Thanks Jon ....... nice post.
My request would be the sharing of 'technique' to make all this (safely) happen .... not the strategy/politics of it.There are probably zillions of volumes by authors that go into the methods and means of boat handling under 'full-throttle'; but, rarely does one find the resources for boat handling (under sail) in tight quarters and slow speeds, etc. Something like Alan doing S turns to bleed off speed or me quickly turning a tiller 90 degrees etc. in a sculling fashion. There are MANY other techniques such as gaining maximum sideways slip so one can have no-way-on and move the boat 'sideways', 'stalling' when tacking in a channel to let other boats pass, etc. , or waiting for a starboard tacker to pass - and not losing any ground, etc. Lots of 'tricks' to share ... Lets hear some from you folks, nothing is tooo foolish to ask or tell ('cept 'politics). I'll start with coming into a dock to parallel park ..... I usually come in with main OVER drawing (boom to centerline and mainsheet sooooo tight that the battens are noticiably hooking to weather, I'll angle the boat so that I develop a fishermans reef (front luff shaking) .... due to the fact that the battens are hooked, the boat will develop lots of 'leeway' and such will help 'draw' the boat closer (sideways) to the dock... at the last moment I totally straighten out and totally let go of the sheet. If still too fast a couple of hard turns (more violent than S turns) will slow the boat. I try to keep some speed up so that the rudder still has some amount of control with water flowing past it. Sometimes Ill get crew to back-wind a sail to slow the boat and enhance the sideslip. Sometimes I'll need to backwind the main to get the stern in, etc. My aim to to hit the dock with zero forward speed ( I have a metal rub rail). This works for my 'lightweight planing hull and also my 'heavyweight' full-keeler. Sure, I'll keep the engine 'ticking over in neutral' - just in case. Whats your method? Jump in Don, Alan, Jon, etc.