What I do:
Leaving...
I have a mooring "mast buoy" which has a stick on the top and a weight on the bottom.
Attached to it is a one foot long loop of 1/4" line which goes through the hole in the weight.
On that loop I have a large, almost the size of my hand, carabiner.
When it is time to leave the mooring I disconnect the bull snaps from my boat's bow ring and clip the carabiner through them.
I drop the buoy in the water and motor off.
Returning...
I approach the mooring going up wind.
That makes it easier to control the boat in close quarters with the other boats and moorings.
Using ZERO throttle, I idle up to the buoy being careful not to over shoot it.
Remember that the boat will still be moving after you shift it into neutral.
Grab the mast on the buoy.
Haul up the mooring lines and put the loop of 1/4" line over a cleat to stop the boat from moving.
Put one bull snap on the bow ring, unclip the carabiner and stow the buoy and then clip the second bull snap.
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