Sailboat Docking
What I am going to cover in this article is all about doing this maneuver safely and quickly. The first thing you want to do is let your crew and people on board that you are planning on docking. Make sure everyone who is helping with the docking is up to date on the plan and what you are going to do and what their role is.
Safety is the biggest concern. Never ever place a limb between the boat and where you will be docking. This will lead to major damage to your body. Do not try and stop the boat from hitting the dock with any part of your body. You should also have a good knowledge of sailing lines and knots used for sailing purposes.
Make sure you know the direction of the wind and what the tidal conditions are. You have to remember that you don't have any brakes on the boat. You need to approach at slow speed. If you are docking for the first time at a marina, ask someone with knowledge what the tides and weather conditions are like.
Tie up all the lines to windward pillers. Make sure that you always practice docking in good conditions when you can.
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