A favorite 'sailing' pastime for many people is to reach the marina or anchorage a little early, pour a glass of wine or a beer and watch other boaters come in. One person's stress becomes another's entertainment. Whether it's coming into a slip, dropping the hook, picking up a mooring buoy, or hauling out onto a trailer and unstepping the mast, this can be the most stressful part of sailing. Are you and your crew up to the task? Do you have this part of sailing wired? Or does this experience create anxiety on your boat? Does your marina or launch site have currents and crosswinds that make it exciting? Or is this part of sailing pretty ho-hum by now. Share your 'end of the day' stories (your own or others) then vote in this week's Quick Quiz at the bottom of the home page. (Quiz contributed by Gary Wyngarden)
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Motor crapped out
We went for a day sail yesterday, planned to sail from Newport RI around Conanicut Island and back to our mooring. Long story short, we got a late start after doing some maintenance and only made it halfway by dinner time, so we decided to pull in to Dutch Harbor for dinner and overnight on our "new" O'Day 22. Approaching the mooring field we discovered our outboard would not start. Had to try sailing to the mooring in an unfamiliar mooring field, my wife on the obw and me on the tiller with binoculars reading the mooring balls. We found it all right, and not too many boats around it, thank God, but the pickup lines were on ver y small floats. My poor wife couldn't hook it, and after 4 attempts they finally sent us a launch to tow us to the mooring. We felt pretty bad, lots of folks watching just as you describe, wine glass in hand. But in the launch on the way in, another coup[le told us they thought our sailing through the mooring field was pretty skillful, at least. Ha!
We went for a day sail yesterday, planned to sail from Newport RI around Conanicut Island and back to our mooring. Long story short, we got a late start after doing some maintenance and only made it halfway by dinner time, so we decided to pull in to Dutch Harbor for dinner and overnight on our "new" O'Day 22. Approaching the mooring field we discovered our outboard would not start. Had to try sailing to the mooring in an unfamiliar mooring field, my wife on the obw and me on the tiller with binoculars reading the mooring balls. We found it all right, and not too many boats around it, thank God, but the pickup lines were on ver y small floats. My poor wife couldn't hook it, and after 4 attempts they finally sent us a launch to tow us to the mooring. We felt pretty bad, lots of folks watching just as you describe, wine glass in hand. But in the launch on the way in, another coup[le told us they thought our sailing through the mooring field was pretty skillful, at least. Ha!
Just ANother Day
Spent some time over the winter doing some maintenance on boat. Filled in a few holes and nicks with solid fillers and gel coat. An attempt at gel coating. Replace main halyard with correct size. Replaced cracked "Mast Light". Revarnished wood trimming. General clean down. Ready for new season. Right! ....right. Preparing boat for launching. Step the "Mast". Oh! What's that. Forgot to connect "topping Lift". Lookit there. Got the "windex" on backwards. Darn! ( Well, somewhat stronger language. ) Putting mainsail up. Oh no! Gorgot to complete task of putting on new halyard. No clip for connecting to head of sail. What happened to that "L" piece that prevents mainsail "lugs" from sliding out of groove. A fine day this is turning out to be. *&%$#($@ Connecting wooden tiller handle to rudder. Now where did I put those flat washers. I knew I put them where I could find them. So we launched anyway. Motor worked. Made sure before floating off of bunkers. We'll motor to our mooring. With new extended tongue, along side of main tongue of trailer, I launch boat. On pulling trailer out of water I notice tongue twisted some. Won't slide back into receiver. +&*^#$& GREAT!. Skies are threatening as we motor back. Lightning anyone. Short talk with the "Big Guy" upstairs. I don't think that he wants to push me off the end of the world so instant blue skies start appearing over the horizon. Moored boat safely. Went back to retrieve trailer and truck. Poured a nice glass of brandy. End of another day. Just thought that you might enjoy. If you ever think things are going bad for you. Read this and think that it could be worse. LOL y the way. Does anyone with a Hunter 23 now the rigging of the "topping Lift" line to the "boom"???
