Autumn storms: how to prepare your yacht in the marina for strong winds
Autumn brings the first serious gales of the season to many European coasts. Even in a sheltered marina a strong blow can chafe through mooring lines, damage fenders and topsides, and turn a loose sail or cover into a problem for the whole pontoon. Most of this damage can be prevented with a few hours of preparation before the weather turns.
Start with the mooring. Double up the main lines, make sure they are in good condition and strong enough for the boat, and leave enough slack for surge and changes in water level without letting the boat reach the pontoon or its neighbours. Add extra fenders at the right height. Wherever a line passes over a fairlead, toerail or sharp edge, protect it with chafe guards, hose or tape: chafe is one of the most common reasons lines part in a storm.
Check what the lines are attached to. Cleats and bollards on board, together with their backing plates, and the rings and cleats on the pontoon should be sound and firmly fixed. If anything looks corroded or loose, let the marina know.
Reduce windage. Where possible, remove headsails from roller furlers, or at least furl them tightly with several turns of sheet and secure them. Take off or lash down biminis, sprayhoods, covers and loose gear on deck, and tie halyards away from the mast so they do not slap.
Look after the systems. Pump the bilge dry, check that the automatic bilge pump and float switch work and clear the cockpit drains. Make sure the batteries are charged and, if the boat stays on shore power, that the cable and charger are in order. Close any seacocks that do not need to stay open and check hatches for leaks.
Follow the forecast and know your local winds, such as the bora in the Adriatic, the mistral in southern France or the meltemi in the Aegean, which can arrive quickly and gust well above the average. If you are away, agree with the marina staff or a local service who will check the lines and fenders during and after the storm. If you have no one on site yet, you can find marinas and yacht services near you in the NautMap catalogue.