Sailing in close quarters

[Capt.Ed Wojtecki]

Sailing Auxillary

Sailing auxillary use to mean the engine was the back up motive power not the primary. I used to teach owners to sail off and on the dock just for that day when the engine fails or the batteries dump out. Nothing is more embarrassing then a sailboat under tow due to engine malfunction.It shows a lack of understanding of your and your boats capabilities.

 

[Rick Seaburg]

So sweet

I was headed out for an evening sail on my Ranger 33when the engine died. Rolled out the genny ( thank god for roller furling ) jibbed in the channel, reached up the channel next to the marina on a beam reach, ran downwind alond the docks jibbed again to get into the channel where the slip was, furled the genny and went head into the wind into the slip and stopped dead right next to the finger. perfection There were lot's of spectators so maximum smugness. Oh, and the reason the engine died ? I forgot to open the fuel valve. So much for smug.

 

[Patrick Petracca]

Not by Choice

Once, while backing out of my slip to proceed to the fuel dock, the engine died...gues I was lower than I realized. Already to far from my slip, the only choice I had was to raise the jib and sail around the marina to the fuel pumps. While everyone on the fuel island was impressed that I was able to back up, turn and thread my way through the marina, it was one of the most nerve-racking experiences I've had on my boat. I hope to never need to repeat it.

 

[IKE]

only way

when stationed at the Naval Post Gtrad school in Montery Ca. we learn to sail on racing Shields and they have no motor. We learn how to sail thur the slot and inner harbor to get to open waters and to meet the qual' as a skipper . Part ot the trainning was saling in the marina and timing the surge thur the slot (about 30 foot wide), with all of the big boys small fishing trawlers.. It was a lot of fun once you got the hang of it. we always sailed with a mimium of two.

 

[Ric Shultz]

sail on the trailer

Once my engine wouldn't run and had to get my boat on the trailer under sail. Quite a challenge. Since, I have learned to come to the dock. Take down the sails, and push her to the trailer.My father always said, don't approch any object faster that you plan to hit it.Ric"comes a time"Oday 25

 

[Bob Noble]

It meant the difference on whether my other Mom

came sailing.During a recent renaming ceremony as I was coming into the cove, the outboard on my 23.5 quit. I was able to round up into the wind and stop inches away from the dock we were using for the ceremony. Mom told me later that she was impressed on how well I handled Miss Lisa after just starting sailing this summer. On the way to the party she had decided that she was not going out on “the maiden voyage” but my “sailing in” changed her mind. I’ll never know why the outboard quit, we sailed off and on the dock several times that day. The outboard fired right up when I put her away that night. My guardian angel must have known what to do.Bob Noble "Miss Lisa"Beaver Lake Nebraska

 

[Andrew North]

No engine

We Sail a Catalina 30 now up from the 272 we had in the past and learned motorless docking.the learning experience was from the long day of sailing with the stereo on and a dead battery. When the battery dies there is only one way into the slip. The slip was first from shore so no room for errors, also the wind was stout that day. The procedure was flawless and on the same day another O'Day 272 over-powered their aproach and rammed the slips right after we came in. The time to drop sail is the decision you have to make correctly. Now we will motorless sail just to say we can. After all they are SAILboats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[DR David M Parker]

close quarters? it's relative

For many, many years I sailed my 35' sloop LAGUNA in and out of harbors at Catalina Is. and Hilo, Hawaii, Since My trusty Graymarine wasn't! I sailed my 39" (52"overall) ketch ASTREA into Lahaina, Maui, and into the Ala Wai to the slips at Hawaii Yacht club, also because engines and I don't work well after long tradewind passages. I believe that way back in time when many of us learned to SAIL, they were called SAIL boats? When racing round the buoys and on coastal races we all sailed..SAILED..in very close quarters.Imagine the start of a 1960's Ensenada race with over a thousand boats hitting a starting line( divided into an East and a West segment according to class) all at once! I have pictures which are astounding!Now that I am "stove up" I have a diesel engine, but I still prefer to sail my 8.7 meter Columbia, PSYCHE, in and out of her slip at Point cadet.Just go out, find a couple of marks or bouys and practice, practice practice.Try picking up your hat when your wife tosses it over the side for laughs!Soon you'll wonder why you ever wanted an engine in the first place!Imagine the money the Coast Guard, or you, would save if we all were sailors, rather than powerboaters with sails!Cheers, DR Dave

 

[Paul Michaelis]

Weigh the consequences

When sailing onto or off any location it is incumbent on the skipper to know and understand the consequences if things go wrong. I have had hotshots hit my boat while it was on a mooring because they became overwhelmed with their own confidence and didn't take into account what would happen if the wind died or radically shifted. The glory of a fine engineless landing fades quickly when the bills come due.