Spent some time over the winter doing some maintenance on boat. Filled in a few holes and nicks with solid fillers and gel coat. An attempt at gel coating. Replace main halyard with correct size. Replaced cracked "Mast Light". Revarnished wood trimming. General clean down. Ready for new season. Right! ....right. Preparing boat for launching. Step the "Mast". Oh! What's that. Forgot to connect "topping Lift". Lookit there. Got the "windex" on backwards. Darn! ( Well, somewhat stronger language. ) Putting mainsail up. Oh no! Gorgot to complete task of putting on new halyard. No clip for connecting to head of sail. What happened to that "L" piece that prevents mainsail "lugs" from sliding out of groove. A fine day this is turning out to be. *&%$#($@ Connecting wooden tiller handle to rudder. Now where did I put those flat washers. I knew I put them where I could find them. So we launched anyway. Motor worked. Made sure before floating off of bunkers. We'll motor to our mooring. With new extended tongue, along side of main tongue of trailer, I launch boat. On pulling trailer out of water I notice tongue twisted some. Won't slide back into receiver. +&*^#$& GREAT!. Skies are threatening as we motor back. Lightning anyone. Short talk with the "Big Guy" upstairs. I don't think that he wants to push me off the end of the world so instant blue skies start appearing over the horizon. Moored boat safely. Went back to retrieve trailer and truck. Poured a nice glass of brandy. End of another day. Just thought that you might enjoy. If you ever think things are going bad for you. Read this and think that it could be worse. LOL y the way. Does anyone with a Hunter 23 now the rigging of the "topping Lift" line to the "boom"???
You're always being watched
My husband and I have anchoring down to a science. All communication is via hand signals. It's a beautiful silent evolution, right up to the "cut the engine" slash of a hand across the throat -- people always seem to be watching, waiting for the shouting that never comes! As for docking, we take turns. Whoever took her out, brings her back in, then we switch next time so both of us keep our boat handling skills sharp. I'm so grateful to have a husband who has the confidence to turn over the wheel, and nothing gives me more pleasure as a sailing woman than making a good landing with all the looky-Lou's on the dock watching.
My husband and I have anchoring down to a science. All communication is via hand signals. It's a beautiful silent evolution, right up to the "cut the engine" slash of a hand across the throat -- people always seem to be watching, waiting for the shouting that never comes! As for docking, we take turns. Whoever took her out, brings her back in, then we switch next time so both of us keep our boat handling skills sharp. I'm so grateful to have a husband who has the confidence to turn over the wheel, and nothing gives me more pleasure as a sailing woman than making a good landing with all the looky-Lou's on the dock watching.
That's the best part
My wife and I use a pair of those $20 headsets for kids. They have a range of about 300 feet but they are great on the boat. No shouting for us and every command is understood. I love docking. It's when the real skills come into play. When it's bad, it's okay and when it's good, it's great....
My wife and I use a pair of those $20 headsets for kids. They have a range of about 300 feet but they are great on the boat. No shouting for us and every command is understood. I love docking. It's when the real skills come into play. When it's bad, it's okay and when it's good, it's great....
Hooking the moring
Trying to catch the mooring line is the hardest part of my sailing day. I am moored in an area that the current can be a real pain.
Trying to catch the mooring line is the hardest part of my sailing day. I am moored in an area that the current can be a real pain.
Big wind, big water and a boat lift
I sail on Senca Lake, one of the Finger Lakes in New York. The lake is 1.5 miles wide in front of my cottage, and 37 miles long. It is also 650 feet deep, so it can get very choppy. Because of the wind and wave action, I keep my 19 on a lift. Docking in high winds and large swells and the center board up, can be a tad unnerving, but when you factor in the seaweed, which by august reaches the surface and is thick enough to stall my 40 hp, its downright thrilling. My mantra when docking with a srong crosswind and a following sea is, "it can be fixed". Its been three years, and my only fax paux has been a nicked rubrail, so the lake goddess has been kind to me. Spending time sailing my 19 makes it all worth it.
I sail on Senca Lake, one of the Finger Lakes in New York. The lake is 1.5 miles wide in front of my cottage, and 37 miles long. It is also 650 feet deep, so it can get very choppy. Because of the wind and wave action, I keep my 19 on a lift. Docking in high winds and large swells and the center board up, can be a tad unnerving, but when you factor in the seaweed, which by august reaches the surface and is thick enough to stall my 40 hp, its downright thrilling. My mantra when docking with a srong crosswind and a following sea is, "it can be fixed". Its been three years, and my only fax paux has been a nicked rubrail, so the lake goddess has been kind to me. Spending time sailing my 19 makes it all worth it.
