Do you and your partner want to explore the world, or parts of it, and buy a sailboat? Are you curious as to what the sailing cruising lifestyle is like? Who does what when it’s a couple or a family? What roles and responsibilities does each person play? (Sailing Cruising Lifestyle Video below) On our[Read More]
Videos
Quickest & Easiest Man Overboard Procedure
When it comes to sailing and sailboats there are several different ways to do a variety of tasks. Some captains and sailing schools preach one method and others preach another. Your best bet is to understand the options and then choose the system, or way, that works best for you. How will you know what[Read More]
Blue Water Sailing Experience
What’s a typical week like for blue water sailing cruisers who share their lifestyle with those that want to live the life? There’s never a dull moment, that’s for sure. Blue water sailing cruisers are people that sail blue water sailboats. A blue water boat is a type of sailboat that is designed and equipped[Read More]
Crossing The Atlantic With Kids – An Interview
A special interview! Our nine-year-old daughter, Sienna, interviews two boat kids about what it’s like to be kids living on a boat. She asks questions about what it was like for them to cross the Atlantic Ocean, what’s homeschooling like on a boat, what scares them and whether or not living on a boat is[Read More]
Living On A Sailboat Q&A
In this living on a sailboat Q&A video, we answer questions about what we can’t live without, what’s the deal with insurance and hurricane cover, do you need a license for your dinghy, what permits or licenses do you need to have to operate a boat, what’s the deal with electricity, how hard is it[Read More]
7 Steps To A Propeller Feathering Servicing
A feathering propeller needs to be serviced at least once a year. To do a full service the boat needs to be out of the water. Watch the video and then check out the 7 steps to servicing a feathering propeller (checklist) below.
Solar Power Installation On A Sailboat
Here’s the scoop on our solar power installation on a sailboat – Sailboat Britican. We are five years into our liveaboard lifestyle and we still cannot say we are experts about the power systems on our boat. But it has been enough time for us to determine that a solar power installation was in need.[Read More]
Racing An Oyster Yacht Video
Racing an Oyster Yacht Video! Meet the crew. Check out the race course. Get a glimpse of the parties. Spend six minutes getting an idea as to what it’s like to not only race in a regatta but to race on an Oyster Yacht. Get the behind the scenes scoop by reading the article: Racing[Read More]
Sailing To A New Country
Sailing to a new country can be daunting for the first few times. It’s best to understand the process and learn tips and tricks before you go. So, what’s the procedure to book in? How about booking out? What information to do you need to supply? Where can things go terribly wrong? Are there any tips to make the process easier, faster and less painful? What about spear guns, real guns, and pets? What about booking into the US of A?! That’s a big topic in its own right. Watch the video and then read below for a checklist on what we bring with us every time we enter and leave a country.
Boat Handling – Leaving A Dock
Most boat crashes and hull crunches happen when docking and leaving a dock. Why? There’s a variety of reasons. Some new (and experienced) boat owners misread the elements (wind, tide, current). Other’s misjudge the space available. And it’s very common for inexperienced marina dock hands or crew to mess things up with the lines. Boat handling leaving a dock is a key skill to learn.
Unfortunately, once a new boat owner has a crunch it can be quite a setback.
Sure, there’s a cost associated to a scratch or hole but the real issue is with confidence. We’ve met many new boat owners that have a few small accidents and decide to call it a day. Take a look at all the boats you’ll find in a marina on a perfect sailing day – many people want to live the dream, buy access to the dream and then lose steam when it comes to actually making the dream happen (leaving the dock).
The crazy thing is that there are very safe and easy steps regarding boat handling leaving a dock.
In fact, the steps that we use make docking and leaving a dock look like a breeze – even for newbies. Like so many things with boat ownership, having a blueprint or a checklist can help you make a success out of it more times than not. Below you’ll find a video where Simon explains the procedure, we then demonstrate leaving a dock and we also provide an alternative. Furthermore, you’ll find the steps written below the video.
