How to dock a boat — between a rock and a safe place

The only way is up

Like many climbers, Britta-Kajsa loves a challenge. She jumped at the opportunity to head to Hvar, off the coast of Split, Croatia, to help demonstrate the versatility and precision of Volvo Penta’s marine automation system.

A lover of outdoor climbing since starting at the age of 16, Mårtensson has competed in numerous junior competitions in a sport that has fast become a major part of her life. An active member of the climbing community, Britta-Kajsa works part time as a climbing instructor, and, as if that isn’t challenging enough in itself, she’s also studying to become a doctor. On the face of it, the medical profession is a world away from rock climbing. But according to Britta-Kajsa, the two have more in common than you may think.

“I want to study and work with something that I feel is important, and where I feel I can make a difference somehow,” she says. “And it’s definitely the same with climbing. The need to be calm, mentally strong, and take the right decisions. There are so many mental aspects to both, and in both cases I feel the need to challenge myself.”

How to dock the boat with Assisted Docking

The challenge this time is a new climbing route, accessible only from the water. Luckily, the boat, a Nimbus T11, can maneuver right up to the cliff’s edge, from where the 22-year-old Swede can begin (and end) her ascent.

The boat used by the team is equipped with Volvo Penta’s innovative Assisted Docking system, which makes docking easier and improves maneuvering in tight spaces. By using the joystick, the captain can control the boat’s path and speed, while the system compensates for elements such as wind and current – essential for adventure pursuits, like sea cliff climbing. It suits today’s challenging ascent perfectly, with the belayer and route designer, the climbing expert Klemen Bečan, able to assist her by standing on the bow of the vessel and holding on to the ropes.

Confident that all conditions are under control, Britta-Kajsa can focus on the climb itself.

“At first, I was really nervous but also super excited,” she said. “When I get that feeling that I’m in the flow though, everything just works. I’m in the moment, I really feel everything very intensely, and I get to experience so many emotions while I’m climbing. Here, there were a lot of feelings – both intimidating, but also fascinating, and so cool – a very unique climb,” she smiles.

An ideal location for scaling the heights

With its long stretch of sheer cliffs plunging into the choppy waters of the Adriatic, the Croatian island of Hvar’s south coast represents something of a dream for sea cliff climbers and other adventure seekers. A one-hour ferry ride from Split, it ticks several wish list boxes for Britta-Kajsa, who loves to climb next to the sea, and in challenging new environments. This one is different from those she is more used to at home around Gothenburg, Sweden, however.

“In Croatia, the rock is limestone, which makes it challenging. There are a lot of pockets, like round holes, and a lot of rock formations. In some parts there are really good holes, but maybe the friction isn’t that good, because the rock has been polished by the water. I love that about climbing, I continually get to challenge myself in different ways. I get to experience so many emotions.”

Slowly but steadily, Britta-Kajsa makes her way up the sheer cliff face, rarely looking down at the waves lapping against the rocks below. And after what feels like an eternity since taking her first confident step off the boat, she triumphantly reaches the summit, yelling a scream of satisfaction.

But the mission isn’t over yet. Abseiling adroitly down the face of the cliff, she finally drops calmly down onto the deck of the boat and into the arms of her friend and climbing partners.

“When you reach the top, you feel so happy. You can clip the anchor, release your emotions, and feel them all at once, because you’re no longer climbing,” she smiles.

The right ingredients for adventure

Not only was the location of Hvar itself a new experience for Britta-Kajsa, but the fact that she was climbing from a boat added an extra thrilling dimension to it.

“Rappelling down and seeing the boat, being able to be that precise and that steady, so that I could descend from the rope and down to the boat without falling into the water – I found that both intimidating and amazing at the same time,” she says.

“There’s a sense of freedom being on a boat, because you can go wherever you want. You can get to the small beaches that are maybe impossible to reach by car. And you can do so many different things – stop for a while, take a swim, or go off the cliffs somewhere and take a walk around.”

Reaching areas sometimes inaccessible, sometimes completely untouched, is a significant part of the adventure for many ocean climbers. In this sense, having a boat with the Volvo Penta Assisted Docking system played an integral role in the adventure.

The system makes docking smoother, giving the boat extra responsiveness and hence offering greater control and precision, which is essential in such conditions. Consequently, even more adventurers like Britta-Kajsa Mårtensson can elevate their pursuits, exploring with greater freedom and confidence.

“I felt it was an honor to be the first person to climb that route. It was a magnificent experience for me,” she says. “But the experience doesn’t just happen by the cliff. It’s everything around it too that makes it so special.”