| You are tied up to the fuel dock with the wind blowing | | | | fender--a fender that you hold in your hand so that |
| straight off the dock. There's only a foot of clearance | | | | you can walk, or rove the boat, to cushion points of |
| between you and the two boats you're tied between. | | | | contact. Have them fend the stern as it contacts the |
| What now, skipper? Follow these five simple "dock a | | | | dock. If you have another crew, assign them with a |
| boat" steps to learn to undock your boat like a pro! | | | | second roving fender to the bow. |
| #1 Secret of Boat-Handling = Boat Control! | | | | 4. Place the sailboat wheel or tiller so that the rudder |
| Spring lines--long lines that form a diagonal angle to | | | | stays centered (also called "amidships"). Start your |
| your boat--enable you to do this. Springs that lead | | | | small diesel engine. Next, take in all docking lines except |
| from your sailboat bow, aft to a dock cleat or piling are | | | | the forward quarter spring line. |
| called "after bow springs". Springs that lead from your | | | | 5. Shift your engine into idle astern propulsion. This puts |
| sailboat stern, forward to a dock cleat or piling are | | | | tension against the spring line and keeps the boat in |
| called "forward quarter springs". | | | | position throughout the maneuver. |
| When the wind blows off the dock or from the bow | | | | 6. Concentrate on the boat ahead. Your bow will begin |
| toward the stern, you need to rig a forward quarter | | | | to move away from the pier, while your stern stays |
| spring to maintain the best control. In our scenario, the | | | | close alongside the pier, held by the quarter spring line. |
| wind blows off the dock, so we will use the forward | | | | Make sure your bow clears the boat ahead by a large |
| quarter spring line. Follow these five steps to complete | | | | margin of safety. Then go to the next step. |
| this maneuver: | | | | 7. Put the engine into neutral. Release the bitter end of |
| Seven Steps to Undocking Success | | | | the spring and pull the spring aboard fast! Shift the |
| 1. Attach a long line at least 1 1/2 times the length of | | | | engine clutch into idle ahead propulsion. Watch that |
| your small cruising sailboat to a boat cleat, located near | | | | your stern and bow clear each vessel. Maneuver into |
| the stern. | | | | the channel. |
| 2. Lead the spring forward to a dock cleat or piling | | | | Now you know how the pros use this "dock a boat" |
| located near the bow. Loop the spring around the cleat | | | | secret to maintain total control when the wind blows |
| base or piling; then lead it back to the stern cleat. | | | | off the dock or from the bow to the stern. Use these |
| Remove all slack from the spring line and cleat off the | | | | seven simple steps to become the true master and |
| bitter end. | | | | commander of your small cruising sailboat--wherever in |
| 3. Assign one crew-member to work a roving | | | | the world you choose to cruise! |