Docking in beam wind

[CO Editorial]

Everyone has had to squeeze into a tight slip with wind on the beam. What's your technique for putting your boat where you want when the wind won't cooperate?Do you try to power through it, or use its force to support your goal? Share your docking secrets (or your scuff removal technique) here, then go to the CO home page and vote in this week's related Quick Quiz.

 

[Dan Ryder]

Whoa, Baby!

I'm a small boat sailer, new to my C-36. Most of my crosswind docking experience is in 16-22 footers, sans motors. My berth in Monterey was narrow, but I had about 150 yard run into the dock with almost unlimited maneuvering room upwind and downwind, at least until I got into the slip proper. The finger I tied to was on the upwind (port) side. The wind was always a 90 degree left crosswind.We sailed upwind and made our final turn toward the slip, maneuvering to give ourselves 20-30 lateral displacement upwind when we came out of the turn. With 15kts or more we'd drop the main on the final tack and maneuver with jib alone. With 15 kts or more we'd drop everything in the turn. In 50 or so attempts, I had to wave off once because I'd misjudged my leeway. We got the jib back up, and went around for another try. We did have one advantage I no longer enjoy. The Petty Officer who ran the marina usually was on hand to grab us and help tie us off.We never hit the dock hard, well, we never went up on it; and we never had to paddle.I can't say I'm that spiffy in my Catalina. Docking on the lee side of the dock has given me fits. With more than 8 or 10 knots, (particularly if mooring starboard side to) the crew really has to scramble because everything, including your backing "bells" are working against you. To paraphrase, once you're out of steerage way, it's all downwind from there. I've tried it fast; I've tried it slow. It's almost always been ugly mooring on the lee side of the dock. Mooring on the windward side has been no problem up to 15 knots. And no, I'm not ready to try sliding into my slip with no engine. I've got 4 spots picked out for emergencies of that nature. One of them has got to be within 15 degrees of the wind. I hope.

 

[Randy]

Turn & Burn

The most difficult docking experience that I found myself in occurred many years ago, while sailing a Navy 44 in Annapolis (intercollegiate racing). At the end of the day, a stiff breeze was blowing 15-20 kts, perpendicular to the slip. Those who've sailed at the Naval Academy are familiar with the tight quarters at the Crown Sailing Center.  As skipper, I discussed various docking procedures with the Naval safety officer on board...on his recommendation, we approached from downwind, motoring directly upwind, a boatlength or so off the pilings. As we approached the slip, I made a hard turn into the slip, putting the diesel in reverse. The hard turn helped to bleed off speed, and the stiff breeze helped to cancel the boat's leeway (hence, the turn & burn nickname!). The boat came to rest in the slip, a couple of feet from the dock. Though it worked well(whew!),it's not something for the faint of heart. In almost any other circumstance, I'd recommend approaching from as far away as possible, and setting up a crab-angle approach, moving just fast enough to maintain steerage and to cancel leeway.Randy

 

[Rob R.]

Slip'n'slide

In attempting to dock in high beam breezes, at times I found it advantageous to head up into the wind, right next to the slip, and put a person off with a bow line. Then, with them on the NEXT dock to windward, have them take a turn on a cleat, and trim as I powered into the slip with my rudder hard over to lee.

 

[Michael Woodside]

let the wind do it!

My boat backs down like drunken hippo, that's why I use the wind to bring the bow around as I back into my slip.

 

[John Finch]

X-Wind landing

Wow! where does all those crew come from? My slip is 14 feet wide by 30 feet long, and my C-30 is a scant 11 feet wide by over 31 feet--counting bow sprit. The only way to it with a beam wind (normally 10 kn. to 15 kn. with an ocaisional 30 kn.) is to put plenty of large fenders on the lee side of the boat, drive in with pleanty of steerage way, put it in reverse with enough power to stop. My crew tries to pick up the spring line on the way in, but misses it most of the time. I just let it settle leeward then retrieve the lines and cleat them off. It works, but it sure is frightening some times.Sure is better than staying in port.Enjoy,John