Figure 1 Waterdog alongside at the end of the harbour with stern spring rigged.

Figure 2 Prop wash acts to pull stern to port, we turn around the aft fender.

In spring 2010 at the end of May, we were treated to a mini heat wave for a glorious week. We decided to take a break from working on the interior fit out and take a mini cruise down the Canal de Sambre to Thuin.

Manoeuvring out of Erquelinnes basin was the first hurdle, as we are the biggest, heaviest boat in the harbour we have to be careful of the smaller boats moored on both sides.

To get the boat pointed away from the quay at the end of the harbour we used a stern spring with a tyre fender tied aft. We cast off all the other lines and then used steady power astern to spring the bow off. We use this method quite a lot to get out of tight spots so were used to the manoeuvre.

Figure 3 We should have had a second fender further aft really but Waterdog is tough enough to cope.

Figure 4 Time to slip the stern spring and motor gently ahead before the rudder fouls the quayside.

The rudder sticks out from the stern by quite a way so we have to be careful to stop going astern before the rudder gets too close to the stonework. As I put the engine ahead Lorna takes off the stern spring and coils it for later.

It's the smaller boats that are the worry as Waterdog carries 100 T of momentum. That is why slow manoeuvres and the use of warps is best. In the picture above Waterdog carries some momentum from the springing so the bow keeps turning. If we had been against the wind we might have needed more help from warps or the bow thruster.

As the boat pulls away from the quay I can apply more power with the rudder over to starboard. If the rudder is too close I straighten it and let the boat go straight ahead for a few metres.