Presented by Wavelength Sailing School www.Learntocruise.ca Docking Clinic Presented by Wavelength Sailing School www.Learntocruise.ca Welcome -Docking can be one of the most stressful parts of boating while I cant turn you into an expert I can give you some tips to practice Sep-19 Copyright Wavelengh Sailing School 2014

Copyright Wavelengh Sailing School 2014 Seminar Topics: Roles of the helm and crew Boat maneuvering at low speed Every boat has a stern thruster Prop walk, what is it and is it friend or foe? Multi point turn using prop walk and rudder to turn in confined spaces Docking and departing a dock with various winds and currents. Use of spring lines to maneuver boat Ten golden rules of docking Sep-19 Copyright Wavelengh Sailing School 2014

Get used to maneuvering the Boat in Forward On a calm day in open water check how the boat reacts at low speed How slow can you go and still get response from rudder? Practice coasting with transmission in neutral When boat is stationary and with transmission in neutral put rudder hard over and give a quick burst of power in forward. Stern of boat will swing to port or starboard (helm direction) without significant forward motion.. Sep-19 Copyright Wavelengh Sailing School 2014

Your built in Stern thruster Sep-19 Copyright Wavelengh Sailing School 2014

Get used to maneuvering the Boat in Reverse On a calm day in open water check how the boat reacts in reverse With transmission in neutral and boat moving slowly forward shift into reverse and give a burst of power to stop the boat keeping the rudder in the neutral position. : Does the stern swing, if so to port or starboard this is an effect of prop walk How quickly does the boat stop Now try backing the boat: Once any initial effect of prop walk is overcome can you steer the boat in reverse How slow can you go and still get response from rudder? . Sep-19 Copyright Wavelengh Sailing School 2014

Copyright Wavelengh Sailing School 2014 Propellor Walk There is a paddle wheel effect of the propeller which turns the stern of the boat sideways. It only occurs when the prop shaft is angled –inboard engines –No prop walk with outboards Effect is not very strong in forward (because wash from propeller over the rudder dominates) but can be very strong in reverse. Prop is either right handed (turns CW in forward when viewed from astern) or left handed (ACW) So in reverse a left handed prop turns the opposite way CW and the stern is pushed to starboard. The effect depends on the geometry so is dependant on the boat Other factors eg off centred propeller will influence effect Sep-19 Copyright Wavelengh Sailing School 2014

Turning the boat in Confined Spaces Practice first in open water! Back and Fill Technique using prop walk and prop wash. Suppose stern of boat moves to port in reverse –we can make a tight starboard turn by: Rudder hard to starboard and pulse of forward power will kick stern to port. leaving rudder to starboard, transmission into neutral pause and pulse of reverse power will kink stern to port (prop walk) do not leave in reverse or boat will start to turn to port! Into neutral pause and pulse of forward power will kick again kick stern to port. Repeat until boat is turned in direction you want it. If stern of boat moves to starboard in reverse then follow the above but with rudder hard to port to make a tight turn to Port. Animation Sep-19 Copyright Wavelengh Sailing School 2014

So what have we learned about the boat? How slow we can still maintain steerage. Use of prop wash to give maneuverability at low speeds Prop walk in reverse If the stern moves to starboard try to get a starboard to slip and conversely if to port a port side slip. Back and fill technique to turn the boat in confined spaces How easily the boat can be steered in reverse once the effect of prop walk is overcome by the effect of the rudder. Sep-19 Copyright Wavelengh Sailing School 2014

Copyright Wavelengh Sailing School 2014 At the dock. Unlike a car a boat turns about a point near the middle (Centre of Lateral Resistance) You can find this out with the boat loosely tied of at the dock. First push on the bow of the boat and the bow moves out then on the stern and the stern moves out at some point between these (usually nearly in line with the mast on a sloop) the boat will just move sideways. This is the CLR. So a dock line tied to the bow will swing the bow in and stern out whereas a stern line will swing the stern in and the bow out, an amidships line will tend to move the boat sideways. Wind (and or current) across the beam of the boat will tend to swing the bow away from the wind/current more than the stern Sep-19 Copyright Wavelengh Sailing School 2014

Copyright Wavelengh Sailing School 2014 Dock Lines Sep-19 Copyright Wavelengh Sailing School 2014

Copyright Wavelengh Sailing School 2014 Getting ready to dock Radio ahead to get dock assignment ( and directions if appropriate) and request help docking Fenders Space fenders to protect bow & beam of boat. Correct height for dock (if unknown assume low) and tie off on rails or low on stanchions (not on llifelines!) If you are entering a slip have fenders on the opposite side to the dock side and if you have enough crew one can carry a roving fender Docklines Bow stern and at least one spring line make sure they are cleated off and long enough to allow crew to get off easily . Crew ready to step off with docklines (get over lifelines and hold onto shrouds –avoid tripping over lifelines ) with all parts of body inboard of rail. Crew act as lookout for skipper Sep-19 Copyright Wavelengh Sailing School 2014

