The raw terror of reversing and berthing demystified

[Lord Chunderguts]

'ello chaps!
A few nautical gents in my orbit have expressed their dismay and unease at having to use reverse gear on occasion, and many sailors on other forums have expressed their terror at berthing. Having commanded many different vessels from paper hats to dinghies to pleasure cruisers to tugs, which themselves were attached to barges, drilling rigs, dredges, and ships of many thousands of tons displacement, I've had the joy of dealing with winds and currents pushing in opposite directions whilst berthing. Add the odd windsurfer tacking across my bows and falling over, expecting me to stop on a dime, the poor dear, and it complicates matters. I hope this jolly little guide will help anyone new to boating, especially if you have to berth a vessel much heavier than a Top Hat.
If your attempts at berthing have resulted in your Top Hat ending up in the uppermost branches of a Californian Redwood, adrift in Trevi Fountain in Italy, or floating in 'er Majesty's Royal Commode, then this guide is for you! Thank you chaps! Cheerio!
*Depending on whether your propeller rotates clockwise or counterclockwise, your TH will swing to Starboard or to Port when reversing Most older vessels swing to Port, but many THs will swing to Starboard*

TH berthing 1 50th attempt.png (829.16 KiB) Viewed 1275 times

TH berthing 2.jpg (491.69 KiB) Viewed 1275 times

TH berthing 3.jpg (459.1 KiB) Viewed 1275 times

TH berthing 4.jpg (429.24 KiB) Viewed 1275 times

Thank you chaps, cheerio
-Will

[Windrider]

That looks like masterful advice - many thanks - I’m going to digest it and practise!

[Phillip]

That's the KEY word PRACTISE, practise practise!!!!

Oh, and do it very very SLOWLY!!!!!

[Lord Chunderguts]

Thank you chaps - most of the boats I drove would swing to port when reversing, however I suspect most TH's with an internal engine will swing to starboard when reversing so you might need to reverse my instructions. Cheerio!