I had the opportunity to watch a near catastrophe the other day!\u00a0 A sailboat was tied to the leeward side of the “D” dock pump out station in some moderately windy conditions.\u00a0 When done, the skipper (who was single handing) was setting up lines to cast off.\u00a0 He removed the stern line and held it in his hand.\u00a0Then, he removed the bow line and was trying to hold both lines while he jumped aboard.\u00a0 At this point all lines were off the dock and the wind was pushing the boat away from the dock, pulling the skipper with it.\u00a0 At the last second, he made a wild dive for the boat and was able to scramble aboard through the open life lines.\u00a0 I’m sure he had some bruises to contend with, however, another two or three seconds and the result would not have been as positive!<\/p>\n
Fortunately, at Tradewinds, everyone knows there is a better way.\u00a0 Use lines that can be “slipped” so you can handle the lines from the boat, not the dock.\u00a0 Double up the lines, so that they go from the boat around the dock cleat and back to the boat, allowing you to climb aboard with the boat still secured to the dock.\u00a0 However, even that can present challenges when the wind really starts to blow, because as you release the line to double it up, the wind can still blow the boat away.\u00a0 There is still a point in time where the boat is not completely secured to the dock.<\/p>\n
Which brings us to the tip.\u00a0 Start with two secured breast lines … one bow and one stern.\u00a0 Don’t double up the working lines.\u00a0 Use\u00a0separate lines.\u00a0 Leave each working dock line in place while setting up a second line to run from the boat to a dock cleat and back to the boat.\u00a0 Adjust and secure these lines, then remove the original lines.\u00a0 At no point is the boat not secured!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I had the opportunity to watch a near catastrophe the other day!\u00a0 A sailboat was tied to the leeward side of the “D” dock pump out station in some moderately windy conditions.\u00a0 When done, the skipper (who was single handing) … Continue reading