| Do you know the secret to docking a boat with one | | | | end up. Use just enough speed for good rudder |
| line? Did you know that you can use this technique | | | | control. |
| with a small sailboat or the largest super yacht? And it | | | | 4. Loop the spring line around the piling or dock cleat |
| works on any boat every time! Use these seven | | | | and back to the same boat cleat. Pass a full round turn |
| steps to take your skipper-skills to new a new level | | | | around the boat cleat. Make sure that the line handler |
| today! | | | | stands forward of the cleat, facing the stern. This puts |
| Tap the magic power of a spring line | | | | them on the safe side of the spring line. |
| Spring lines always lead in a diagonal direction from the | | | | 5. Turn your sailboat wheel away from the boat dock. |
| boat. Those that are attached to the bow are called | | | | If you use a tiller, hold the tiller toward the dock. Keep |
| bow springs; those that are attached to the stern are | | | | this position throughout the maneuver. |
| called quarter springs (the "quarter" of a boat is near | | | | 6. Place the engine clutch into idle ahead. Keep it in this |
| the stern). | | | | position throughout the maneuver. |
| Springs that lead from the bow to a dock cleat or piling | | | | 7. Watch the stern "walk" in to the dock. The crew on |
| aft of the bow are called after bow spring lines. Use | | | | the spring line should adjust the spring line to help the |
| an after bow spring line for this docking maneuver. | | | | boat move in to the pier. Position the stern boat |
| Seven simple steps to docking success | | | | fenders to provide a cushion at the point of contact. |
| 1. Attach a long line at least 1 1/2 times the length of | | | | Once the boat lies flush to the pier, leave your wheel |
| your small cruising boat to a boat cleat, located | | | | (or tiller) and engine in position. Do not be tempted to |
| between the bow and beam. Coil the spring line and | | | | back off on the engine, wheel, or tiller. The combination |
| hold it in your non-dominant hand. Break the coil in half | | | | of rudder and engine create the forces that will hold |
| and hold the part with the bitter end in the dominant | | | | your cruising boat to the pier in even the worst |
| hand. | | | | weather. Now you can take your time to put out more |
| 2. Assign one crew member to a roving fender. Use | | | | lines or take a break. |
| this to cushion any point of contact during the | | | | For safety, always leave one crew member at the |
| maneuver. Rig the fender with a line attached to each | | | | helm when lying alongside on a single spring line. Rotate |
| end of the fender. This makes the roving fender | | | | your sailing crew ashore so that all hands get a break. |
| horizontal and gives greater surface area for better | | | | Now you know one of the best kept secrets that the |
| protection. | | | | pros use every day. Use these seven simple steps |
| 3. Make your approach to the pier at an angle. Aim for | | | | when docking a boat to make you master and |
| a piling just aft (behind) where you want the bow to | | | | commander of your small cruising boat in any weather. |