Never gonna complain about my slip again!!!

[danstanford]

My boat is 33' and my slipmate's boat is a 30'er and we are in a 25' slip because the marina is full. We are almost at the end of a fairway that is about 35' across from boat to boat making everything feel pretty claustrophobic. I am better than average at boat handling and really have never had a problem entering or leaving but there is always some stress given I only have about 3.5 feet to my neighbour in the slip.
Last night my neighbour got towed out (having engine trouble) so they could race and when the race was over I saw them sailing into the marina and then turning down our fairway under the main. About halfway down the fairway they dropped the main and told us to put down the boat hooks and just asked me to move to the main dock to help slow them down and in they came slick as anything! After laughing in admiration I said to my buddy that I was never gonna complain about my slip again!
Thought you folks might get a laugh at this story.

 

[JohnVTX]

That is a move you need to learn to do. In my many years of sailing, have had to come in under sail twice.

 

[JRacer]

Used to do that all the time with the J24. But, never have with the B310. My slip is only 12 feet wide so very little room on either side of the hull. If I have to sail into the harbor we'll sail up to the end of the set of slips and figure out how to get it to our slip from there. ;-) But, agree, useful skill to have in the toolbox.

 

[Justin_NSA]

Used to do that all the time with the J24. But, never have with the B310. My slip is only 12 feet wide so very little room on either side of the hull. If I have to sail into the harbor we'll sail up to the end of the set of slips and figure out how to get it to our slip from there. ;-) But, agree, useful skill to have in the toolbox.

Ditto! We have the stone jetty behind us. We wouldn't damage anyone else's boat but the alternative isn't good either!
Thanks goodness for great members. We've rescued a few 'maydays' out there!

 

[Captain Ron 18]

Up until a couple of years ago when I started backing into the slip, whenever the wind was right, I used to come in under sail all the time, usually solo sailing. A great exercise, IMHO, to know what you and your machine can do.

 

[dlochner]

Long ago, a seasoned sailor told me, "You sail 'em out, and ya sail 'em in." Have had to sail a boat in and out of docks a few times. Sometimes it was exciting, sometimes not.

Find a safe place and practice, get to know how far you can coast, how much control you have. You never know when you will need that skill.

 

[jeepbluetj]

Way back when, I learned to sail on a Columbia 5.5. I cannot recall ever coming back to the slip under power. We'd come in on jib only once we got close and just let it luff when pulling into the slip.

On my C-30, I've sailed out a few times (forgot to open the fuel valve) - but never had to sail in. I'm sure I could if I had to, but I'd have no outs if I did - i.e. one paddleboarder or kayak pulling out in front of me could be bad.