New boaters often find success or failure in their sailing cruising dreams based upon their first few experiences, not with sailing (ironically) but with getting the boat in and out of the marina. Time after time, I’ve seen dreams shattered due to a bump, crash, and/or a full-on anxiety attack. If you can learn how to leave a dock, your ability to become a cruiser increases drastically.
And there is an easy way to leave a dock!
It doesn’t have to be stressful. There is no need for shouting or running around. Successfully leaving a dock is a process that anyone can learn and then practice over and over until they master it.
Watch the video, where Simon explains the eight steps to successfully leaving a dock, including a play-by-play demonstration and a paper cut-out explanation to really drill down into the process. Simon also provides the steps on how to reverse off a dock if going forward is not possible. Below, you’ll find a handy checklist to refresh your memory when it’s time for you to leave a dock.
If you like blueprints for success, check out all my sailing guides at my store or on Amazon.com.
How To Leave A Dock Video
How To Leave A Dock Checklist
1. Observe the wind and water state. Will the wind and tide push you onto the dock or away from it? Will natural forces push you forward or backward? Get an idea of how the wind and water will help or hinder you.
2. Based on your observations, Explain the plan to your partner or crew.
3. Prepare all your lines to slip from the boat. In other words, make sure no line is tied to the dock. The line should be tied to the boat cleat, through the fairlead around the dock cleat, and back to the boat. That way, you can untie the line on the boat and easily pull it back to the boat.
4. Line up your fenders so that the hull is protected. If you plan to take the bow forward, make sure there is a fender in the back corner. If you plan to reverse backward, ensure the bow has adequate fenders (Watch the full video to understand both procedures).
5. Engage the throttle so it’s just ticking over.
6. Turn the wheel as far away from the dock as possible. Doing this activity with a mid-aft spring will force the boat tightly to the dock.
7. Remove all three lines except the mid-aft spring, which includes the bow, stern, and forward spring.
8. When a crewmember is ready to release the last line, or the mid-aft spring, put the engine into neutral so the line can be easily released.
Once the line is back on the boat, put the engine forward and leave the dock.
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Check Out Other Sailing, Maneuvering & Mooring Related Articles and Videos
To get an overview of all our sailing, maneuvering, and mooring related articles and videos, start here: Sailing, Maneuvering & Mooring. Otherwise, check out one of these articles or videos:
- Stern To Med Mooring
- High Wind Sailing Techniques
- How To Tie Onto A Mooring Ball
- How To Leave A Dock
- Anchoring In Poor Holding Anchorages
- Anchoring In Storms
- Anchoring Complications – Picking Up Someone Else’s Anchor
- Sailing In Storms
- How To Pole Out Your Jib Downwind Sailing
- Sailing With A Gennaker
- Rigging, Sails & Reefing On A Sailboat
- Sailing Pre-Passage Checklist