Hi Dwight, I don't like those conditions, wind off the float, especially above 15. I can get out in those conditions, but getting back in is sometimes too risky. I admit I have missed several sailing days when it just seemed too risky when I was alone. And I've had several close calls when people help. I've also had to abort an approach when things went wrong the first try. My area doesn't allow moorings but I have anchored for an hour or so, out in the channel waiting for a 40 knot squall to pass before docking.
The scariest moment in docking to me is when the bow swings downwind. I had a day after a race in 20 knot winds with just my son crewing and we finished 3rd and exhausted, and returning to the dock, I couldn't get the bow to turn into the slip. Tried twice. Finally with people gathering to offer assistance, and my wife on the float offering advice, I switched my fenders to the other side and backed her in. The bow followed the keel which followed the rudder. I was very pleased how that worked, but I prefer the privacy of bow in docking. I also prefer to do it without a huge audience of onlookers, but you just have to make do sometimes, and agree with the powerboater when he says it's easier to dock when you have twin screws. Now I really wish I had a mooring. Chuck Resolute 1990 C&C 34R . Atlantic City, NJ ----- Original Message ----- From: "dwight" <dwight...@gmail.com> To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com Sent: Friday, January 3, 2014 6:42:15 PM Subject: Re: Stus-List single handing It all sounds good Chuck. How do you like pulling into a finger when the wind is blowing 10-15 broadside off the finger, and then sometimes to complicate it all there is another boat tied up to leeward on an adjoining finger so you have very little room for error. Docking under windy conditions is the real test; anyone can do it with a little practice and some good planning under calm conditions. So I prefer calm conditions or docking into a straight headwind…I have a 3 blade autoprop that has good forward and reverse power but which sometimes hesitates to engage just when I need it most while docking and that requires a shot on the throttle to fix, but I have very little room to do a shot on the throttle…still no accidents so far but mostly I sail off a mooring, guess maybe that is a reason that I am getting very little practice nowadays From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of Chuck S Sent: January 3, 2014 7:01 PM To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com Subject: Re: Stus-List single handing Tom, I agree. Docking is the hardest thing to do singlehanded. I have learned a few tips trial and error. Tips for leaving a slip singlehanded bow in 1) Always warm up the engine before leaving the slip to prevent a stall at a critical moment. cause you can always rig a line to hold you tight, and afetr the engine is warmed upundo all the docklines and then 2) cast off slack lines before other lines under load 3) I rig a separate "getaway" line to hold me tight to the float as I take the last dockline off. It depends on wind direction. If wind is pushing the boat against the float, I rig the line to a stern cleat to keep the boat parallel to the float and find she will sit there fine. If the wind is blowing the boat away from the float, I rig the line from the toerail midships but forward of a float cleat, around the cleat and back aboard to a winch near the wheel. I set up a triangle and keep the boat tight against the fenders, against the float. Engine warmed up and everything ready to go, I check traffic and untie one end of the line, pull it abaord, and back out of the slip. Returning to the slip, bow in: 1) Before approaching the slip, I have all my fenders tied on to the appropriate side and adjusted for height, I rig a long bowline (boatlength plus 5 ft) to a bow cleat, and coil it up and hang the coil on the stanchion forward of the gate. I rig a stern line (beam plus 5 ft) to a stern cleat on the float side and run it outside the lifelines, flick it over so it lays on deck and coil the tail to hang on the stanchion aft of the gate. This presents a ten foot coil on each side of the gate. I then rig a third line of a contrasting color (mine is green 3/4" StaSet and about 15 ft long) to the midship cleat and coil it on deck in that area with the loop on top of the toe rail. Last, I open the side gate. 2) I approach the slip at a good angle, 30 degrees and as slow as possible. I shift into neutral for the most of the last 6 boatlengths and add a spurt of power in forward or reverse as needed. I turn into my slip as late as possible so side momentum keeps the boat moving toward the float and the fenders kiss the dock after I give a short burst of reverse to slow the boat, and stop in the slip. I then step into the open gate and flick the two lines over the lifelines and step onto the float with control of bow and stern. If my approach is off, I can step onto the float and grab the midline which I'll wrap tight around a cleat mid float, stopping the boat. If you can get this line tight, so the fenders area squeezed between boat and float, the bow and stern can't swing and you can relax in tying up the other lines. Also, I suggest to dockside helpers, to grab the green line if they want to help, and ask them to wrap it tight around the cleat in middle of the float. If they pull it too tight, the fenders protect the hull very well. After the boat is secure, I cut the engine and rig my usual docklines and stow the other three lines below. I look forward to more ideas from the list. Chuck Resolute 1990 C&C 34R Atlantic City, NJ ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tom B" <t...@sv-alera.com> To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com Sent: Friday, January 3, 2014 10:14:02 AM Subject: Stus-List single handing I have not yet got around to single handing Alera. My main concern is not handling the boat, it's docking her. Any suggestions on that? Tom Buscaglia Alera 1990 C&C 37+/40 Vashon WA _______________________________________________ This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album http://www.cncphotoalbum.com CnC-List@cnc-list.com No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2012.0.2247 / Virus Database: 3658/6472 - Release Date: 01/03/14 _______________________________________________ This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album http://www.cncphotoalbum.com CnC-List@cnc-list.com
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