Guidelines for Mooring to the Foreshore, Mediterranean Style

Jimmy Green Solutions for Long Floating Shorelines 

Mooring stern-to with long floating shorelines is a widely adopted practice in the Mediterranean, where quays and jetties are scarce.

In these conditions, yachts typically set their anchor to seaward in a conventional manner and fix their position relative to the shore by running long lines from the stern to any available attachment points on land, such as rocks, trees or posts.

Their primary function is to prevent the boat from swinging or going ahead, particularly in swell-prone anchorages or tight bays where space is limited.

Lying with the stern to seaward may be more appropriate, depending on the yacht design, e.g. multihulls and/or the prevailing wind direction.

What are Shorelines?

Shoreline is a general term for any rope that runs from a boat to shore, where the term "shore" customarily refers to a mooring facility, such as a pontoon, jetty, pier, or harbour wall.

However, for the purposes of this article, ‘Shore’ refers to the less orthodox practice of mooring to any convenient mooring fixture along the beach or foreshore, whether manufactured or natural.

Why should Mediterranean-Style Shorelines Float?

If shorelines sink, they will run the considerable risk of snagging and chafing on the seabed. Sinking warps will also be more prone to tangling with other lines running along the bottom. Floating shorelines are readily visible, especially if they are a bright colour, making it easier to steer clear of them.
Selecting an unobstructed route from the boat to shore will also be more straightforward if all the lines are on the surface and, therefore, noticeable.
Floating lines are naturally lightweight and have low water absorption, making them manageable to handle when deployed by dinghy or tender.
Floating Lines will be easier to identify and disengage from the warps of nearby yachts during retrieval.

Shorelines – How Long Should They Be and What Diameter?

Shorelines are typically 40 metres or longer, possibly extending up to 100 or 120 metres for some anchorages where the water is too shallow to venture close to shore.

Polypropylene is not as strong as Nylon (Polyamide) or Polyester, so it will be prudent to upsize one or two diameters from your current docklines:

Mooring Warps Size Guide

Choosing LIROS Squareline Polypropylene for Floating Shorelines

LIROS 8-Strand Octoplait LIROS Multifilament Polypropylene, also known as LIROS Squareline, makes an excellent, lightweight and manageable floating mooring line with a smooth, kind-to-the-hands feel.

'Floatability' can be a significant advantage for long-reach shorelines, such as those deployed from an anchored yacht to the land in the Mediterranean.

LIROS Squareline Polypropylene Floating Shoreline: Facts, Features and Plus Factors

• Available in three colours: White Article 01078 - Yellow Article 01079 - Navy Article 01079 - Black Article 01080
• 8-Strand Balanced, Square Braid Construction
• Excellent supple handling and long-length management qualities
• Lightweight, Low water absorption, FLOATS
• Supple, kind-to-the-hands finish
• Manufactured from 100% Multifilament UV-stabilised Polypropylene
• > 15% working load stretch provides good shock absorption
• Stays pliable for the duration of the rope's working life
• LIROS Manufacturer Break Loads by Diameter: 12mm 2100kg ~ 14mm 2700kg ~ 16mm 3400kg ~ 18mm 4000kg - 20mm 5000kg - 24mm 7400kg - 28mm 9800kg

This chart is only a guide - your final choice should take into account the worst-case scenario conditions in the anchorage, the number of shorelines deployed, as well as your yacht length and displacement.

 The Best Spliced Finish for Floating Shorelines

• Splice a soft loop into the yacht end for secure attachment to a cleat or bollard
• Splice an eye into the shore end for attaching to an abrasion-resistant lasso that will pass around the natural feature, e.g. a rock or a tree
• If splicing is not required, a whipping is recommended to prevent fraying

Octoplait Polypropylene Splicing and Whipping

Securing Shorelines to Natural Features on Land, e.g. Trees, Rocks or Posts

Trees are commonly used, but it is essential to avoid damaging the tree, so use a lasso that won't cut into the bark.

Pass a suitable lasso around your chosen fixture and secure each end to the eye or loop in the shoreline.

Choose your Shoreline Natural Feature Lasso:

• Webbing Sling with heavy-duty stitched loop ends
• Wire Strop with swaged eyes
• Rope Strop with spliced eyes and anti-chafe webbing or protective PVC hose

If suitable mooring rings or eye bolts are available, then the shoreline can be shackled direct without the use of a lasso.

Shackle the two terminal eyes or loops of the Lasso to the spliced eye at the end of the shoreline.

Carabiners could be utilised instead of shackles for quick and easy attachment and removal.

N.B. Shackles and Carabiners should be suitably load-rated and from a recognised and trusted manufacturer.

Shoreline Stowage, Management and Deployment Tips

• Rinse lines after use in freshwater
• Stow in a purpose-designed, portable rope bag
• Flake the lines neatly into a rope bag so that they will emerge tangle-free
• Feed out gradually to prevent snarl-ups

Jimmy Green Shoreline Storage Solutions:

Polyester-Canvas Rope Bags: Rope Stowage Options

• Premium, UV-resistant polyester-canvas fabric
• Easy to stow, lift and deploy from on deck or down in the lazarette
• Avoids the potential bird's nest that will almost certainly ensue from hanking a long line
• Protects the rope from any oil or harmful substances that may have found their way into the locker
• Keeps the rope out of the sun, minimising detrimental UV exposure

Jimmy Green Custom Rope Bags

The Jimmy Green Sewing Team can produce a bespoke rope bag modelled on either of these Jimmy Green bags:

Jimmy Green Storage and Portage Bag

or the

Jimmy Green Carry and Stow Bag 

Purpose-designed and produced in-house, Jimmy Green Rope Stowage Bags will complete your setup for extended Mediterranean-Style Shorelines.