The Art of the Arrival: Transforming Docking Anxiety into Routine

Why the most dangerous part of sailing happens at 0.5 knots, and how to master it.

There is a saying in the maritime world: "Docking is the only sport where you can crash your house into your neighbor's house while everyone watches."

Even for experienced skippers, bringing a sailboat into a slip raises the heart rate. You are maneuvering tons of displacement into a fragile wooden box, often surrounded by millions of euros in other yachts. Add wind, current, and the infamous "prop walk," and you have the recipe for a stressful afternoon.

At Sailing Munich, we believe docking should not be a moment of panic. It is a procedure. If you follow the steps, the physics will work in your favor. Here is our guide to a calm arrival.

1. The Reconnaissance

Never enter a marina blind. Before you even commit to the channel, you need four pieces of intelligence:

• Wind Direction: Where is it coming from? Will it blow you onto the dock (easy) or off the dock (hard)?

• Current: Is the water moving?

• Hazards: Look for protruding bolts, shallow spots, or old wood.

• Dock Height: This is crucial. Adjust your fenders to match the pontoon height before you enter. If the dock is low and your fenders are high, they are useless.

  
  

2. The Setup: Amateurs Panic, Pros Prepare

The difference between a smooth docking and a disaster is usually what happens five minutes before arrival.

• Fenders: Tie them securely.

• Lines: Run your bow and stern lines under the lifelines, not over them.

• The Gate: Open the lifeline gate. There is nothing worse than a crew member ready to step off, only to be blocked by a stainless steel wire.

  
  

3. The Approach: "Steerage Speed"

The biggest mistake I see students make is coming in too fast. You want the minimum speed necessary to maintain steering control. We call this "steerage way." If you go too slow, the wind takes you. If you go too fast, you break things.

• The Angle: Approach as shallow as possible. Ideally, head into the wind so it acts as a natural brake.

• Neutral is Your Friend: Shift into neutral one or two boat lengths away. Glide in.

• The Kiss: Your goal is for the beam (the widest part of the boat near the shrouds) to gently touch the dock first.

  
  

4. Stopping and Prop Walk

Most sailboats have a "kick" when you put them in reverse, known as Prop Walk. Usually, this pulls the stern to port. You must know your boat.

• Feathering: Do not slam the throttle into reverse. "Feather" it—a burst of reverse, then neutral. This slows the boat without triggering a massive sideways kick from the prop walk.

  
  

5. The Golden Rule for Crew

"Step, Don't Jump." I have a strict rule on my boats. No one jumps. If the gap is too big to step across calmly, we are not close enough. Jumping leads to slipped discs, broken ankles, and falling into the water between the hull and the concrete. We arrive with dignity, or we go around and try again.

Departing: The Pivot

Leaving is just as technical as arriving. Never just untie and hope. If the wind is pinning you in, use a Spring Line.

• The Trick: Keep a stern line looped to the dock. Put a fender on the stern quarter. Engage the engine in slow reverse. The line will hold the stern, and the bow will magically swing out away from the dock. Once the angle is open, release the line and drive away.

Practice these maneuvers at a fuel dock on a quiet Tuesday. Get to know your boat's momentum. When you respect the physics, the fear disappears.

Fair winds,

Captain Leo Cunha