Many years ago I spent a week on one of Her Majesty’s destroyers.

Coming in to dock alongside in a tight space, the captain kept speed on, almost to the last minute.

He explained that he was worried that the strong onshore wind might drift him onto the docked ship he had to pass while squeezing into his space.

It was a tricky manoeuvre and his daring seamanship left an indelible impression on me – unfortunately.

About a year later my wife and I set sail on our honeymoon bareboat charter in the Ionian.

After a few uneventful days we approached a tricky harbour for a bow-to mooring.

Because of depth constraints this required approaching tight to the stone jetty, then doing a rapid 90° right turn while dropping the stern anchor to apply the brakes and hopefully coming to a neat halt.

Because there was a very strong onshore wind this would have been a tricky manoeuvre – even for a very experienced sailor.

Continues below…

A Sir Robin Knox-Johnston sailing confession: Knot tested

Own up to your sailing sin for the chance to win a handheld VHF radio. Open to UK residents only

Honeymoon Surprise – a sailing sin confessed

Own up to your sailing sin and submit your sailing confession to yachtingmonthly@futurenet.com for the chance to win a handheld…

A sailing confession: A wheel of a time

Own up to your sailing sin for the chance to win a handheld VHF radio. Open to UK residents only

A French treat (or not) – a sailing confession

Own up to your sailing sin for the chance to win a handheld VHF radio. Open to UK residents only

I was no such thing.

I recalled the nifty manoeuvre performed by Her Majesty’s finest and recalled his advice about keeping speed on to avoid drifting down onto the other boats.

Undaunted by other considerations (and keen to impress my new wife) I duly went for it.

Just at the right moment I spun the boat round to point at the jetty, chucked the stern anchor over the back and held the warp, waiting for the anchor to bite.

Nothing happened.

We continued unchecked towards the jetty. Like a rabbit caught in the headlights I watched my impending doom unfold.

Any thought of putting the engine into reverse never entered my head. The crash was spectacular.

An enormously loud bang, the boat stopped instantly and the mast briefly bent forwards alarmingly before returning to upright. Thankfully it all held.

We two very shaken, very amateur yachties tied up and inspected the bow.

A huge V-shaped gash in the stem, probably almost an inch deep, bore stark witness to our high-speed arrival.

I tried to convince myself that the charter company wouldn’t notice this minor blemish when we returned the boat. Amazingly no repair bill followed.

Ever since I have crawled into moorings like a tortoise on sleeping pills.

Oh, and we’ve now been married more than 37 years, which is the amount of time that it’s taken me to own up to this!

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Enjoyed reading A smashing start – one sailor confesses all?

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