Module 20 - Special Situations Afloat
Towing and Being Towed
What you will learn
Release a tow only when both vessels understand the route, equipment, load path, danger areas, communications and emergency release.
A tow is a coupled system. Line length, bridle and speed are not universal answers; their value depends on strong points, displacement, sea, wave spacing, manoeuvring room and the people exposed to load.
Before accepting or offering a tow, compare immediate danger with the new risks created by coupling two vessels. Agree destination or safe objective, route, speed range, steering expectations, communication method, lost-communication action and how either vessel will release the system.
Inspect the towline, messengers, attachment points, fairleads, chafe protection and any bridle. The load path includes deck fittings and their supporting structure, not just rope strength. A bridle may share load or improve alignment on a suitable arrangement, but badly placed legs can chafe, overload fittings or trap crew.
Keep people out of bights and away from lines that can tension or sweep. MCA guidance warns that the whole working deck may be a danger area, not just a painted snap-back zone. Establish one person in charge on each vessel and communication that confirms line status before thrust or course changes apply unexpected load.
Towline length and speed must be tuned to conditions. More length may add elasticity or help align vessels with waves, but can also increase sweep, chafe, fouling and control problems; too little can increase snatch. Start gently, observe load and relative motion, and change one variable at a time. A professional tow may be the safer option when gear, competence or conditions are marginal.
| Release gate | Evidence | Stop signal |
|---|---|---|
| Objective | Route, destination and limits agreed | Vessels expect different manoeuvres |
| Load path | Line, fittings, structure, lead and chafe checked | Movement, heat, damage or overload |
| People | Bights and sweep/snap-back areas cleared | Anyone enters a live danger area |
| Communication | Line status and commands acknowledged | Message lost or ambiguous |
| Release | Both vessels know how and when to disengage | Release cannot be operated safely |
Brief the coupled system before loading it
A small yacht offers a tow in a short steep sea. The proposed long line crosses a side deck and nobody has agreed how to stop the operation.
1. Pause loading
Do not apply thrust until both skippers agree the objective, signals and stop action.
2. Trace the system
Inspect every strong point, lead, chafe point, bight, deck exposure and release.
3. Tune progressively
Apply low load and compare wave phase, snatch, steering and line clearance.
4. Withdraw early
Release or seek professional help if safe positions, communications or controllable loads cannot be maintained.
Sense check: A stronger rope does not make a weak deck fitting, unsafe lead or unbriefed crew safe.
Common mistake or limitation
- Assuming a long line always reduces snatch regardless of wave phase, sweep, fouling and control.
- Choosing a bridle without checking the supporting structure and lead of each leg.
- Treating one marked snap-back zone as the only part of the deck exposed to a loaded line.
- Applying power before both vessels acknowledge line status and emergency release.
Recap
- A tow couples two vessels, two crews and one changing load path.
- Strong points, leads, chafe and deck structure matter as much as rope strength.
- No one stands in a bight; any deck where a line can load or sweep is treated as dangerous.
- Length and speed are tuned from observed load and motion, with communication and release preserved.
Optional quick check
Section 7 of 12
Why is 'use the longest towline available' not a complete Yachtmaster answer?
Sources and factual review
Reviewed 20 August 2026 - Compass Revision editorial review.
Continue studying Special Situations Afloat
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