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.

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Sailboat handling prop walk; wind effects at 30 knots causing clockwise turn; marina with boats and docks.

High Wind Docking Maneuvers

August 22, 2015/by Grant Headifen

How to back your sailboat into a slip with a high cross wind against the direction of propwalk.

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Watch this animation. It deals with an extremely high wind situation.

The trouble is that you are wanting to turn the boat against propwalk and you simply can not get the aft of the boat to turn downwind. Wind turning the bow down and propwalk turning the aft up counteract your rudder no matter how fast you go in reverse. The boat will easily turn clockwise but not counterclockwise. So how do you solve this problem with ease?

What to do next? Next windy day, grab a friend, grab some lunch and a few libations (non-alchy) and head out to the boat. Do all the exercises we prescribe in the Maneuvering Under Power course. But make sure you take the course first.

The Maneuvering Under Power Course is your big money saver. It makes you into an EXPERT at docking. With gel coat on the line, why would you want to be a crappy docker? Learn from the best experts by taking the course now.

The NauticEd Maneuvering and Docking a Sailboat Under Power Course.

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.

Maneuvering Under Power Course Details > Get 2 Free Online Courses >

Author

Grant Headifen

Grant Headifen is a USCG-certified Master Mariner (50-Ton), founder of NauticEd, and one of the sailing world's most recognized educators. With 46 years on the water, charters across 40+ global destinations, 5 sailing books, 30+ online courses, and 300,000+ students worldwide, Grant brings real-world expertise to every article. He pioneered fractional boat ownership through SailTime and serves on the Texas Boater Safety Advisory Board. NauticEd is the only U.S. sailing education body recognized by the U.S. Coast Guard under American National Standards.

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