Single-Handed Casting Off and Docking - What To Do When Things Go Wrong
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- čas přidán 6. 09. 2023
- This is a point of view video of me single-handing my Sirius 28 Sailboat. Here I demonstrate my less then perfect technique for leaving the dock and then I show what happens when I screw up my landing but keep things from getting much worse.
This video is intended for the newbie sailor or the person thinking about getting into sailing. Feel free to comment or ask a question down below, I will be sure to respond.
Bluffers Park Yacht Club bpyc.on.ca/
This video was shot using two GoPro Hero 11s
Additional footage provided by my Tripltek 9 Android tablet
This video was edited in Vegas Pro 18 - Jak na to + styl
I use a midship aft spring line when docking
One line on cleat at the end of your dock
After you put the line on you just power against it and steer the bow
I leave it in gear at idle and it holds the boat until you put the other lines on
You can also use it to position the boat for departure
Reverse sequence then take the engine out of gear and it’s the last line off when it goes slack
When wind is going to push the bow on departure you can position the bow toward the wind in the slip before you take the spring line off
Great idea ... I used to use to use a pre-measured spring line to dock and will be going back to that idea.
Great job in a difficult situation. Always more challenging sailing solo. Keep those videos coming.
Brother, the first step I do is to prepare the shore lines for removal. That means untangling and ensuring all tie offs are a single cleat hitch.. that way you’re not fighting the boat while removing 5 turns and 3 hitches on a line.
Yep, that's a mess. I have a 38' Ericson. My docking situation is that I share a double wide slip with a power boat that is on my port side (if I'm bow in.) When I want to leave, I start by removing my port lines - a midship spring and a bow line. Now my boat is secured just on the starboard side. I check my starboard lines and remove my two midship lines. I untie the stern line, loop it over the aft horn of the cleat and run it back to the boat, securing it to my boat's stern cleat (so, the stern line can now slip off if I move aft, but will stay secure if I either leave the boat secure as is or if I have the boat in idle forward.) Now, my bow and stern each are secured to the dock with one line each. I put the boat into idle forward, which keeps the bow secure against the dock to starboard. I can now leave the boat and remove the bow line. In this state, the boat is secured by the stern line only and is completely stable. I step back onto the boat, remove the bitter end of the stern line from the stern clear, keeping it secure in hand, take a deep breath, put the boat in reverse, and back out of the slip. I will give the stern line some slack so that friction doesn't cause it to grab the cleat. The line easily slips off the cleat as I ease out of the slip. I pull it in and can now give my full attention to backing out of the slip.
You did well. You talked through the process, knew enough about wind & prop walk, and adjusted to the situation. Maybe solo sail with a friend, meaning, bring someone along but still do everything yourself. A 2nd set of eyes and immediate feedback on the situation could smooth the rough edges in “what to do now” moments. I know I was working through what I would do/have done in similar moments, without being critical of what you were doing. However, my Catalina 22 looks a bit smaller than your boat. 😆
I’m happy you posted this so we all could reflect on our own skills. Looking forward to your next solo sail! Fair winds! 🍻
Sharing your mistakes helps other to learn without having to make the same mistakes themselves.
I've got a bit of feedback; first, you should try to decouple boat speed from engine speed in your mind. Just because your engine is fast doesn't necessarily mean your boat is fast (though it could). When moving slowly, you will have less rudder control. However, you can use prop wash in forward to get a lot more maneuverability than you might expect. Turn your wheel, put the engine in gear, apply an appropriate amount of throttle, idle down and take the engine back out of gear. This will push water into your rudder and cause the boat to turn quicker. The idea is to only be in gear for a brief moment, because you don't actually want the boat to move forward. I suggest practicing this technique in open water.
One more helpful hint I have for you is that if you have strong prop walk on your boat in reverse, its ok to gain a bit of momentum and then switch back to neutral and just let the boat drift. you'll have a lot better steerage in reverse this way.
This is getting long for a youtube comment, so I'll just end by saying you did a lot right here. You were going slow enough that when things went wrong, they only went a little wrong. Nothing was broken and you didn't panic, and that's a bigger win than some people will give you credit for. Cheers!
You are right about that using the brief burst of power with the rudder over... I learned that from my instructor years ago but haven't use it ...I will practice that some more and see how it works.
Jumping on someone else's boat should not be part of the boating regime. I have never jumped on a neighbors boat except the time that I fended a boat from the motor of a neighbors boat. It's not difficult but takes practice to solo a sailboat. I do it nearly daily.
My neighbour Ross doesn't mind if I have to climb on his boat. We are good friends. I wouldn't want to do that on a strangers boat. Our channels are very narrow so if you don't turn at the right time there is no chance to correct and straighten up for the landing.