Lucky, lucky, lucky
I do not fear or even particularly mind docking. Luckily, my slip is positioned so that most of the time, I am facing into the prevailing winds. When undocking, the wind helps me out, and when returning, it slows me down. On those days when the wind is less cooperative, the boat itself helps. She is an Oday 23, which means that I have an outboard. Because I can turn the propellor as well as the rudder, she is very manuverable going forwards or in reverse. On those rare occasions when I have a little time to hang out at the dock, I always try and help others dock. I still remember when I was first learning to dock, and my slip neighbors would line the sides of their boats in case they needed to fend off (all the while refusing to make eye contact with me or offer any help). I may not be Popeye or Larry Pardey, but I help others with what little I know when I can.
I do not fear or even particularly mind docking. Luckily, my slip is positioned so that most of the time, I am facing into the prevailing winds. When undocking, the wind helps me out, and when returning, it slows me down. On those days when the wind is less cooperative, the boat itself helps. She is an Oday 23, which means that I have an outboard. Because I can turn the propellor as well as the rudder, she is very manuverable going forwards or in reverse. On those rare occasions when I have a little time to hang out at the dock, I always try and help others dock. I still remember when I was first learning to dock, and my slip neighbors would line the sides of their boats in case they needed to fend off (all the while refusing to make eye contact with me or offer any help). I may not be Popeye or Larry Pardey, but I help others with what little I know when I can.
Boat Handling
I don't have a lot of anxiety about these situations, because I have a little "secret" about making the boat do what I want in docking, etc. People get in trouble because they're too light and tentative on the amount of engine they use. Once you have the boat in the right gear, giving it a fair amount of throttle will make the boat respond, and you're much less likely to "over-do" it than you are to "under-do it." Practicing this in an unthreatening situation is a good way to get the feel of how much throttle you need to make the boat stop, back up, go back forward, etc. That's my secret!
I don't have a lot of anxiety about these situations, because I have a little "secret" about making the boat do what I want in docking, etc. People get in trouble because they're too light and tentative on the amount of engine they use. Once you have the boat in the right gear, giving it a fair amount of throttle will make the boat respond, and you're much less likely to "over-do" it than you are to "under-do it." Practicing this in an unthreatening situation is a good way to get the feel of how much throttle you need to make the boat stop, back up, go back forward, etc. That's my secret!
Mooring Balls
Coming into our mooring can be a bit challenging. We're in a harbor with about 300 other boats and there is a North and a South area. We've got it pretty much down to a science, but to help have our mooring stand out, we do the following: The jym buoy float area is painted bright yellow, we have orange kinky dinks on our lines and to top off our array of colors, we put a lime green plastic container over the mooring ball and apply orange reflective tape for our numbers on both sides. Helps when coming in at night too.
Coming into our mooring can be a bit challenging. We're in a harbor with about 300 other boats and there is a North and a South area. We've got it pretty much down to a science, but to help have our mooring stand out, we do the following: The jym buoy float area is painted bright yellow, we have orange kinky dinks on our lines and to top off our array of colors, we put a lime green plastic container over the mooring ball and apply orange reflective tape for our numbers on both sides. Helps when coming in at night too.
Show at Black Point
As a sailor, I particularly enjoy watching power boaters try to get their boats out of the water at Black Point, a County marina south of Miami on Biscayne Bay. There is a nice little hill that fills up with people late Saturday and Sunday as 15 or 20 boats crowd the 4 ramps. We sit on blankets with our coolers and watch the power boaters try to get their boats on the trailers, then try to pull their trailers up the steep ramp. Tires squeal, men swear at their wives who are driving, and sometimes a heavy boat with an underpowered car will pull the car back down into the water. The show is spectacular, and, best of all, it's free!
