I'd appreciate some advice. My slip runs east/west and unfortunately the prevailing winds run north/south. Makes getting in and out of the slip an adventure. I sail a Hunter 260 with an outboard so power is not substantial. Any words of wisdom appreciated. Fair winds. Bill P.
Crosswind at dock
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Docking
I have a similar problem. If your dock has pilings or dock posts abaft the beam when you are in the slip, you may be able to try what works for me. Before coming in, I tie a line to something on the windward side of the boat with a loop on the free end. The line is premeasured to stop the boat before the bow contacts the dock. As I come in, I slip the loop over the dock upright. As the boat goes forward into the slip, the line pulls the boat over to windward. You cn keep a little power on and this will hold the boat to windward while you fasten the dock lines. I am a single hander and this makes docking my H34 a lot easier.
I have a similar problem. If your dock has pilings or dock posts abaft the beam when you are in the slip, you may be able to try what works for me. Before coming in, I tie a line to something on the windward side of the boat with a loop on the free end. The line is premeasured to stop the boat before the bow contacts the dock. As I come in, I slip the loop over the dock upright. As the boat goes forward into the slip, the line pulls the boat over to windward. You cn keep a little power on and this will hold the boat to windward while you fasten the dock lines. I am a single hander and this makes docking my H34 a lot easier.
Lines
Use your dock lines to help control your boat. You don't mention if the wind is blowing off the finger or on. If the wind is blowing you off the finger getting in and out should be only a small hassle, slightly more complex if the wind is blowing you onto the finger. In either case using the engine against a spring line will help you control the boat.
Use your dock lines to help control your boat. You don't mention if the wind is blowing off the finger or on. If the wind is blowing you off the finger getting in and out should be only a small hassle, slightly more complex if the wind is blowing you onto the finger. In either case using the engine against a spring line will help you control the boat.
single handing
My slip faces north, the current runs from the NW, the wind from all points at one time or another. I won't even try to single hand when wind and current are against me. Usually Nancy takes the helm and I cast off the lines and fend off as needed until she is under way and has steerage. Sometimes it is dead calm and I could take her out with a boat hook. But have the engine ready, cast off the lazy lines, pull the boat to the weather side of the slip, cast off forward, scurry aft and let go the aft line and get moving. Try it a few times with a partner and get your timing down. Ross in Bel Air
My slip faces north, the current runs from the NW, the wind from all points at one time or another. I won't even try to single hand when wind and current are against me. Usually Nancy takes the helm and I cast off the lines and fend off as needed until she is under way and has steerage. Sometimes it is dead calm and I could take her out with a boat hook. But have the engine ready, cast off the lazy lines, pull the boat to the weather side of the slip, cast off forward, scurry aft and let go the aft line and get moving. Try it a few times with a partner and get your timing down. Ross in Bel Air
Docking a big boat
Check out this link. It is an animated version of how to dock a big boat under various wind/docking situations. www.cruising.sailingcourse.com/docking.htm
Check out this link. It is an animated version of how to dock a big boat under various wind/docking situations. www.cruising.sailingcourse.com/docking.htm
Back in?
If you are backing in approach your slip on your side of the fairway. Use a line cleated amidship to either port or starboard whichever is closest to your slip. If the wind is coming from the bow let the boat stop amidship against the farthest forward pylon and pass the loose end of the line around the pylon. do not tie the loose end but hold to control the arch of movement by pulling or releasing. Shift the engine into reverse and let line steer the boat around. As the bow moves out the wind will catch it and help pull the boat in the slip. If the wind is coming from the stern the operation is the same except you will have to stop the boat quickly by applying a burst of reverse power, idle back still in gear quickly but firmly pass the line around the Pylon (remember is the line around the pylon that will steer the boat not the rudder so once the boat is stopped or in transition from forward to reverse you can walk around to handle the line) you may have to power up in reverse to fight the wind in this case. If you are going into your slip bow first you will need some speed to maintain steering and control drift. Come in the opposite side of the fairway and start turning in by pointing to the outside (of the slip) of the windward pylon. Calculate drift and correct by increasing or decreasing engine speed. Once you are in the slip to amidship start powering in reverse to slow down and with a pole grab your dockline tied to the back pylon on the side of the finger dock. Cleate it to the stern of the boat and shift to neutral. The line will stop you and swing you into the finger pier. Once your movement is controlled by the line and the engine is in neutral you can walk up to fend the bow and tie the bow lines. Do not hurry your movements, nothing happens fast on a sailboat just plan your manouver and execute with precision. A boat your size you can pretty much manhandle and physically pull or push it to were you want it to go so don't be afraid to lean up to a pylon. If you have crew teach them to fend off absorbing energy but not to pull or push as that will steer the boat and that is your job. With a little practice you will not have a problem docking.
