How To Sail: How To Pick Up A Mooring - Sailing Basics Video Series

New to sailing? We created this comprehensive basic sailing video series just for you!

We know how difficult it is to find solid answers to your questions related to sailing fundamentals. As professional sailing instructors, we get it, and since we cover these topics regularly with our students, we knew we could help you too. We created these Learn How To Sail: Sailing Basics videos, to be your ultimate sailing 101 video series. In them, we cover Monohull sailing for beginners from anchoring, to steps for recovering a man overboard, all the way up to perfect sail trim! In this first video, we will cover:

How to nail picking up a mooring, and how to look like a pro in the process.

We hope you enjoy, and thanks for watching!

#learntosail
#howtosail
#sailingbasics
#sailing101
#beginningsailing
#sailing
#sailboat

[kjellg]

In my younger days, a huge mahogany sailing yacht, no engine, came gliding up to the mooring. Everything calm onboard. Forward sails came down and belayed. Everything calm on board. Main came down and belayed on the boom. Everything calm onboard, boat silently gliding through the water. One of the crew slowly walking the foredeck, preparing some rope. Everything calm onboard. Slowly the yacht turns into the wind before the buoy coming to a complete stop. Crew bowing down and CLICK carabiner in situ! That helmsman for sure knew his boat and calculated the wind!

[southernpaths]

What a great series! I’m newly interested in sailing at 53 years old and am trying to learn as much online as I can before signing up for a proper sailing course.

[kenlathrop]

Great video. I just bought a Hunter 30 at your marina. I learned to sail out of Sandpoint back in 1990. My favorite adventures were on Pend Orielle. Moving my boat to Cda Lake where I bought a slip but I would have rather stayed at Bayview. Thanks for sharing your spring adventure.

[stevewhite]

This gives me some confidence! Never picked up a mooring ball yet.

[jrhernandez]

Great tutorial and tips. Taking my first sailing instructions this May in Split, Croatia. Looking forward to the next video!

[justinlaskey]

I really appreciate these videos. I am new to sailing at the age of 33. I have learned a wealth of knowledge from these series. One thing that scares me most is docking. If you can post more content on docking I would very much appreciate it as this seems to get my heart rate up most.

[fabriziolavini]

Would you make a video showing what'd be the wrong on picking the mooring ball from stern and eventually keeping bridled there ? Anyway thanks

[FaebopFadeToFunk]

Just finished watching your learn how to sail playlist. Really informative! I can't wait to apply these skills to my own boat very soon.

[tvwmbfj]

awesome tutorials! thank you for making me better at sailing!

[philup]

Great vid will be using a double bridle when I go out next looks stress free compared to how I was shown.

[mikesoertsz]

SO GOOD filming all this with a drone. Really great work guys.

[MotherFirkinNature]

really enjoying your series of videos, keep up the good work!

[TheLivingSea-com]

Great series! Thanks for putting it together. Loved the sea lions coming over to play in your video.

One way we do it on the dive boat is start by having a line attached on one cleat and the other end in-hand. When we approach the mooring we toss the line upwind of the mooring ball and lock the lose end of the line to the opposite cleat. As the boat slowly drifts back the line will catch the underside of the mooring ball and give you a TEMPORARY hold. Now you can take your time setting up your mooring bridle using your boat hook. Once that's done, release the temporary bridle from your cleat and pull the other end back on the boat. No stress!

[mikechro]

I started sailing again after a many year hiatus. I am now at a slip. Years ago I had a mooring and then like now, I mostly solo sailed. When I motored back to the mooring I actually reversed into the wind towards the mooring. That way I would put the motor in neutral when close and glide backwards to the mooring so I could pick it up from the cockpit. I would then put one line through the mooring bridle and walk the line to the bow where I would tie it off. I did use a second line if I was leaving the boat overnight. Was this technique appropriate or am I missing something where I should have known better? BTW, your videos are outstanding since I

[TravelWithUs]

Wow, this is the best video on swinging mooring. Complete instructions, best footage from all angles, nothing forgotten. Great job, looking forward to watch the other videos!

[Sommers]

Thank you, very good pointers and tips! @ 5:15 it would be helpful to see how to actually tie on your two lines to the ball or painter.

[JeffreyHarthSailing]

Ok, perfect. Got that down. Now, how do I do this single-hand?

[cryptomaori]

Wonder what the big 'thing' is swimming past at 40s in the r/h corner ?? Ok, seals..

[georgecumming]

Another really useful video, explained very clearly. Just one question, for a single handed craft, what difference in technique, if any, would you suggest?

[trackie]

What if your boat has no motor or it’s not functioning? This would be good to practice under sail.