As a sailor, I particularly enjoy watching power boaters try to get their boats out of the water at Black Point, a County marina south of Miami on Biscayne Bay. There is a nice little hill that fills up with people late Saturday and Sunday as 15 or 20 boats crowd the 4 ramps. We sit on blankets with our coolers and watch the power boaters try to get their boats on the trailers, then try to pull their trailers up the steep ramp. Tires squeal, men swear at their wives who are driving, and sometimes a heavy boat with an underpowered car will pull the car back down into the water. The show is spectacular, and, best of all, it's free!
Gotta do it.
We have a saying in flying..." take-offs are optional but landings are mandatory." And assuming I'm leaving my home base and returning to same, I try to figure out how I'll DOCK the boat before I even leave. If it appears to be more of a challenge than I'm up to, I keep the lines on and the boat in the slip. But one addition that's aided immensely in manuvering has been a feathering 3 bladed prop. The boat no longer prop walks in reverse and when using a burst of reverse (or forward) to stop the boat, it happens RIGHT NOW. I wouldn't be without it. And just like sailors comfortably sitting in their cockpits and observing, pilots lining the observation decks make the best landings in the world.!!!!
We have a saying in flying..." take-offs are optional but landings are mandatory." And assuming I'm leaving my home base and returning to same, I try to figure out how I'll DOCK the boat before I even leave. If it appears to be more of a challenge than I'm up to, I keep the lines on and the boat in the slip. But one addition that's aided immensely in manuvering has been a feathering 3 bladed prop. The boat no longer prop walks in reverse and when using a burst of reverse (or forward) to stop the boat, it happens RIGHT NOW. I wouldn't be without it. And just like sailors comfortably sitting in their cockpits and observing, pilots lining the observation decks make the best landings in the world.!!!!
I call it Pier Pressure
We call this end of day phenomenon Pier Pressue. Just bought a C30 TR 6 weeks ago. On the maiden voyage the hired captain said we would back the boat into the slip. This was in a 15-20 kt cross wind. We did okay and now it is the only way I know how. I've done it this way 8-10 time since. So now everyone thinks I know what I am doing. If they only knew.
We call this end of day phenomenon Pier Pressue. Just bought a C30 TR 6 weeks ago. On the maiden voyage the hired captain said we would back the boat into the slip. This was in a 15-20 kt cross wind. We did okay and now it is the only way I know how. I've done it this way 8-10 time since. So now everyone thinks I know what I am doing. If they only knew.
Solo docking
That was the scariest part for me. From day one of owning my boat, I had no trouble docking as long as I had crew. It got so easy that we'd sail in just to make it interesting. Then I changed marinas. My new moorage is a bit trickier than the old one and occasionally has funky currents to boot. Again, I always had crew and we had a set way of doing it - head in nose first (parallel parking type dock) and then turn the boat around by hand. Granted, it was kind of a PITA but it worked. Then when I decided the time had come to solo, I knew I was gonna have to change my docking tactics. I watched the few other boats in my moorage carefully and jumped in feet first. My first solo docking was PERFECT and there was nobody there to see it!! I haven't had any problems since, even when my cockpit controls got disconnected & the motor wouldn't go out of gear. My heart still races just a touch but that's normal when other boats are at risk!!
LaDonna
That was the scariest part for me. From day one of owning my boat, I had no trouble docking as long as I had crew. It got so easy that we'd sail in just to make it interesting. Then I changed marinas. My new moorage is a bit trickier than the old one and occasionally has funky currents to boot. Again, I always had crew and we had a set way of doing it - head in nose first (parallel parking type dock) and then turn the boat around by hand. Granted, it was kind of a PITA but it worked. Then when I decided the time had come to solo, I knew I was gonna have to change my docking tactics. I watched the few other boats in my moorage carefully and jumped in feet first. My first solo docking was PERFECT and there was nobody there to see it!! I haven't had any problems since, even when my cockpit controls got disconnected & the motor wouldn't go out of gear. My heart still races just a touch but that's normal when other boats are at risk!!
LaDonnaMarina Mayhem
I always pop a couple of Xanax before coming back to the marina. Funny thing is though, they don't improve your skills, only your confidence!!! Still, I have seen the most experienced professional coxswains stuff it up.
I always pop a couple of Xanax before coming back to the marina. Funny thing is though, they don't improve your skills, only your confidence!!! Still, I have seen the most experienced professional coxswains stuff it up.
