Approach and docking

Plan before you are committed

• Call the marina if you need a slip assignment
• Read wind and current AT the dock criticalHow

  How They are often different from out in the channel. Watch flags, moored boats and the water at pilings.

  Watch for Current sets you sideways without your speed through the water changing. Judge against a fixed object ashore, not against the water.

• Tell the crew the plan, out loud criticalHow

  How Which side to, which line first, where to stand. Nobody jumps. Ever. Stepping is fine, jumping breaks legs.

• Fenders and lines rigged on the correct side
• Decide your abort criticalHow

  How Know where you go if the approach is wrong. Going around and trying again costs nothing but pride; forcing a bad approach costs gelcoat or worse.

• Approach no faster than you want to hitHow

  How The oldest rule there is. A 3288 carries way; use the twins against each other to hold position and let the boat settle.

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Emergencies — Mayday script and six procedures · All checklists