeller also paddles the stern sideways: this is prop walk. It is strongest when you engage astern from rest with plenty of revs. Most charter yachts have a right-handed propeller, and it walks the stern to port when going astern.
Reversing out of a berth, start gently: as the boat gathers way the rudder takes over and the kick fades. And use the kick where it helps. With a free choice, berth port side to: the touch of astern that stops you also pulls the stern in.
Port side to with a right-handed propeller: stopping pulls the stern onto the pontoon.
To turn round in a narrow fairway, turn to starboard. Put the wheel hard to starboard and leave it there, then alternate short bursts. Ahead, the wash on the rudder pushes the stern to port; astern, prop walk keeps it going the same way.
Why does my stern swing into the pontoon when I steer away from it?
Going ahead a boat turns about a pivot point well forward, so when the bow turns out the stern swings the other way, into the pontoon. Going astern the pivot point moves aft and the bow swings wide.
A boat does not follow her bow round a corner as a car does. Going ahead she pivots about a point well forward, so when the bow goes one way the stern swings the other. Steer away from a pontoon and your stern swings into it.
Going ahead with the wheel to starboard: the stern swings to port, towards the pontoon.
Going astern the pivot point moves aft, and it is the bow that swings wide. Reversing out of a berth and turning the stern to port, watch your bow sweep to starboard across your neighbour.
| Moving | Pivot point | Swings wide |
|---|---|---|
| Ahead | Well forward | The stern |
| Astern | Aft | The bow |
Astern with a wheel, the stern goes the way you turn the wheel. Water now strikes the back of the rudder and tries to slam it hard over, so keep the speed low and hold the wheel firmly.
Why does the bow blow off downwind when I slow down under engine?
That is windage: the keel grips the water amidships, but the high bow has nothing under it, so it blows downwind as you slow. In a crosswind keep just enough speed to steer; to wait, hold her head to wind.
Hull, mast and rolled sails all catch the wind: this is windage. The keel grips the water amidships, but the high bow has nothing under it, so as you slow down the bow blows off downwind. The slower you go, the sooner it goes.
In a crosswind keep just enough speed to steer, no more. Too slow and the wind takes the bow; too fast and you cannot stop when something goes wrong. If you have to wait, turn head to wind and hold her there with short bursts ahead: the wind has no side of the bow to push on.
Astern the picture reverses. The bow still blows downwind, so the stern seeks the wind. Reversing with the wind on the port beam, wind and prop walk both swing the stern to port.
How do I come alongside a pontoon when the wind is blowing me off it?
Come in at a steeper angle and get the bow line ashore at once: a shallow approach lets the bow blow away before a line is on. Approach slowly but still steering, and if a gust pushes you off line, go round again.
Rig fenders and lines, brief the crew and look at the wind before you commit. Approach no faster than you would be willing to hit the pontoon: slow, but still steering. When the wind blows you off the berth, a shallow approach lets the bow blow away before a line is on. Come in at a steeper angle and get the bow line ashore at once.
If a gust pushes you off line, abort: motor clear and come round again. Never let the crew fend off with hands or feet; a fender held on its line does that job.
A bow thruster pushes the bow sideways at slow speed. Use it in short bursts with pauses between: run for long, it overheats and cuts out just when you need it.
If in doubt, go out and come in again.
Questions from this topic, as the app asks them. Open one to see the answer.
You are drifting almost stopped, engine in neutral, and turn the wheel hard over. Why does the boat not turn?
D. No water is flowing past the rudder
A rudder steers only when water flows over it — from boat speed or prop wash.
You engage astern from rest. Which way does the stern kick?
A. To port
A right-handed propeller walks the stern to port when going astern.
Leaving the pontoon, you steer to starboard to move away. What does your stern do?
C. Swings to port, towards the pontoon
Going ahead a boat pivots well forward, so the stern swings the opposite way to the bow.
You slow right down in this fairway. What does the bow do?
C. Blows off downwind, to port
At low speed the high bow catches more wind than the keel can resist, so it blows off downwind.
You are coming alongside here. How do you approach?
A. At a steeper angle, getting a line on fast
When the wind blows you off, come in at a steeper angle and get the bow line on quickly.
You must turn the boat round in this fairway. Which way do you turn?
B. To starboard — prop walk astern helps
Astern, a right-handed prop kicks the stern to port, which swings the bow to starboard.
All 20 questions of this topic are in the app: practice by topic with the reason after every answer, your mistakes brought back, and a timed mock exam. Free, no sign-up, in the browser or in Telegram.