Sailing in close quarters

[Scott Pasley]

A necessary skill

All of the skills mentioned are necessary, not showy. One of the few advantages we have a sailors is the fact that if our mechanical means of propulsion fails us, we are not at the mercy of the towing companys to get us home. I believe that every boat should have at least two people aboard who are capable of manuevering into and out of any situation under sail. Do you really want a person who cannot control boat speed and steer into a slip trying to squeeze between you and another competitor at the start of a race? How about that same person entering a narrow channel with coral heads on each side leaving you no where to duck out of their way? Good seamanship may take years to learn, but basic control of boat speed and helmsmanship should be practiced from day one. I am willing to bet the same captain that cannot dock under sail has a difficult time doing it under power. Just like under power, your sailboat has a throttle and several gears. Learn to use them and you will be safer and more confident in your skills.Scott PasleyCommodore, Ozark Sailing Clubwww.ozarksailingclub.com

 

[Jay Hill]

Sailing is All About Thinking Ahead...

...so, when practicing, think ahead as far as possible. One thing I didn't see anybody mention was an "abort route". What if things don't go well at the dock, mooring, or crowded anchorage? Always plan a way to get out of trouble even if it's a snap tack to the opposite direction. You can then give it another try without running into anything. The more you practice close-quarters manuevering, the more you will enjoy your sailing in open water. I don't have a motor on my small boat, but that, too, can be a disadvantage when the wind drops to zero knots!! I've had to be towed twice in the last four years due to no wind at all. I hate it when that happens.Having said that, I still do not enjoy sailing my cruising boat in and out of close quarters as it is 16 tons (actual weight) on 33.5' of waterline and a full keel. Fortunately, the engine has only failed me three times and I was already headed to the slip or dock. (Sixteen tons will drift a very long way!) I try not to approach a dock or slip under sail on a boat that big. On the other hand, if I had some crew aboard maybe they could help with the mainsail. Single-handing a cruising boat under sail, in and out of a slip or dock in anything less than perfect conditions is no fun at all. Especially when you put a scratch on your brand new paint job.

 

[Tom Monroe]

... id I had to ...

I could get into the gas dock under most wind and sea conditions. After that I have to go roughly north, east, north, and west to get into my slip, in a boat that doesn't get way on very quickly on a tack, and in VERY tight quarters. Maybe on a south wind, but I'm not going to put someone else's boat at risk to try that, even with the motor idling.Tom MonroeCarlyle Lake

 

[stan town]

Yes we do it

We sail in and out of the slip several times a season just to keep in practice ...unfortunatly this is a skill that needs to be maintained since every several years something happens to the power plant which can not be forseen.!!!!!!!!

 

[Andy Howard]

Sooner or later

Everyone will be faced with a failed motor,fouled prop, busted transmission, bad fuel....It's a skill everyone needs in their toolbag. Our old slip was just about impossible to sail into and certianly imprudent, but I did practice coming along side a face pier and whenever the wind is right I sail, with the motor on, into our new slip, just for practice.Anyway, it looks cool as hell.

 

[Eric R. Schleif]

Anyone can do it if the wind is right

Several years ago,I rediscovered my old love for sailing and purchased a somewhat less than pristeen Tartan 27 and proceeded with great expectations to sail home from St. Michaels, MD.to Deep Creek, VA. The old atomic 4 engine breathed it's last as I left the harbor and I decided to just continue under sail since the wind was favorable.As I passed the entry marker of Deep Creek,I tried the engine again but alas it was gone.At this point,there was no turning back since the wind was at my stern and the channel was narrow.I brazenly sailed to the dock,made my turn upwind,pushed out on the boom to apply the brakes,and reached out to loop the line on the dock cleat.As I surveyed the slackjawed onlookers on the dock,I just shrugged and proceeded to tidy up.It,s easy if the wind is with you.

