Bart Senior wrote:
1/2 point for you Joe.

It is better to use an forward spring line to pivot the
boat off the dock. A stern line would let the boat slip
aft a bit and could be trouble if there is a boat close
behind you.

For those who don't know, an forward spring is a line
from the aft of the boat forward to a point on the dock
admiships for foarther forward on the dock. It prevents
the boat from moving backwards.

I like to double up the line so it starts at an aft cleat,
goes forward on the dock, one turn, and back to the
aft cleat or perhaps a winch. I can ease if from the
boat as the boat pivots away from the dock.

Why does the boat pivot? Because you back the jib
to push the bow away from the dock.

This works with any size sailboat--even very large
schooners.

About 80% of the time we use the doubled back forward spring to spring
the boat off the dock. Of course, I'm not often sailing off, and I'd
guess Mooron would consider using twin diesels cheating.