Copyright Wavelengh Sailing School 2014 Docking Helm’s Job Brief Crew on procedures Bring the boat to a position alongside the dock at a slow speed or preferably stopped and close enough for the crew to step ashore with the docklines on command. Helm has control of fore-aft movement at the dock Crews job: Step off and control boat on cleats with docklines, belay lines when boat is in position Crew has control of sideways movement at the dock Sep-19 Copyright Wavelengh Sailing School 2014

Copyright Wavelengh Sailing School 2014 Docking Sep-19 Copyright Wavelengh Sailing School 2014

Copyright Wavelengh Sailing School 2014 Docking at an open Dock Animation Sep-19 Copyright Wavelengh Sailing School 2014

Copyright Wavelengh Sailing School 2014 Docking in a slip Sep-19 Copyright Wavelengh Sailing School 2014

Wind and Current orientation Before docking try to gauge effect of wind and current in most cases wind direction dominates but in some cases there is a strong current that dominates. Wind /current from ahead and onto the dock Easiest bring the boat in at a shallow angle keeping the bow away from the dock. Stop with the boat off the dock and it will drift sideways onto the dock Wind current from ahead and off the dock Bring the boat in at a steeper angle towards the dock. Turn away at the last moment so the momentum of the boat brings it into the dock crew need to get dock lines smartly on cleats to stop boat from drifting off dock. Wind/Current from behind as above but may need reverse to slow boat (remember prop walk will swing stern) Sep-19 Copyright Wavelengh Sailing School 2014

Advanced Docking Using Springlines Springlines can be used to maneuver a boat into a tight berth Helm and crew need to know exactly what to do and do it correctly so this can be risky A common misuse of springlines is to attempt to stop the boat using an after sprin)gline from the bow which turns the bow in and the stern out risking hitting an adjacent boat . In this case use an aft spring line from a centre cleat which will stop the boat and draw it in parallel to the dock. An aft quarter spring line will pull the stern in especially in conjunction with wash off the rudder. (turned towards the dock. Sep-19 Copyright Wavelengh Sailing School 2014

Advanced Docking Using Springlines Animation Docking between two boats approach at steep angle at C2 attach an aft spring line to the dock from the forward cleat Rudder hard over away from dock in forward will swing stern in to position C3 Sep-19 Copyright Wavelengh Sailing School 2014

Advanced Docking Using Springlines Where there is plenty of space use a midships aft spring Animation Sep-19 Copyright Wavelengh Sailing School 2014

Advanced Un-Docking Using Springlines Leaving dock with wind and current from abeam Use aft spring power forward with rudder turned towards the dock to allow boat to pivot about bow (use a fender) Sep-19 Copyright Wavelengh Sailing School 2014

Advanced Docking Using Springlines Animation Leaving dock with wind and current from Ahead Use forward quarter spring to allow boat to pivot about stern (use a fender) Sep-19 Copyright Wavelengh Sailing School 2014

Advanced Docking Using Springlines Leaving a slip with a tight turn. Remove all lines except forward quarter spring line (if you leave a forward spring at the bow make sure it is eased!) Reverse out of the slip and when the stern is clear snug the forward quarter spring with a horizontal fender protecting the hull for the corner of the dock. The boat will pivot around the corner of the dock. Release lines and move ahead Sep-19 Copyright Wavelengh Sailing School 2014

Copyright Wavelengh Sailing School 2014 10 Rules of Docking Practice maneuvering under power before you dock! Practice docking in an open dock with no one around! Discuss with crew beforehand Attach plenty of fenders and at least 3 long dock lines (Bow stern, amidhips) If you have a large enough crew rig a roving fender If it is an unfamiliar dock check it out first Never approach the dock faster than you want to hit it! Call ahead for help If you feel you are not on track to dock safely abort and come around again Crew must never jump ashore Sep-19 Copyright Wavelengh Sailing School 2014

Copyright Wavelengh Sailing School 2014 Acknowledgements Thanks to the following for Illustrations and animations: Chapman Piloting –Hearst Marine Books Sail Canada US sailing Sep-19 Copyright Wavelengh Sailing School 2014

Wavelength Sailing School Sail Canada Day Sailing- Basic Skipper Sail Canada Live aboard Intermediate (Bareboat Charter Skipper) and Advanced Sail Canada Coastal Navigation International Yacht Training International Certificate of Competence and International Bareboat Skipper Pleasure Craft Operators Card Radio Operators Certificate (ROC (M)) We offer Summer Courses in Kingston (25’ & 30’) North Channel lake Huron (up to 50’) and Winter courses in the Caribbean (up to 50’) Sep-19 Copyright Wavelengh Sailing School 2014

Wavelength Sailing School New later this year Sail Canada Basic modules - Take a Basic course as all modules or individual modules Afloat: Departure from Dock and Docking Power maneuvers & Anchoring Basic Sailing Combined sailing manoeuvres & Emergencies under sail Ashore: Exam prep and Exam Modules will be 4 hours and will cost about $ 150 with a discount for multiple modules Sep-19 Copyright Wavelengh Sailing School 2014

Wavelength Sailing School www.Learntocruise.ca Phil@Learntocruise.ca Phone 613 329 5540 Sep-19 Copyright Wavelengh Sailing School 2014