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This article is an excerpt from NauticEd’s Maneuvering Under Power, a comprehensive online course that empowers you to dock and maneuver large sailboats. The Maneuvering Under Power course is part of the Skipper Large Sailboat bundle of online courses, fully preparing you to sail large sailboats over 25ft.

You can learn to sail and improve your sailing with NauticEd, the international leader in sailing education.

Sailboats navigating a marina with wind direction marked, illustrating docking techniques and boat maneuvering strategies.

Dock Slips Docking Techniques

Wind coming into the slip channel and your boat is to be docked stern-to

Steer into the slip channel and maneuver past the slip. Engage reverse and back up into the wind, then turn into your dock. Do a pre-emptive strike on the prop walk.

Stern-to

Light Wind blowing into the slip channel and your boat is to be docked bow-to

Light wind from behind bow in

Simply steering the boat into the slip works for light winds; however, the below method is safer for stronger winds.

stronger winds

It is preferable to steer the boat up into the wind and into the slip.

Wind blowing out of the slip channel and your boat is to be docked bow-to

wind from ahead

Simply steer the boat into the slip.

Wind blowing out of the slip channel and your boat is to be docked stern-to

Back into the slip

Back from the main channel into the slip channel and into your slip.

Wind across the docks and your boat is to be docked stern-to

stern to

Back from the main channel into the slip channel and into your slip.

The wind blows across the dock and your boat is to be docked bow-to

bow to downwind

Steer the boat into the slip.

The wind blows across the dock and your boat is to be docked stern-to

The following is assuming a right-hand screw because of the propwalk.

Stern to against wind

Go past your slip, perform a preemptive strike on the propwalk, then back in.

Don’t try it this way if you have high wind. The wind pushes on the bow and the propwalk moves the stern to the port (right-hand screw). Thus you can not make the turn.

dont do it this way

You can learn more in the Docking and Maneuvering Under Power Online Course....

The Docking and Maneuvering Under Power online sailing course is your go-to resource for learning how to dock and maneuver large sailboats. Upgrade to the Skipper Large Sailboat bundle of courses to fully prepare for near-coastal sailing and sailing charters.

Author

  • Grant Headifen

    My vision for NauticEd is to provide the highest quality sailing and boating education available - and deliver competence wherever sailors live and go.

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Last updated on August 16th, 2024