A bunch of rope
For about $10 at home depot I got 100' of cheap "floating" rope and it has made a world of difference in my docking. I will try to recreate in ASCII art but make no promises. --------------- ^ / / / / / / / / / / / At the four corners are cleats and the line intersections are rope loops. With everything pulled tight I can motor bow first into the slip, keep the motor in gear and driving forward, tie off all four mooring lines (while off the boat) and then kill the engine. It also keeps the boat nicely centered in the slip and does away with the need for fenders. This method only works for a floating mooring where the cleat to water height is constant. I have not investigated a fixed dock alternative yet. Overall dimensions above are a slip of about 9' wide and 22' long and bow "support lines" are about 3-5 feet from the "cross slip" lines. -Mark
For about $10 at home depot I got 100' of cheap "floating" rope and it has made a world of difference in my docking. I will try to recreate in ASCII art but make no promises. --------------- ^ / / / / / / / / / / / At the four corners are cleats and the line intersections are rope loops. With everything pulled tight I can motor bow first into the slip, keep the motor in gear and driving forward, tie off all four mooring lines (while off the boat) and then kill the engine. It also keeps the boat nicely centered in the slip and does away with the need for fenders. This method only works for a floating mooring where the cleat to water height is constant. I have not investigated a fixed dock alternative yet. Overall dimensions above are a slip of about 9' wide and 22' long and bow "support lines" are about 3-5 feet from the "cross slip" lines. -Mark
My last dumb trick
I usually solo dock in our slip even when my wife is aboard. A couple of weeks ago we were returning from a weekend out, my wife was below packing up and the dog and I were in the cockpit. I coasted into my slip perfectly, reversed the engine with perfect timing, jumped onto the dock to secure the boat and suddenly realized that the boat was still in gear! The dog was absolutely no help (and they say Border Collies are smart), my wife couldn't hear me, and the boat was rapidly exiting the slip. This time I was lucky and managed to jump back aboard at the last second and re-dock it, this time remembering to put the gear in neutral. I guess nobody was watching since I haven't heard about it from anyone in our club yet (I didn't even tell my wife).
I usually solo dock in our slip even when my wife is aboard. A couple of weeks ago we were returning from a weekend out, my wife was below packing up and the dog and I were in the cockpit. I coasted into my slip perfectly, reversed the engine with perfect timing, jumped onto the dock to secure the boat and suddenly realized that the boat was still in gear! The dog was absolutely no help (and they say Border Collies are smart), my wife couldn't hear me, and the boat was rapidly exiting the slip. This time I was lucky and managed to jump back aboard at the last second and re-dock it, this time remembering to put the gear in neutral. I guess nobody was watching since I haven't heard about it from anyone in our club yet (I didn't even tell my wife).
Sliding In
I like to watch others....we call it "Face" and having good Face is what docking is all about. Our crew ...my wife and I usually have good face.
I like to watch others....we call it "Face" and having good Face is what docking is all about. Our crew ...my wife and I usually have good face.
New Boat New Challange
My old boat I could park on a dime, my new boat is a different thing. It does not back well at all, with high freeboard it has problems in windy conditions and weighing in at around 12000lbs. can't easly be moved by hand. The difference is only 2 feet between the 2 boats, but it's like night and day. All my boats before had a tiller, this new one has a wheel, strangely enough it has taken alot to get used to, even while sailing. I think with more time and practice things will be okay.
My old boat I could park on a dime, my new boat is a different thing. It does not back well at all, with high freeboard it has problems in windy conditions and weighing in at around 12000lbs. can't easly be moved by hand. The difference is only 2 feet between the 2 boats, but it's like night and day. All my boats before had a tiller, this new one has a wheel, strangely enough it has taken alot to get used to, even while sailing. I think with more time and practice things will be okay.
last one
i got the last mooring spot - it is 20' (one boat length) from the ledge 8' to 4+' with a 5' swing keel its fun to come in turn- catch my mooring bouy and stop.all be for i run aground - all after a day of sailing! even under power its no picnic.
i got the last mooring spot - it is 20' (one boat length) from the ledge 8' to 4+' with a 5' swing keel its fun to come in turn- catch my mooring bouy and stop.all be for i run aground - all after a day of sailing! even under power its no picnic.
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