Challenges

Light wind blowing you off the pontoon. Let go and motor clear without touching anything.

UndockingAlongsideMotor boat, displacement

Bring the boat alongside the gap with the wind along the pontoon, stop, and get the lines on.

DockingAlongsideCruiser, fin keel

Motor bow first into the box beside the finger and make fast before the bow touches the pontoon.

DockingFinger pontoonMotor boat, displacement

Approach the buoy into the wind, stop with the bow next to it and get the line on.

DockingMooring buoySmall boat

14 kn pushes you onto the pontoon. Spring off: stern out on the bow spring, then go astern clear.

UndockingAlongsideCruiser, long keel

The wind blows you away from the pontoon. Come in steeper, get the midships spring on first and hold her there.

DockingAlongsideCruiser, fin keel

Go astern into the box between the piles with the wind from the side. Windward pile line first.

DockingBox with pilesCruiser, fin keel

Leave the box between two boats with wind on the beam. The high, light catamaran drifts fast: keep the bows off the neighbour.

UndockingBox between boatsCatamaran

Back up to the quay, get both stern lines on, then the two mooring lines forward, and hold the bow against the crosswind.

DockingStern-to quayCruiser, fin keel

Wind pins you to the pump, the queue circles right off your bow. Spring off and slip out through a gap without touching anyone.

UndockingFuel dockCruiser, fin keel

20 kn onto the pontoon and a knot of current along it. A long keel and prop walk: plan the spring carefully.

UndockingAlongsideCruiser, long keel

20 kn gusting 30 from the side. Leave the box between the piles without the bow falling onto the neighbour.

UndockingBox with pilesCruiser, long keel

A light motorboat with lots of windage, wind off the pontoon and a little current. Short, decisive bursts.

DockingAlongsideMotor boat, planing

Five boats queue for the pump, circling, and someone is still filling up. Hold your position for 45 s without touching anyone, then come alongside the moment the pump is free.

DockingFuel dockCruiser, fin keel

Back the pod-drive yacht into the box beside the finger with 18 kn across. Stay in control at low speed.

DockingFinger pontoonMotor yacht, pods

The wind blows you off the pontoon. Unroll the jib, let go the lines and sail clear without the engine.

UndockingAlongsideCruiser, fin keel

Approach on a close reach, luff up head to wind and stop with the bow at the buoy. Judge how far she carries.

DockingMooring buoyCruiser, long keel

Wind along the pontoon. Sail in under jib alone, ease the sheet to slow down and get a line on before she stops.

DockingAlongsideCruiser, fin keel

The engine dies after 10 s. Sails are ready: get them drawing, keep steerage and reach the pontoon without touching the boats.

DockingAlongsideCruiser, fin keel

The engine dies at a random moment, with current setting across. Sail up to the buoy and get the bow line on.

DockingMooring buoyCruiser, long keel