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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 between docks on a sunny day, with wind direction marked, illustrating docking maneuvers.

Leaving the Slip with a Sailboat

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

Slip stern to

This is best handled by steering out of the slip and then immediately downwind. Back out of the slip channel and well into the main channel before engaging forward.

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

Simply back out of the slip into the slip channel and then into the main channel. You may need a bow line to the windward dock to prevent the bow from blowing downwind as you engage reverse.

Wind in bow to

Alternatively, in stronger wind, you may not be able to prevent your stern from being blown downwind. In this case, you could allow the stern to blow downwind while you have a bow line to the windward dock as the boat comes out of the slip. It is imperative, however, that the bowperson be instructed when to release the bow line. Think about which way propwalk will take your stern.

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

Wind blowing out of the slipway

Back out into the wind, then engage forward. Watch for traffic as you enter the main channel. In higher winds, you may need to use some lines to assist. Once you are out of the slip and in the slipway, your bow will blow down allowing you to just drive out.

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

stern to in a slipway

Simply drive the boat out to the main channel.

The wind blows across the docks and your boat is stern-to

Wind blowing you out of the slip you are stern to

Again, simply drive the boat out to the main channel. If the slipway is narrow, go slow, wait until the stern is clear then bring the wheel full over and apply a burst wash of prop thrust of the rudder to quickly turn the boat.

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

bow to and back out of the slip with wind from behind

Simply reverse the boat out of the slip, into the slip channel, and then into the main channel. If the wind is light you may elect to turn the boat in the slip channel and come out in forward gear. However, if the wind is strong it’s safer to follow the above diagram.

Other wind/current configurations are solved using variations of the above techniques.

A note about current: Water is 800 times denser than air so a 1/2 knot to even 1 knot current can push your boat around very inconveniently. Being an expert with docking in current needs experience. But also being knowledgeable about how the boat gets pushed with current and how to use spring lines to take advantage of the forces and moments as shown in the previous module is extremely valuable.

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 December 5th, 2024