Bart Senior wrote:
Oz,

You don't explain how it is done.

I can explain how I do it... amking sure that the tiller is secureley
amidships, I step from the dock onto the bow giving a sharp push. The
boat goes straigh backwards while I walk aft, then put the helm over to
bring the boat onto a tack to clear the dock.


Based on your description, it doesn't sound like you
back up any distance, but simply spin it around.

He'd have to back up approximately 30'. One Etchells boat length


There are two things you need to know to back up a
sloop for several boatlenghts off a mooring. Do you
know what they are?

I don't know your definitions, but to back a boat up under sail you need
to know how mush sternway you need before the helm responds, and how
much force it is going to generate due to being unbalanced going astern.
You also need to know how quickly it's going to spin when you start
backing the sails.

I like to back the jib to first one side, then quickly to the other
side. This gets the boat moving straight back and doesn't stick the boom
out where it catches on things.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King