All that messing about before we actually got moving was related to the use of both anchors and lines attached to submerged mooring blocks that have to be disconnected by divers. There are two boats, one small one that the divers worked off and the other one that is run by the marina people and serves as kind of a command center.
There are something like 90 meters of chain on each anchor and about a third that scope on the blocks. The stern is moored with pairs of lines.
I am on my iPad and can't attach a photo for some reason but will post some showing the mooring layout when I can. There are strong winds out of the north here from time to time and as we are moored heading almost due N, the side forces are quite high.
Oh, it just dawned on me, the boat you are talking about might be the pilot boat though he was alongside about midships most of the way out but I think he passed us just before we went through the reef. because of the size of the boat we have to use a local pilot.
-- Edited by RickB on Friday 3rd of February 2012 03:08:40 PM