I respect that you’ve taken the time to make a video, but seriously, can I suggest you get a sailing instructor to spend a day with you on your boat so you can learn some techniques for docking. Best wishes on your learning journey! 👍
Most of my docks are very successful, however we all have a bad day. The CZcams audience is more interesting in watching people fail then succeed. I am just giving people what they want.
Well! If no damage, it’s a success 👍🏻
Hello new subscriber here from Frenchman’s Bay I am a solo sailor and for me docking gives me lots of anxiety because I have same problems a lot watch this I definitely can relate and no matter what I do I just hope for the best 🤞
Good on ya for posting it though!!! You’ll get there.
it's not easy! One thing I really don't like is when someone pulls or pushes on my stanchions. Let alone tying a boat to them. They are not made for that. Ask anybody who spent hours pulling them out, cleaning and re-bedding them.
I agree with you about the stanchion thing. Good thing my racing buddy is not too concerned about these kinds of things. In retrospect I should have tied of elsewhere but that was the first thing I saw.
Keep a short forward running spring tied with a loop at the first cleat or pulling coming in. (Measured for length to keep the bow off the dock forward) Grab it and pop it on the forward cockpit winch. Pop the boat back in forward at idle and it should keep you pinned to the dock while you gat the rest of the lines on.
Proper cleat hitch will make it much cleaner to get the lines off also might do the bow line last if wind is going to push you around.
Great job going with the flow reversing out of the fairway though.
I use to have a pre-measured spring line with a loop that I would put on the first cleat as I came in ...as long as I could make the jump... I think I may go back to that idea.
@@TheJoysofBoatOwnership Loops in lines you deploy with a good quality boathook. Keep lines on board ready to tension once they are dropped over cleats or bollards. Fenders are a solo skipper's best friend. Smother the docking side with fenders, crush them up against the dock with engine power, _never_ jump ashore or aboard!
Nice one Sir, nicely explained, with beautiful visuals, hats off to your talent with cameras❤, We met last week during Timelapse, if you still remember me Sir😊
Yes I remember you... thanks for the compliment.
So what do you do when you have a swirling 5 knot runout tide with a 6 knot side wind and your on your own
Goowd... this is the easiest going in, in perfect still weather and you managed to f....k it up ....Congrats and by by ...
Thank you for the comment it really helps grow my channel with the more comments I get. Sorry you did not like the video. Sometimes even the most experienced sailors mess up and the CZcams audience loves to see people screw up. Anyway good luck on your anonymous trolling.
@@TheJoysofBoatOwnership It's not about liking the video, it's the maneuver ...
And no trolling here, the video speaks ... , eg. one never ties a line on the top end of a stanchion, if at all ...
I have 35 years / 35-40 k miles of sailing, much club and national racing as crew and skipper with pounds of medals...
@@observer2172 Thank you again for your continued engagement....it really helps the algorithm promote my channel.
Seems like that initial reverse with the rudder a bit to starboard (that then in reverse kicked the rear to starboard instead) threw you off a bit. An earlier counter steer once you had it straightened up going forward again (then quickly back to center before the reverse to avoid another unintentional yaw) and it would have been golden.
I once mashed a dock pretty hard trying to burn off speed but had the rudder hard over without realizing it. I'm sure I'll do it again.
I thought I was just going to crush my bumper when I hit the dock I have never had the stern get pushed out to starboard like that . Usually the engine in reverse sucks the stern to port with the prop walk. Thanks for the advise.
@@TheJoysofBoatOwnership It seemed like a lot of yaw with very little throttle-- I would think that was not propwalk? For what it's worth, the two biggest breakthroughs for me on low speed maneuvering were 1) know where your rudder is pointing before applying power -- things get hectic instantly if you run afoul of that one, and 2) Use the "low" speed part to your advantage if you aren't fighting the wind. Spend time in neutral, use the time you have. If you can give yourself a bump and go back into neutral, that's less speed to burn off. ...unfortunately excessive wind and currents can take away your time to think.
Everytime I shove off, I do it myself. Catalina 30 owner in Dana Point. I've never had or needed help to depart, return etc. Practice makes perfect.. I've been sailor since the 80's
I have only been sailing maybe six years... I am 62 so it is basically trying to teach an old dog new tricks for me.
It must be a terrible strain, being perfect.😂
As a commercial skipper/boatmaster as well as a leisure sailor for more than forty years I know that I can still screw up occasionally (and to be honest I’m highly suspicious of anyone who claims they don’t)
When s**t hits the fan you do whatever is necessary, including boarding another boat. In such circumstances anybody is welcome to hop onto mine. Excellent video!
t'aint that hard McGhee
How not to dock a sailboat!