Several possibilities exist... but I have no experience with the handling
characteristics of an Etchells
My experience with my crab crusher to a lee dock would have me row out an
anchor... raise the sails at the dock and tow myself out to the hook...
then weigh the kedge tackle under trim and set course into the current

Your scenario would require as Joe stated... flipping the bow to the wind
prior to leaving the dock.

At any rate you would initially want to sail into the current to gain as
much ground as possible before tacking downstream to gain speed and avoid
the downstream obstructions.

CM


"Bart Senior" wrote in message
et...
| The wind is blowing onto the shore/dock.
|
| There is space to raise sails.
|
| OooooozeOne wrote
|
| Is the wind blowing you off the shore or onto it?
| Do you have room to hoist any sails..albeit without using the main
| halyard lock..?
|
|
| On Wed, 18 Aug 2004 05:35:50 GMT, "Bart Senior"
| scribbled thusly:
|
| You are in a difficult docking situation. You want
| to depart the dock and sail on a gorgeous day, but
| must leave now. Any later and you will lose your
| light, and have to cancel sailing for the day.
|
| You docked are on a river, facing down stream.
|
| There is a 5 knot ebb current and it is max ebb.
|
| The wind is coming directly across the beam of your
| boat and also directly across the river. It is blowing
| 6 knots.
|
| The boat is an Etchells keelboat, skeg hung rudder
| without a motor.
|
| Down current are two obstacles---both are docks
| that are parallel to the river. The closest dock does not
| project out as far as the second but has a motorsailer
| tied up pointed upriver that you must clear.
|
| If you clear the first dock, you still have to contend
| with clearing the second dock which extends even farther
| out into the river. If you can't clear that dock, you are
| trapped in a cul-de-sac and will collide with something,
| either the inside of the dock and pilings, which are free
| of boats, or else into the club house with your forestay
| and likely damage your rig, if not lose it entirely.
|
| Questions:
| 1. What is your strategy? What are all the factors you
| need to consider in planning this departure.
|
| 2. What can you do to insure you clear both docks?
|
| 3. What are your bail out options?
|
|
|
|
| Oz1...of the 3 twins.
|
| I welcome you to crackerbox palace,We've been expecting you.
|
|