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Leaving the Dock | Coming
Back Into a Slip | Coming
to a Regular Dock
Leaving a dock or coming into
one can be a display of good seamanship. Or it can turn out to be
an experience of major embarrassment or, worse, of boat damage.
And usually, when the latter happens, they are plenty of people
around witnessing your major screw up and shaking their head in
disbelief. Dare say it never happened to you :-)
Here are some simple guidelines to avoid being embarrassed and/or
be in the statistics of the charter company's insurance policy.
As in most seamanship topics,
the key words are: PREPARATION and SLOW. Boaters coming
full throttle to a dock are guaranteed of one thing: catastrophe!
I have seen some situations with large powerboats, where a botched
docking left part of the marina looking like Pearl Harbor.
Leaving
the Dock (Boat Parked in a Slip)
A. Preparation
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Make sure that everything is in order
on the deck and in the cockpit.
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Two crews or at least one, should be
standing on the foredeck with a long boat hook and a fender
at the ready to fend off a potential collision with another
docked boat.  TIP: NEVER
use feet or leg to fend off another boat.
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The dinghy should be tied on one of the
front side of the bow, with the painter as short as possible.
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Your engine is now on and idles on neutral.
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Before you do anything else, at this
point, you should know 3 things:
a) what's the wind direction so you know where it's going
to push your bow; b) what is your plan of action, step by
step. Your crew should know it too; c) what your path is going
to be right after you'll be off your slip. You don't want
to improvise here.
B. Leaving
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If the boat is stern to, which it is
most of the times, instruct your crew to release the stern
lines and bring them on board. Just throw them in the cockpit
for the time being, as now is no time for coiling. At the
very same time, give a burst forward to the boat and have
the foredeck crew release the bow line(s). Keep moving forward
very slowly. If you can get out of the slip and the marina
by just going straight, then do so. If you have to immediately
turn into a channel, keep going until the boat is 2/3 out
of the slip. Then start turning your boat slowly but firmly,
especially if it is windy, in which case you need a little
more power. In all cases, always bear in mind that you need
to maintain power in order to keep steerage.
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At this point, you can instruct your
crew to remove the fenders and store them. You are out.
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Once you get out of the marina, or just
before if there is room and time, instruct you crew to bring
the dinghy to the stern and cleat the painter.
Coming
Back Into a Slip
Look, we've all messed up here, one day or another. So
relax, do not white-knuckle, and if you miss, no big deal. Just
start over and do it again.
A. Preparation
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About 30 minutes before reaching the
marina, call the dock master on the VHF. He will tell you
which dock/slip you will have to put the boat at.
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Most sailboats, when in reverse, back
up to port or starboard, depending on the propeller orientation.
Make sure you know how your boat behaves, before entering.
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Before entering the marina: a) Have the
crew tie up the fenders (TIP:
tie up 1 or 2 fenders at the transom); b) have a crew bring
the dinghy to the bow and tie it on either side with a short
painter; c) all the docking lines should be out and cleated.
c) Two crews or at least one, should be standing on the foredeck
with a long boat hook and a fender at the ready to fend off
a potential collision with another docked boat. They will
also help you spot the slip where you have to go.
-
At this stage, your crew should know
exactly what your game plan is, and what everyone has to do.
Basically: You steer, 1 crew is assigned to the stern lines
and watch, 1 crew at the bow to lasso the pilings or cleat
to the side dock, 1/2 crew(s) with boat hook and fenders in
hands.
B. Doing it
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Once you have spotted your slip, slow
down as much as you can but just enough to keep steerage.
If you are going too fast, throw the boat in reverse to slow
it down.
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Look at the slip, how the wind is blowing
and visualize in your mind what you'll do. If necessary go
around to see how wind and current push your boat.
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Once your boat is positioned, start backing
up slowly but steadily. NOW, if you feel you're going to miss,
do not insist: you could start banging on obstacles or other
boats. Simply stop your maneuver and go around to start over.
No shame. And remember: this is the moment where people on
the dock are ready to help, but also watching how skilled
a sailor you are!
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Whatever happens: do not yell at your
crew.
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Finally you have backed up in your slip.
Your foredeck crew should immediately jump on the side dock
to round up the bow line around the dock cleat, or lasso the
line around the piling. In both cases, he/she should do it
in a way that he can keep slacking it off as you keep backing
up.
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Once your transom is close enough to
the dock, have your stern crew either jump on the dock with
one of the stern lines, or throw the lines to some help on
the dock. Immediately stop the boat. Adjust the length of
your lines.
Coming
to a Regular Dock (Fuel Dock for Ex.)
Everything above remains the same, except:
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Tell your crew in advance on which side
you're going to dock, so they can tie up the fenders accordingly.
TIP: If you boat backs
to the port side, you want to dock on your port side. Ideally,
you also want to dock upwind.
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Instead of backing up your boat into
a slip, you are going to approach the dock at a very shallow
angle and very slow, but remember: keep steerage.
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When your bow is about 2 to 3 feet from
the dock, throw your engine in reverse, and your stern will
start to back to port, closer to the dock.
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Your crew(s) should step on the dock,
or throw the lines to helpers on the dock. (Mysterious rule:
They are always helpers on the dock. Just hope they do not
mess up!)
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If you are just refueling or taking on
water, a bow line, stern line and one spring line are enough.
If you intend to stay longer, you will need 2 spring lines.
Well, that is about all there
is to it!
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