"George C." wrote:

Here's the scenario: I'm docked alongside a pier with boats close to my bow
and stern, and the wind is pushing me into the pier. Normally, I would turn
the bow into the pier and back out, but sometimes backing isn't an option. I
would like to push the bow out, but the 2' swim platform on my stern will
get crushed. What to do?

Several options, starting with rebuilding your stern platform so it will not be
so vulnerable. One of the sore points I see about so many cruising boats (power
& sail both) is that they have a lot of 'stuff' sticking out where it has no
business.

This is a lot of work, but you could take your dinghy and set a kedge anchor to
windward, then use a bridle to warp the boat away from the pier. Another is to
use the dinghy as a tugboat to pull the bow to windward. This involves gear you
should already have. If you have a suitable spar, such as an old fashioned boat
boom (most cruisers nowadays don't) you could hold the stern away from the pier
with it while backing against a spring... that would take smart crew work to
recover the spar and get underway, I have seen similar maneuvers but don't think
that my wife & myself could get away with it. Another option would be to use a
really big fender to hold the stern out (sore point #93b, too few cruisers have
REAL fenders).

Fresh Breezes- Doug King