If you are backing in approach your slip on your side of the fairway. Use a line cleated amidship to either port or starboard whichever is closest to your slip. If the wind is coming from the bow let the boat stop amidship against the farthest forward pylon and pass the loose end of the line around the pylon. do not tie the loose end but hold to control the arch of movement by pulling or releasing. Shift the engine into reverse and let line steer the boat around. As the bow moves out the wind will catch it and help pull the boat in the slip. If the wind is coming from the stern the operation is the same except you will have to stop the boat quickly by applying a burst of reverse power, idle back still in gear quickly but firmly pass the line around the Pylon (remember is the line around the pylon that will steer the boat not the rudder so once the boat is stopped or in transition from forward to reverse you can walk around to handle the line) you may have to power up in reverse to fight the wind in this case. If you are going into your slip bow first you will need some speed to maintain steering and control drift. Come in the opposite side of the fairway and start turning in by pointing to the outside (of the slip) of the windward pylon. Calculate drift and correct by increasing or decreasing engine speed. Once you are in the slip to amidship start powering in reverse to slow down and with a pole grab your dockline tied to the back pylon on the side of the finger dock. Cleate it to the stern of the boat and shift to neutral. The line will stop you and swing you into the finger pier. Once your movement is controlled by the line and the engine is in neutral you can walk up to fend the bow and tie the bow lines. Do not hurry your movements, nothing happens fast on a sailboat just plan your manouver and execute with precision. A boat your size you can pretty much manhandle and physically pull or push it to were you want it to go so don't be afraid to lean up to a pylon. If you have crew teach them to fend off absorbing energy but not to pull or push as that will steer the boat and that is your job. With a little practice you will not have a problem docking.
Great Advice From Benny....
.. about backing in. I have an H26 at Big Lagoon, just west of you. The prevailing wind is SW and I have a slip facing east. Backing is the definite way to go except that when a blow comes in, the waves many time come in from the east. Witnesses told me they watched waves break over my transom. After that I started practicing up on bow in approach. It's frustrating, but I'm getting much better at it, however, I have an application in for a slip facing west so I can back in. I guess the bottom line, check to see how the wave action hits your slip in a storm. Brian W
.. about backing in. I have an H26 at Big Lagoon, just west of you. The prevailing wind is SW and I have a slip facing east. Backing is the definite way to go except that when a blow comes in, the waves many time come in from the east. Witnesses told me they watched waves break over my transom. After that I started practicing up on bow in approach. It's frustrating, but I'm getting much better at it, however, I have an application in for a slip facing west so I can back in. I guess the bottom line, check to see how the wave action hits your slip in a storm. Brian W
EZ-Steer
Also, if you don't have EZ-Steer, I would highly advise it. It really helps out in low power situations... you don't have to worry as much about keeping as much water moving across the rudder.
Also, if you don't have EZ-Steer, I would highly advise it. It really helps out in low power situations... you don't have to worry as much about keeping as much water moving across the rudder.
Docking Primer
http://www.quantumsails.com/pdf/maneuvering.pdf This is the best docking primer i have seen take a look you can download and print it tony
http://www.quantumsails.com/pdf/maneuvering.pdf This is the best docking primer i have seen take a look you can download and print it tony
Docking under power
You might want to get DK Publishing's "Complete Sailing Manual" as it has lots of great diagrams. Check this link for more info: http://kobernus.com/hunter260_web/docking.html
You might want to get DK Publishing's "Complete Sailing Manual" as it has lots of great diagrams. Check this link for more info: http://kobernus.com/hunter260_web/docking.html
what about a dock 'V' line to capture the bow
I (and many boats in my marina) set-up a 'V' to capture the bow, allowing for using more power when coming into the slip under odd wind conditions, yet not hitting the dock with the bow. Run a small (3/16" or 3/8") line from mid-ship piling to mid-ship piling and support it with separate line attached to the center area of your slip. Some also attach a bumper to the center of the 'V' where the boat will contact the line, keeping the boat from running over the line/bumper. Set the line so that the boat doesn't rub against it when you are tied-up, but will keep the boat from hitting the dock when your coming in. This way, you can come in at what ever power level is needed for the winds, reverse after the bow is past the outer pilings, and still not hit the dock. One other thought is to always aim for the piling on the windward side as you make your turn towards your slip, the wind will tend to push you away from the windward piling, but this way you will wind up being centered as you are entering the slip. Hope this helps...
I (and many boats in my marina) set-up a 'V' to capture the bow, allowing for using more power when coming into the slip under odd wind conditions, yet not hitting the dock with the bow. Run a small (3/16" or 3/8") line from mid-ship piling to mid-ship piling and support it with separate line attached to the center area of your slip. Some also attach a bumper to the center of the 'V' where the boat will contact the line, keeping the boat from running over the line/bumper. Set the line so that the boat doesn't rub against it when you are tied-up, but will keep the boat from hitting the dock when your coming in. This way, you can come in at what ever power level is needed for the winds, reverse after the bow is past the outer pilings, and still not hit the dock. One other thought is to always aim for the piling on the windward side as you make your turn towards your slip, the wind will tend to push you away from the windward piling, but this way you will wind up being centered as you are entering the slip. Hope this helps...
When the wind just won't cooperate
There is a great article in the latest edition of Cruising World magazine. It's "Making Friends with Pilings and Seawalls",and it deals with just the problem you mentioned.
There is a great article in the latest edition of Cruising World magazine. It's "Making Friends with Pilings and Seawalls",and it deals with just the problem you mentioned.
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