Rick,

I NEED TO SAY; before I go any further. I have to say that I've learned
more about docking from my Female crew. With the simplest instruction
they became the best docking crew I've seen.

I have a up-wind slip and they learned to use the wind on the nose as a
brake. They have the knack and patience to really slow the boat
down,while maintaining control. That Rick is the secret. Slow!! If
you're going slow enough, hitting the dock looks like a good landing.

My girls got so good at it they preferred docking without the engine.

When I single hand, I make good use of the boat hook. If I'm going to
dock up-wind, I douse the Jib ( Love my roller furling). When I make my
final tack into my slip and have my bow well into the slip and away from
my neighbors boat, I drop the main into the Lazy Jacks , hook the stern
line from my permanent docking lines. Go forward to about mid-ship and
hook the cleat for my spring lines with the boat hook and pull the boat
into docking position. (I said I drop the main but if I'm making to much
headway, I leave it up on a loose sheet to use the wind to kill any
headway

If the wind is from the stern, I furl the main in the Jacks and enter
the slip with the jib, furl it, grab the stern docking line with the
boat hook and set it on the stern cleat. The wind on the hull will
complete the docking.

AND; now the story!! My girls were bringing "Pneuma" in and a bunch of
Dock Jockeys were gathering on the finger pier. It worried me and a
mentioned it to Wendy. She said; "Not to worry, I'll take care of it."
As she got the bow in the slip, a smart ass called out; "Can I help?"
Wendy said Sure and threw him a line. He caught it with a **** eating
grin. Wendy hooked the stern line while the knuckle head haul on the
line she threw him. It wasn't connected. He soon had the loose end in
his hand with a very puzzled look on his face. About this time Wendy
hopped to the dock saying; "Gemme that damn rope! If you don't know what
the hell you're doing, don't offer." While his two buddy's were laughing
at him, Wendy tied a bowline in the end and threw it to one of the crew
with instruction to loop it over the main sail wench and she pull the
boat into position to set the rest of the docking lines. We've never
used that wench like that before or since, We also have never been
bother again by Laughing Boy and his friends

Rick, docking is easy. Take your time, have a good boat hook and
remember "Ole Thom's Girl" Pussy footing is the way to go'

Ole Thom