Docking / Close Quarters Boathandling

Docking a larger vessel, especially in windy conditions, causes the most grief for owners and is the most common request for training.  Operating in the marina environment presents the highest risk exposure with respect to damage to your or another’s yacht.

There are endless combinations of wind, current, other boat traffic, marina hazards, and water depth that all conspire to turn a proper approach to your slip into a nightmare in an instant.  The good news is that there are skills and tricks that remove much of the anxiety.  Combine that with practice and your comfort level will increase rapidly.

• Pre-underway checklist
• Risk assessment
• Crew coordination 
• Crew communication
• Proper line handling commands
• Proper use of cleats and lines
• Constant wind awareness
• Solo / shorthanded docking
• Peculiarities of single engine motor vessels – e.g. trawlers
• Peculiarities of sailing vessels under power and saildrives vs. conventional inboard prop shafts
• Proper use of bow and stern thrusters (and when not to use them)
• Back and fill (spinning any boat in its own length)
• Handling twins, and moving laterally without thrusters
• Docking in crosswind / crosscurrent
• Docking alongside with wind either way
• Proper use of springlines when landing and departing
• Heavy weather