Departures & Docking (LOT)

Safety Note:
If you didn’t think about it 10 minutes ago you waited too long! Plan ahead.

In discussing LOT, it can be beneficial to have a portable white board and markers on board that can be used to draw the departure sequence for the “skippers”.

LOT is an acronym for Location, Orientation, and Transition. Every major maneuver (departure from a slip, departure from a dock, return to a slip, docking at a side tie, fairway turn, etc.) should have a formalized LOT plan in place before beginning the maneuver.

Location

Where should be boat be located when the maneuver is started. For example, when leaving the slip where should be boat be located in relation to the fairway when the transition from reverse to forward is initiated? In this case, a possible answer would be to draw an imaginary line down the centerline of the fairway, and try to put the leeward beam of the boat on that centerline.

Orientation

When orientation, or direction, should the boat be pointing before initiating the transition. To continue the above example, the boat is now located slightly to the windward side of the fairway. The orientation of the boat might be slightly to windward, so that the wind can “blow the bow” back to parallel with the fairway during the transition.

Transition

What are the steps to follow during the transition? Following the above example, the steps might be as follows:

1. Center the steering wheel when the boat is located slightly to windward in the fairway, with the bow slightly to windward.
2. Throttle down and place the transmission in neutral for a second or two.
3. Place the transmission in forward and throttle up to stop reverse momentum, bring the boat to a stop, and begin forward motion.

This same process may be used when returning to the slip to predetermine where in the fairway the approach should be made, when to commence the turn, when to go to neutral, when to go to reverse, etc.

Stress with the class the importance of planning maneuvers before beginning execution of them.

Maneuvering Under Power

Safety Note:

• Stationary crew are safer than crew in motion.
• Kneeling is safer than standing.
• Crew in the cockpit are safer than crew on deck.

Each class member in turn will act as “skipper/helmsperson” during the maneuvers shown below. The skipper should assign job responsibilities for each crew member, as well as planning for the LOT.

Depart from the slip

Teach the use of dock lines to control the effects of wind and prop walk during the early stages of departure.

• Use one line on the bow going to the dock on the windward side to “pull” the bow back to center when wind or prop walk attempts to gain control.
• Use one line at the stern leading to the dock opposite prop walk to control the impact of the prop walk.
• Start the departure with the stern pulled to the non-prop walk side.

Note: in mild wind conditions and when the wind is from behind, the bow line may not be needed.

Plan and coach proper throttle and wheel control during departure

Motor clear of the fairway(s).

In clear water, transition from forward to reverse, while maintaining a steady head to wind orientation. Discuss balancing the wind on the starboard bow to offset prop walk to port. Back in a straight line with the wind for at least 100 feet.

Conduct a Back & Fill (Fairway Turn) in safe water.

NEVER refer to the Back and Fill as an “Emergency Turn”

Conduct a Back & Fill in a fairway

Return to the slip emphasizing speed, throttle, and proper transmission gear (remember that neutral is a gear).

Docking Practice

At a minimum, during BCC, the following docking maneuvers should be learned and practiced. Additional docking maneuvers may be learned as time allows.

• Departing from and docking in a slip (upwind and downwind)
• Docking and departing from a leeward side-tie (recommended for the first day.)
• Docking and departing from a windward side-tie (recommended for the second day.)

Line Handling

Practice “capturing” a dock cleat from the boat while at the dock, prior to putting the following technique into actual use.

Using a 20 to 25 foot line, cleat one end on the dock side waist cleat (often referred to as a mid-ship cleat).

Coil the line, and split into two coils … one in each hand.

Using an “outward and upward” motion of both hands, throw both coils past the dock cleat. Make sure to hold onto the bitter end of the line.

Immediately get the bitter end of the line around a cleat on the boat to secure the line.

When using this technique while docking, make sure to stress the following safety considerations.

• The boat should be at a stop before any attempt is made to capture the dock cleat
• Body parts (hands, fingers, etc.) must be kept clear at all times!

Put the boat into slow forward motion to remove the slack from the line and pull/hold the boat to the dock.

Turn the wheel towards or away from the dock to orient the boat parallel to the dock by using prop wash.

When done properly, the line will run from the waist cleat aft to a cleat on the dock about even with the transom, then back to the waist cleat.

Sailing Skills Review

The balance of “on the water” time during day one should be spent reviewing basic sailing skills as they apply to a larger boat.

Each class participant should act as both skipper and crew during review and practice of all of the normal sailing exercises shown below.

• Bringing the boat to each point of sail in turn
  • Close Haul
  • Close Reach
  • Beam Reach
  • Broad Reach
  • Run
• Tack
• Jibe
• Heave To
• Reef
• Figure 8 Crew Overboard

Anchoring

If time allows, introduce anchoring. The recommended method and procedures are found in the Day Two section

Pump Out

Tradewinds club rules require a boat be pumped out at the end of every charter. This should be stressed with class participants.

Demonstrate proper pump out technique. Toilet should be flushed with several bowls of fresh water during pump out. Pump out and fresh water flush should continue until the water in the pump out nozzle hose runs clear.

Finishing Up

Clean the boat and finalize the check out sheets.

The instructor needs to stay with the boat and crew during this time. Provide directions as needed to make sure the boat is properly put away.