 

[R.W.Landau]

Boat sizes

It would be very interesting if we knew boat sizes as well as fearlessness!I sail my 25 in situations that are uncomfortable, ONLY when I have too. I have confidence that I can do it when the wind is right, but to come into my particular dock area of the marina with the wind from the beam aft is not on my agenda. I think another question is there crew on board? I single hand almost all my sailing and am actually handicapped with certian people on board. r.w.landau

 

[Matt Colie]

Flying (Navy) Moor is fun

I grew up sailing without a reliable auxiliary.As already noted on and off a fixed mooring is relatively simple and safe.But we always loved a flying moor to set an anchor. You have to know the harbor to bet the anchor will hold and how much scope to set. Then come downwind into the anchorage and drop the hook where it should stay and have the rode set on the bit. When you get to the end of the rode the boat will instantly come head to wind and you can clear away sail. It is not as harsh or sudden as you may think because the rode has a lot of stretch. And - as my father always said, if the ground tackle can't take this we need to get some that can.We did this for years with a huge old ketch, a 50 pound anchor and chain.Matt Colie "Bonne Ide'e" S2-7.9 #1Commodore West Shore Sail ClubLifelong Waterman, Licensed Mariner and Congenital Sailor

 

[Joe Lynch]

close quarter sailing

My wife and I sail our 30 Oday on Long Island Sound. When ever possible, my wife who is a better sailor than I'll probably ever be likes to sail as long as possible before turning on the engine. We cannot sail into our slip, to many sharp turns but my wife can take it our boat Dreamer in like it is second nature to her. She even backs her into the slip with rather large power boats on both sides.She is also an excellent car driver and I think the two go together.

 

[Bob Camarena]

To be used with discretion

I agree with those that classify this as a necessary sailing skill, but I don't think that it should be routinely used in crowded harbors. Things happen and I'd rather not have my boat damaged by someone for whom it is a matter of pride because of an unanticipated wind gust or current.

 

[Bob]

An early lesson

for me occurred while sailing with my brother-in-law Steve and the boat's co-owner Woody. Approaching the Gwynn's Island dock from the south channel, we seemed to me to be coming in much too hot, main and jib up and pulling hard, Woody on the tiller, motor not running. I guess Woody saw the tension on my face - he said, "don't worry, I'll show you my patented docking technique, just be ready to drop the main." When we were a short distance from the dock he whipped the boat into a 360, simultaneously telling me "Now!" and instructing Steve to release the jib sheet. The boat bled off quite a bit of speed in the turn and glided nicely into the slip. However, Woody had misjudged the speed a little and some of the timbers definitely shivered as we crunched the bow against the dock, despite the efforts of Steve and me to arrest our progress. Lesson #1: If you have room, a 360 is a very good speed scrubber; Lesson #2: Don't co-own a boat with anyone who likes to show off.

 

[Dave]

Up River

Having owned a number of power and sail boats, I prefer sailing because of the skill it requires. Occasionally if the wind is right I'll sail up to my dock on the Vermilion River. From the mouth of this 50 foot wide waterway to my dock is about a mile or so and has a couple of bends in it. My dock is fifty feet from a bridge that is half the height of my mast, so I don't go all the way. Plus, there can often be a lot of boat traffic so discretion is key. I don't feel that smug when I'm done because it is a challenge to do and I'm on my toes the whole time.

 

[J.B. Dyer]

Rules??

I was just reading the responses to this forum.I don't have my book of marine regulations with me but I seem to rememember some regulation about not sailing into unnavigable waterways in less than emergency conditions. Or at least something that alludes to it. Is there anyone up on this??

 

[Dennis]

Not many Capt. Rons!

Thank God there arent to many Capt. Rons!

 

[Dan]

Only when I'm on the water,

but I have a favorable slip assignment. The thing to remember is always have a way to get power. Even if I'm motoring in, I have the jib ready to hoist in a flash should the motor fail. A paddle and a boathook should be nearby, too.

