Here's how I do it and this is the set up. I have a upwind slip, which is 4 slips from the end. 95% of the time I dock singlehanded. Even if I have guest on board I still dock single handed because it is just easier for me to do it myself. Before I approach the slipway I attach a short piece of dockline to the jib sheet cleat and loosely tie the bow line to the safety line right next to where I'm stepping off the boat. I approach the slipway dead slow but with some headway. As soon as I enter the slipway I shift to neutral. Depending on the wind speed and forward speed, I might have to give it a goose now and then to keep up headway. I coast into the slip and as soon as the the jib sheet cleat is even with the end of the dock, I merely step off the boat, with the snub line and the bow line in hand and as nice as you please, I snug the dock line on the dock cleat. I then move walk forward, with the bow line in hand and in control of the boat, and secure the bow line.
Here's why I dock singlehanded. Once a guest insisted on helping with docking and he did what I call the "docking dance splits" - he had one leg on the boat and the other leg on the dock and ended up in the water. It was good for a laugh but it's dangerous. To make matter worse, it was my wife's son and she accused me of setting the whole thing up. For those who know me over on the SAIL TRIM FORUM - would I do that to a step son?
Secondly, once my throttle and shifter jambed in forward and I had to come in faster than I liked. It went smoother than I though. I had to be quicker about it but I snubbed her off and never hit the front of the slip.
So, with a plan in mind, you should experiment and see what works for your dock setup. Actually, my procedure works for any docking situation and I do it the same way every time.
