Docking in a stiff cross breeze

[barnakiel]

I would simply land a crew on the target dock, from the bow. Have this crew secure the line to the end cleat of this dock (the bow of the boat to the end of the dock). Loose fit. Then I would pass a line from the stern winch to the dock - and have the crew secure it to a cleat in the desired direction. And then I would winch in the stern of the boat towards the dock.


I am not pro at manouvering boats backwards. But I think that a proficient helmsman could also go ass first. Then winch in the bow (simple - with the anchor winch).


b.

[El Pinguino]

Is there a problem here?
I can't see it, what am I missing?
Mine is a 39 foot single screw yacht with average freeboard.
I've done it often enough in Stanley, F.I., coming alongside the N/S oriented town wharf in westerlies with and without crew.Pic below.
Last time I went to the fuel dock (E/W orientation ) here at Oxxean it was a fresh northerly.Both then and in the hypothetical case the OP has posted - stick nose up to Dock A - land crew with headline. Hang off headline , run stern line, rig frd backspring, motor ahead on backspring, crank in on sternline. Make fast. Retire below for breakfast.

[GILow]

Call me a chicken, but I don’t even try. I pull up somewhere else and wait for the wind to abate.

[deblen]

Originally Posted by DMF Sailing

OK, here's a scenario

You have a 40-footer with plenty of freeboard that maneuvers well in reverse but is hard to keep straight in a stiff cross breeze.

You have no thrusters. You have a single, right-handed prop.You are entering the docking area from the direction of Dock C.

You have to tie up portside on Dock A in my primitive drawing. (Marina rules. Let's say they prohibit bow-in docking because they don't trust people to back out. I don't make the rules.) Wind is 15-20 knots port to starboard if you're backing in (so it's blowing off the dock). Assume negligible current.

There's a floating dock in the fairway the prevents a straight approach. So you have to angle in from either side. There are pilings on either side of the approach, and another dock (Dock B) that inhibits a bow-first approach.

So the only clear option is to back in.

Let's hear how you would do it. To keep the poll answers short I didn't put things in there like when or how you'd slow down; feel free to include that in your explanations.

Keep in mind, for the sake of the scenario, that you may not drive in bow first and dock to starboard.

And, the chances are, no one is on the dock to catch a line; you and your crew are on your own.

I have done this a variety of ways, with varying degrees if difficulty. I'm curious to see how others would do it.

I am assuming:


1.The dock C is North end of diagram
2. You enter bow first from the East & Dock C is to your stbd.
3.Wind from West
4.Must end up tied your port to dock A-your bow facing North.
5.You are single handed.
6 There is a midship cleat on your boat that will somewhat line up with a mid dock cleat or tiepoint.


a. Before entering marina-
bring bow & stern lines outside the rails & hang the ends at port rail gate. Tie/loop midship line to your port midship cleat & hang end at gate. Hang a fender 16" fore & 16" aft of your midship cleat. Hang other fenders if you feel the need.


b. As you pass Dock C,turn hard stbd forcing stern to port(South)
c.Shift to N-let stern swing as far as possible-while watching bow as it begins to blow stbd toward dock C.Be patient-let bow swing. Shift to reverse & blast throttle to keep stern swinging port & barely start boat moving backward. Shift to N.

d.Center rudder.Use bursts of reverse & forward-to get boat moving toward dock B in reverse. Some boats will require several applications of fwd/rev (back & fill) to keep vessel moving quickly in reverse in the direction of Dock B.

c.When bow is beside N end of B,Stop.Put helm hard to port.Apply a blast of fwd to kick stern to stbd & bow to port.
d. aim bow for N end of dock A & power fwd.
e.As stern starts to clear N end of dock B,& bow is close to N end of A,shift to N,then R,and give a blast of R throttle,to start swinging stern towards dock A. A couple of fwd/rev(back & fill) may be necessary to lay boat alongside.
f.Step ashore & make midship line fast.Boat will lie on the 2 fenders & will not hit the dock.Put out other lines.


Using the above maneuver provides an escape route at all times by stopping & drifting at any time.


Will it work?

Cheers/Len

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plU3GJ6oVLA

[deblen]

The power of midship line:


https://www.youtube.com/shorts/GdEMum2ug0E

[DMF Sailing]

Originally Posted by TrentePieds

Can't answer this on the basis of only the information given.

We need to have a plan drawn to scale, and we need to know whether the docks are actually docks built on pilings, or whether they are floating pontoons. In the former case we need to know the state of tide and the height of the docks above tide datum. We also need to know whether the docks are fitted with bullrails or with cleats or with bollards.

We also need to know whether we are entering the basin with dock "C" to starboard, i.e. moving westerly, or whether we are entering the basin with dock "C" to port, i.e. moving southerly - assuming the sketch is oriented "north up"

If we have those additional bits of - essential - information in hand, it looks to me like it would be a bit of a doddle :-)

TrentePieds

haha all good points. The picture is not north up, sorry. North is actually at about 90 degrees to Dock A, which runs west to east, so the wind is a gusty NNW.