 

[John]

Getting It Right W/O engine

One never knows when docking/mooring skills are going to be absolutely necessary (engine refuses to go: prop busted: worse?). I have always practiced in non-crowded anchorages and on weekdays when the crowd wasn't around. After I got it right a few times, I tried it in the marina--when conditions were just right, of course.This is not just a Skipper exercise, The crew [read that: Reluctant First Mate] must participate and become proficient also. Reluctance disapears and it all becomes worth it when you pull it into the slip w/o power while the skeptical experts are all watching. Wow! What a high....Fair winds, favorable tides and good practice sessions,John FinchS/V DoxologyCatalina 30TR

 

[Keat Pruszenski]

It's a matter of proper training, not conditions

Sooner or later, you'll need to sail back to your mooring/pier because the good ole engine will fail you. And, it can be done, like it was for centuries. To me, it makes the complete sailor.But, it needs to be taught, then practiced. A crew briefing explaining the pilot plan for the event (which technique is going to be used) should occur. (Who is stationed at what location to perform what functions, etc.) A way out should be engineered into the plan (what to do if we miss the mooring, etc.) I hope you continue to pursue this line of thinking!

 

[Don Guillette]

Gary's question was about sailing in close quarters but I watched a dock mate this morning get all tied up in his underware ( I've also been there and done that)as he tried to back out of his slip and into a narrow slip way. With a little practice you can maneuver out of a tough situation by using prop walk to your advantage. I wrote this a while back over on the Sail Trim Forum but it bears repeating. Using Prop Walk To TurnHave you ever thought about being in a tight turning situation anywhere and wondered how you would accomplish the maneuver? It is a pretty simple method, which is called "backing and filling". Prop walk, which most of us hate to deal with, becomes an asset in this situation and can help you turn the boat. If your boat kicks its stern to port in reverse, you'll "back and fill" by turning the boat clockwise (bow to starboard). If your boat kicks to starboard, you'll "back and fill" by turning counterclockwise (bow to port).The maneuver will enable you to spin the boat within its own length as if the keel was on a post. Remember, water must be flowing past the rudder for it to have any effect on the boat and the effect happens faster in forward than in reverse. Also, throughout this maneuver, resist the temptation to move the wheel.Here are the steps to follow:Step 1: Assume the boat walks to port in reverse. Start the turn in forward gear and turn the wheel hard over to starboard. Gain a little headway.Step 2: Keep the wheel hard over and shift to reverse. Your stern will turn to port. Your now about 50% into your turn.Step 3: When you are 50% into your turn, shift to forward keeping the wheel hard over to continue the turning arc. You'll start to gain a little headway.Step 4: Before gaining any real headway, shift to reverse, again keeping the wheel hard over and letting the stern kick over again.Step 5: At this point, you have completed your turn and are headed in the opposite direction. Now shift to forward, center the wheel and continue forward. Try this method in the middle of your wide turning basin and see how it works for you. Obviously, the narrow marina fairway is not the place for you to try this maneuver especially if you've never tried it before. By the way, you can perform the same maneuver with your outboard.

 

[Dan McGuire]

Blue Nose II

While in Nova Scotia, I had the opportunity to see the Blue Nose II fishing schooner up close. It is a copy of the original which was launched in 1921. The original had no engine, the copy did. They came into the dock using the engine. Later a large square rigged ship came in with no engine. It was beutiful to watch. I cannot repeat in this what the large square rigger crew said about the Blue Nose II who used their engine.

 

[Bruce]

local knowledge is important

When I first got my boat, I had no outboard. Always one for adventure, I decided to launch at Meeks Bay (Tahoe) and sail to Emerald Bay, about a 10 mile sail, for an overnighter. I should have known something was up when I observed incredulous looks on the marina employees, followed by head shaking and muted snickers. Unbeknownst to me, and unmentioned by them, was the fact that the marina sits on a creek flowing into the lake, and that there is a continual flow into the lake through the marina. Any attempt to re-enter the marina must overcome this outgoing current, and, as I was to learn over the course of this weekend, the prevailing winds generally match the current as well. As we all know, no sailboat will point 0 degrees to the wind. I ended up beaching the boat, walking it down the shoreline, and hand passing the boat as I climbed out on the metal breakwater. Word to the wise: beware of muffled laughter.