1 point for CM

Small boat might get off with a running start, but it
is by no means certain and this is a small subset of the
sailing population. The proper way is to set an
anchor and pull yourself off.

If the boat is big, it will have big winches. You can
winch yourself off the dock and lay to a single anchor.

As to when you should set your sails. That is a matter
of choice. When laying to a single anchor you can hoist
later or you can do it in advance--which means more work.

I'd just set the main after pulling myself off and leave the
foredeck clean for working up the anchor. With a roller
furler I'd unroll the jib enough to allow me to back the
sail but not enough to be in the way of hosting the anchor.
The advantage to having the jib set is you can back it if you
are in irons. The same could be done with the main, but less
effectively.


"silverback" wrote

"Scotty" wrote in message

the wind's blowing this bigger boat against the dock and
you're going to hoist sail and THEN pull the boat INTO the
wind by hand???


YES! My boat is six tons and I've done it many times! Raise main & genny.
Hand over hand the vessel to the point where the anchor is holding but
ready to be weighed.... now take in sheets..... then weigh anchor as you
sail by the hook point.

Scotty... it works everytime. I sailed for a season without aux. I know
what a sailboat can do without an engine. It's truly amazing. The key is
to preplan your manuevers. Think out the situation and most of all...
understand your boat.

CM