My limitations as a cartographer are plain to see. The docks are floating and are fitted with cleats. When we enter Dock C is to starboard.

[DMF Sailing]

Originally Posted by TrentePieds

Donnybrook (and all):

This is a contrived exercise, and as I understood DMF's question and premises, you don't have the option of skiving off to another dock. You HAVE, Hell or high water, to come port side to dock "A".

Assume that the boat is a 1976 Morgan Out Island sloop with two lever engine control.

Let us assume, further, that the sketch is to scale, and the "docks" are in fact pontoons fitted with bullrails, the "harbour plan" is oriented "north up" and we are entering the "harbour" on a heading of 270º (V022E 1980, 8W; D+3) having dock "C" to stbd.

Assume also you have a competent helmsman and a competent deck gorilla. You are the "conning officer".

What are your considerations and what orders, helm and engine, would you give?

TP

Haha 30' I should've dm'd you the specifications and the problem and let you post the question. Your scenario is much more complete and seamanlike.

Contrived though it may be, this is a real situation. Next time I land I'll take pictures.

Can't find that :beer: emoji

[DMF Sailing]

Originally Posted by GILow

Call me a chicken, but I don’t even try. I pull up somewhere else and wait for the wind to abate.

You don't sound like a chicken; you sound smart. And like someone who owns their command. This boat belongs to a club and there is no option but to land there portside to Dock A.

[jfwg]

Two (big) ifs...

If the space from the dock to the pilings is greater than overall length
If the boat backs reliably

Single handed
Fenders port side and 2 on the stern.
Back into the marina.
Back at right angles to the dock along your intended berth. (Bow will blow down wind and can be done very slowly under control.)
Step off and tie a stern line. (may leave in reverse at idle to hold...)
Breath (boat's not going anywhere)
Re-position the stern at the intended stern position of the berth.
Run a long bowline to the dock and pull or grind the bow in (or use port quarter fender and port rudder in forward to drive the bow up if enough power to overcome the wind on the freeboard.)
Tidy up bow and stern lines, and rig springs.
Relax...

Frequently teach backing into slips. I was taught 2 good reasons:
You can see everything in your path, it isn't at the other end of the boat.
You have more control in forward than reverse, so it is easier to drive out forward if you abort.

Mantra: No drama....

[Bill_Giles]

Reverse into your dock. Get two crew ashore. The crew with a stern line to your port quarter ties up, the other crew holds a long bow line. You drive forward while steering to port to bring the bow in while the crew draws in the bow line.

However with practice you should be able to dock in reverse neatly alongside but you need to be quite quick. Practice with several helpers holding big fenders ready to avoid damage to you and other boats.

[jfwg]

This works. Have done it. Basically, you fling the bow up wind with a sharp turn to starboard as you approach the dock.

2 caveats:
You have to be quick if single handing and I don't like to be off the boat unless I am very sure that I won't lose control... Its embarassing to watch your boat float away as you stand on the dock. If you have crew, they have to be quick. The amount of freeboard exposed to the wind is a determining factor. In that much wind, the boat starts moving off the dock almost immediately once you stop moving.

I like to have a backup plan. The approach I described can be used if the method you are suggesting doesn't go well.

The approach I described also works with powerboats. They have as much sail area as many of our sailboats with their sails up and no keel to pivot around. Even those with thrusters may struggle to move the boat upwind (or up current) in that kind of a situation, and for those with electric thrusters Murphy's Law says it will the time that the breaker trips if you are running them hard.

[catsketcher]

I'm with the clever people who say - go in reverse.

As long as you can ferry glide in a big wind things will be fine. Come past Dock A - kick to port - stop. Then slowly the boat will be blown sideways a little - towards Dock B but keep off it, just adjust the throttle in reverse and use the wind AND reverse to slowly go sideways parallelish to your target dock.

I love coming into a dock in reverse. When at the right position I would get the boat headed downwind and reverse right up to the dock. Hopefully you have a clear stern area - you can see the stern really well from most helms and get to within 10-20cm of exactly where you want whilst the boat just hangs there - it is much easier than bow in. Jinking the throttle and gears whilst the boat just hangs exactly how she wants to go - bow blown off and stern into the wind.

Then loop a rope around a cleat - I usually use one from the stern quarter on my cat. Then cleat it off and go into forward gear and kick her in the guts - your boat will turn up into the wind in beautiful control.

Just make sure your reverse works well. I use this type of technique to bring my 38ft cat into a windward jetty on my own - sometimes people run to help and I spin her around about 50 metres downwind and then jog upwind in reverse and get the sterns almost kissing the jetty in perfect control. Then I step off - wrap the stern line around the cleat and walk back on. Then give her a kick in forward and she sweeps on up into the wind and I walk off again when she kisses - only one person required and all very very calm.

I never go into a windward jetty in forward if I can help it.

cheers

Phil