In article ,
"Roger Long" wrote:

With the wind, current, and sternwalk, this boat can't be brought to a
stop without ending up far from the dock and the stern too far out to
get a line ashore or in the space of the boat that will soon be next
door. The line to hold against the sternwalk yaw is an essential part
of stopping the boat. That means someone has to step off while the
boat is still moving.

Our technique involves keeping all lines on the dock. I have one
specific line to pick up as I come in, the spring from the outermost
"inside" piling that drops over the winch. Once I put that line on, I
can power forward all I want and not hit the dock. Twiddling the rudder
moves the bow port or starboard so my crew can pick up the bow lines
without stretching too far. Once those three lines are on, the motor can
be killed and the other lines dropped on.

We're small and maneuverable enough that I can reach that spring by
hand; others may need to grab it with a hook.

I spliced loops into the lines so they're "drop and forget", which makes
life a lot simpler.

--
Jere Lull
Xan-a-Deux ('73 Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD)
Xan's Pages: http://members.dca.net/jerelull/X-Main.html
Our BVI FAQs (290+ pics) http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/