 

[Paul Michaelis]

Weigh the consequences

When sailing onto or off any location it is incumbent on the skipper to know and understand the consequences if things go wrong. I have had hotshots hit my boat while it was on a mooring because they became overwhelmed with their own confidence and didn't take into account what would happen if the wind died or radically shifted. The glory of a fine engineless landing fades quickly when the bills come due.

 

[Jim Dew]

Necessary Seamanship

As others have said it is a required skill. I learned to sail at the Annapolis Sailing School in St. Petersburg on a Rainbow 24 with no motor. We had to sail into and out of the dock through a narrow channel. This skill serves me well at my current slip. I have the first slip in the marina and sail my Hunter 20 in and out 80% of the time. The wind on this inland lake is often flukey resulting in last minute changes that have resulted in enough mistakes for me to refrain from becoming smug. I always learn from the mistakes and use a different technique the next time the conditions are similar. I wouldn't consider myself a sailor if I didn't have the knowledge and experience of sailing to dock or mooring.

 

[Don Alexander]

Please NO Not Near My Mooring

I get quite enough damage from passing idiots as it is. Local sailing schools believe it is good seamanship. I say practice in open water but DO NOT hazard other boats while you learn. I cannot conceive of a situation where it is actually necessary. If your engine fails then anchor outside or away from other boats and radio the Harbourmaster for assistance.There should NEVER be a need to sail off a mooring because, if your auxiliary doesn't work you need to fix it anyway.We have local sailing schools actually teaching these techniques in our very crowded river so, by definition, the helmsman is inexperienced and I would rather he learned away from the risk of terminating my season 3 months early.Yes we can all do it but it aint clever nor is it good seamanship.Sorry.Don Alexander.

 

[David Foster]

Good Seamanship

Learning how to handle the boat under sail in close quarters is fun, good training, and excellent preparation for contingencies. Since practice would be done with the motor running, I see no danger to other boats, and lots of good learning.DavidLady Lillie

 

[Tom]

Necessary Seamanship

This might be OK in a small boat that can be manhandled if things don't go just right. Doesn't sound very intelligent, on the other hand, for 10 or 12 TONS of boat. Try manhandling a 460 in a narrow slipway---almost impossible---you gonna tear up your boat and some others. My finger pier has about 5 Million $ in boats in its slipway. I think the conservative approach is the best policy---regardless of sailing skills or testosterone levels.

 

[Dave Knight]

Done with confidence

For 30 years I have sailed my last boat on and off the mooring, with out an engine, in a rather crowded harbor in Milwaukee. Now I am in a slip in Racine and have had to dead stick several boats into the slips or up to the bridge with out engines. Very calculated menuvers have to be taken in any type of landing, with or without the engine. All situations have to be taken into account, wind, current, headway, distance to approach, stopping power and turning ability. So far there is not one scratch or ding as a result.

 

[Bruce Byrnes]

Confidence

When approaching a mooring or dock, I lower my main and furl about 80% of my genoa. I hold the shhet in my hand and instruct the crew about their duties before hand - and I leave the engine on in neutral. I've had few problems in boats ranging from a 33' sloop to a 42' ketch.The key to docking in a slip under sail or power is confidence and a firm control of your crew.

 

[Mark Wieber]

Maybe YOU are the bomb...

Our Mini fish has no choice but to dock under sail and it has been close to 30 years since I had any trouble. I have practiced docking my C36 under sail several times, but tacking it up the fairway or back and forth across the marina channel is really not an option. I have had to stall around and manuver, under power, in fairly tight quarters waiting for die hard sailors to get clear of my intended route. 'Mirage' has towed several sailboats in from the bay that either had engine trouble or simply felt they were too good for a motor. Diesle engines like to be run to full operating temperature so it is simply good for the engine and better for the boat to motor in and out of crowded marinas. Plus the guy you are holding up may not be good enough to manuver around in tight quarters treading water while you show off

 

[Dave Smith]

Prudence

The whole point of having a sailboat is knowing that you don't have to depend on the motor. I practice coming thru the mooring area and into my slip under sail several times a year. Just knowing I can do it gives me confidence that I can do it if I have to. As one of your other posters said, it's not a matter of IF your motor will fail, but WHEN, and a prudent sailer is prepared for such possibilities. I do avoid these practice sessions on busy weekends as a courtesy to other boaters.

 

[cam]

only for fun

I do it only for fun on good days once i needed to sail in my slip for real I was glad i had done it many times before.

 

[Howard Edson]

Like MOB drills, it's good to practice

Drills should be a regular part of any sailing. Sail to your mooring (when conditions are right)with your motor on in neutral, to back you up. Practice this for the same reason you do MOB drills... to be prepared when the day comes you need the skill and confidence.